BeachBoys Extinguish CaneFires, Win HWB Title

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BeachBoys Extinguish CaneFires, Win HWB Title

Kyle Galdeira
12/16/08

Waikiki received a three-run home run from Buster Posey, and posted a 5-1 victory over West Oahu to claim the 2008 Hawaii Winter Baseball Championship on Nov. 16 at Les Murakami Stadium.

The league title was the first for the BeachBoys franchise, and Waikiki improved to 8-4 when facing the CaneFires this season. This season marked the third consecutive year in which the BeachBoys reached the championship game, and the first victory after the team fell to North Shore in both 2006 and 2007.

Mitsuo Yoshikawa notched the victory as the Waikiki starter allowed a run on four hits through five innings, and struck out five. Steven Richard picked up the save after holding West Oahu scoreless through the game’s final four innings, and allowed a hit in the process.

Brian Friday put West Oahu on the board first with an RBI single up the middle in the home half of the second inning to plate James Skelton.

The BeachBoys answered with two runs in the third thanks to James McOwen’s RBI single to center field that scored Tony Thomas Jr., and Roger Kieschnick’s fielder’s choice ground out to first base with one out and the bases loaded that allowed McOwen to score from third.

Posey, the fifth overall selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, provided Waikiki with some breathing room on a three-run home run with two out in the seventh inning. The San Francisco Giants catcher laced the Fumikazu Kimura offering over the wall in right field, and provided the BeachBoys with the final 5-1 advantage.

CaneFires starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta took the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits through 2 1/3 innings.