A total of 67 teams in eight divisions participated in this year’s Hawaii State Senior Softball Tournament that wrapped up Thursday on the Big Island.
Of the eight division champions, five are from Kauai.
“We did very well. We won every game by at least five runs,” said Kawaihau senior softball coach William “Bradda” Rittmeister on Saturday.
“The success was because of the defense and because of the hitting,” Rittmeister said. “Everybody was hitting, from 1 to 10. They were just banging the ball all over the field.”
Kawaihau won the G division of the tourney, beating Pueo of the Big Island, 16-10.
“They were leading in the first three innings, 5-0,” Rittmeister said. “Then in the fourth inning, we came back and tied the game. Then we went back and forth for one or two innings. Then in the sixth inning, Don Pezario hit a three-run homer. The rest of the game, the defense held.”
The Kawaihau coach added winning the title game was a great feeling.
“For a bunch of old folks, it makes them feel happy going over there and winning it,” he said.
In the semifinal game, Kawaihau topped West Kauai, 8-6.
“We thought we were going to lose to West Kauai,” Rittmeister said.
The other Kauai teams that won division titles were the Ohana Rebels in the B division, the Rookies in the C division, Bartek in the E division and the Kuku Aces in the H division.