The Kamehameha Maui bowlers won against their toughest competitors, Baldwin High School, 2-1 yesterday, Oct. 3, at the Maui Bowling Center.

In the first down, the boys results were reversed, with the Bears winning, 2-1, and the Warrior girls had lost all three games in their first meet.

“I think today went really well,” junior Emily “Haʻehaʻe” Kane said. “Everyone’s spirits were up, [and] everyone just kept fighting ‘til the end.”

In the first game, the boys triumphed with 707-644, while the girls lost 555-671. The boys continued the winning streak with 670-604 in the second game.

In the girls’ second game, the Warriors and Bears were neck-and-neck, and the KS Maui girls squeaked by with a one-pin win over Baldwin, 586-585. Their third game followed suit, and the girls won 647-646.

The boys had a lot riding on their third game, but ended up losing 685-704 against Baldwin.

Since the KS Maui boys didn’t win all three games, they must now win every game against both Maui High and King Kekaulike, and then playoff against the Bears in order to go to the state championship; however, if Baldwin loses any of their next games, the Warriors won’t have to play off against them, and vice versa.

“Whoever has the most losses in the end of the season doesn’t go to states,” co-captain Russell Nagamine said.

“I don’t know what went wrong today,” Coach Rodney Carillo said. “[The boys] did good the first two games, and then in the last game I don’t know what happened.”

Co-captain Lukela Kanaʻe said that some shoulder pain he’d been experiencing might have contributed to the loss.

“I didn’t say anything, and I kept playing,” he said.

Kana’e has averaged 163 pins per game this season and bowled a 159 and 157. His high was 198 in the Sept. 12 game against King Kekaulike.

Baldwin bowler Justin Palafox said that everyone tried his or her best at the meet on Saturday.

“We’re all friends,” Palafox said. “We’re a family.”

In the next meet on Saturday, Oct. 10, the Warriors will be facing off against Maui High. In their last outing, the boys beat the Sabers 3-0, and the girls won their match 2-1.

“I think we’re going to do well,” Kane said. “I think [this meet] boosted our confidence.”