All-OIA semifinals in State DI softball
State softball championships gallery |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
All four seeds in the Data House/HHSAA Softball State Division I Championships lost last night, putting four teams from the O'ahu Interscholastic Association into today's semifinals.
Pearl City knocked off No. 1 Kamehameha, 2-1; Moanalua shut down No. 2 Kailua, 4-0; Mililani outlasted No. 3 Baldwin in 11 innings, 3-2; and Kapolei defeated No. 4 Hilo, 5-2, at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Moanalua will be playing in what is believed to be its first softball state semifinals tonight.
Na Menehune will face defending Division I champ Mililani at 6 p.m. Defending state runner-up Kapolei will play Pearl City in the other semifinal at 8.
Sarah Robinson pitched a four-hitter with seven strikeouts and Le'a Tamura and Britni Ronolo each drove in two runs to lead Moanalua (14-4) to yesterday's historic victory over the perennial power Surfriders (13-3).
"I've never been so psyched — I'm so excited we made it this far," said Robinson, a sophomore right hander. "We grew up as a group this season and now we're showing everyone that we're a good team."
Moanalua already showed that earlier in the regular season, when Robinson defeated Kailua in the teams' first meeting. But the Surfriders won the OIA Eastern Division rematch, and looked strong for the first half of yesterday's rubber match.
Kailua starter Krista Dumandan took a perfect game into the fifth inning but ran into trouble when Shelby Nakachi lined a double to left and Noelle Young walked. Tamura then stroked a 3-2, two-out pitch down the left field line to score both runs.
An inning later, Na Menehune loaded the bases with no outs and Ronolo brought home two more runs with a single to center.
That was enough support for Robinson, who was backed by her defense. Twice, catcher Nakachi caught tricky popups behind home plate, and first baseman Ronolo ran out into foul territory in short right field to make a catch at the fence.
Moanalua coach Mitch Matsumoto said that was typical of his team.
"They've done that so many times — they've made those kind of plays all season long," Matsumoto said. "I always thought we were one of the best defensive teams in the state."
Robinson appreciated the help.
"It's not like I was dominating, and Kailua is such a good hitting team," Robinson said. "I was depending on my defense, and they came through."
The Surfriders threatened more than once but ended up stranding 10 runners.
"We couldn't execute," Kailua coach Bernard Victor said. "We were trying to kill the ball, that was one of our problems. We were overswinging, and I think it was getting worse as the game went along."
KAILUA (13-3) 000 000 0 — 0 4 2
MOANALUA (14-4) 000 022 0 — 4 3 1
Krista Dumandan, Ashley Hopfe (6) and Brittany Tokunaga; Sarah Robinson and Shelby Nakachi. W—Robinson. L—Dumandan.
Leading hitters — Kai: Daneen Williams 2-3; Alisha Vegas 1-3, double; Alisha Hopfe 1-3, double; Moan: Britni Ronolo 1-3, 2 RBIs; Le'a Tamura double, 2 RBIs; Nakachi 1-3, double.
KAPOLEI 5, HILO 2
After finishing sixth in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, Kapolei's softball team suddenly is back among the top four in Hawai'i.
The Hurricanes held off Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion and No. 4 seed Hilo.
Tajia Acierto pitched a four-hitter with a career-high 13 strikeouts and one walk, and Ka'ili Smith went 3 for 3 with a three-run homer in the second inning to lead Kapolei, which improved to 11-7. The Hurricanes won the Division I state title in 2004 and finished second last year.
"After finishing sixth (in the OIA), we figured we'd just start out new in the state tournament," said Acierto, a senior right-hander who was The Advertiser's State Player of the Year two seasons ago. "Our self-esteem was down a little, but we knew we could do better. I still think we're one of the toughest teams."
Jasmin Yoro and Champagne Paris singled to start the top of the second inning, and Smith followed by launching a first-pitch fastball over the right-center field fence. The Hurricanes added two unearned runs after an infield error, making it 5-0, which was more than enough for Acierto.
After allowing a solo home run to Aisha Sueda in the bottom of the second and an RBI single to Alana Tsue in the third, Acierto proceeded to strike out 10 out of the next 11 batters. She did not allow a base runner after Sueda walked to lead off the fourth inning.
"The last time I've seen her in that kind of groove was probably two years ago in the state tournament," said Tony Saffery, Kapolei's head coach for all four of Acierto's seasons on the varsity.
KAPOLEI (11-7) 050 000 0 — 5 10 0
HILO (10-2) 011 000 0 — 2 4 2
Tajia Acierto and Ashlyn Ashby; Alana Tsue, Aisha Sueda (7) and Daysha Whitney. W—Acierto. L—Tsue.
Leading hitters — Kap: Ka'ili Smith 3-3, home run, 3 RBIs; Jasmin Yoro 2-3; Hilo: Tsue 2-3, RBI; Sueda home run.
MILILANI 3, BALDWIN 2
Celina Garces scored from third base on an error with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Trojans (15-3) past the Maui Interscholastic League champion and No. 3 seeded Bears (14-1).
Baldwin had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the 11th when Sanoe Kekahuna scored from third on a wild pitch with two outs. The third out was made when Trojans second baseman Casey Sugihara threw out a runner at home on a delayed steal.
In the bottom of the 11th, Mililani loaded the bases with no outs and tied it when Chasity Senas scored on a double-play grounder. Sugihara then hit a sharp one-hopper to second that skipped off the fielder's body and into right field, allowing Garces to score.
The Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Makani Duhaylonsod's run-scoring double and Baldwin did not tie it until Kekahuna slammed a solo home run over the center field fence with no outs in the top of the seventh.
BALDWIN (14-1) 000 000 100 01 — 2 8 2
MILILANI (15-3) 100 000 000 01 — 3 9 2
Nicole Alconcel and Sanoe Kekahuna; Makani Duhaylonsod and Skye Virtudes. W—Duhaylonsod. L —Alconcel.
Leading hitters — Bald: Kekahuna home run; Mili: Duhaylonsod 2-4, double, RBI; Celina Garces 2-5; Jaimee Aiwohi 2-5; Dana Lee double.
PEARL CITY 2, KAMEHAMEHA 1
Corrie Nishikida tossed a three-hitter and had a run-scoring groundout to lift the Chargers (14-3) to an upset of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and No. 1 seeded Warriors (13-2).
Pearl City's Kanani Numata scored on Nishikida's grounder to second after hitting a first-inning triple to the left-field corner. Marina Gusman-Brown slammed a solo home run over the left-field fence with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 2-0.
Kamehameha closed to 2-1 in the top of the seventh after Dara Pagaduan led off with a walk, advanced to third after a steal and wild pitch, and scored on Hoku Nohara's groundout to second.
KAMEHAMEHA (13-2) 000 000 1 — 1 3 0
PEARL CITY (14-3) 100 001 X — 2 5 3
Noe Esperas and Jennifer Alohikea; Corrie Nishikida and Noelle Hirahara. W—Nishikida. L—Esperas.
Leading hitters — KS: Shaleese Javilo 2-3, double; PC: Marina Gusman-Brown 2-3, home run; Kanani Numata triple; Shanna Vierra double.
CONSOLATION
ST. FRANCIS 9, WAIAKEA 4
Ashley Smith went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Jandee Taira went 2 for with 2 RBIs to help the Troubadours of the ILH defeat the Warriors of the BIIF.
ST. FRANCIS (13-3) 006 030 0 — 9 13 2
WAIAKEA (12-7) 003 010 X — 4 5 3
Brittney Akana, Sasha Koki (5) and Ashley Smith; Kristy Imai and Dayna Wong. W—Akana. L—Imai. S—Koki.
Leading hitters — SF: Smith 3-4, 2 RBIs; Jandee Taira 2-4, 2 RBIs; Shannon Lum 2-3, RBI; Kelci Watson 2-3, RBI; Koki 2-4; Kaylin Lee 1-2, RBI; Wai: Wong double, 4 RBIs; Imai 2-3, double.
CAMPBELL 5, LEILEHUA 2
Breannae Patton pitched a four-hitter, Anita Manuma and Kai Clark each had two hits and Sam Palipti drove in two runs to lead the Sabers (9-9) past the OIA Western Division rival Mules (9-9).
LEILEHUA (9-9) 000 010 1 — 2 4 0
CAMPBELL (9-9) 203 000 X — 5 6 0
Tiana Vierra, Alex Smith (4) and Ashley Phillips; Breanne Patton and Anita Manuma. W—Patton. L —Vierra.
Leading hitters — Lei: Vierra 2-3, double, home run, RBI; Cam: Kai Clark 2-3, double, RBI; Manuma 2-3; Sam Palapti 2 RBIs.
DIVISION II STATE TOURNAMENT
QUARTERFINALS
PAC-FIVE 8, WAIPAHU 2
Starting pitcher Jessica Ghazali homered and the top-seeded Wolfpack of the ILH took a 7-0 lead after three innings to beat the Marauders of the OIA and advance to the semifinals of the Division II state tournament.
The Wolfpack will play 'Aiea in one semifinal starting at 2 p.m. at the UH Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Waipahu will play Kamehameha-Maui at 5 p.m. today at O'ahu Central Regional Park Field 1.
WAIPAHU (8-4) 000 020 0-2 6 8
PAC-FIVE (8-7) 043 010 X-8 7 2
Elsa Apo and Krissaundra Noga. Jessica Ghazali, Courtney Gibo and Joedee Lovell, Cara Hasegawa. W-Ghazali. L-Apo.
Leading hitters-Waip: Apo 2-3. P5: Ghazali homer.
KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 12, KALAHEO 2
Megan Waiki had two hits and drove in three runs, and Kozy Toriano went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, powering the Warriors of the BIIF over the No. 2 seeded Mustangs of the OIA and into the semifinals.
The Warriors will play Sacred Hearts in the second semifinal at 4 p.m. at the UH Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Kalaheo will take on Kaua'i at 5 p.m. today at O'ahu Central Regional Park Field 2.
KALAHEO (10-1) 000 20- 2 2 5
KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 202 44-12 8 4
Kaliko Kepa and Kaliko Serrao. Courtney Poai and Kozy Toriano. W-Poai. L-Kepa.
Leading hitters-Kalah: Serrao 2-3, double. KSH: Toriano 3-4, 2 RBIs; Megan Waiki 2-3, 3 RBIs.
SACRED HEARTS 2, KAUA'I 1
Joslyn Eugenio drove in Samantha Saito to break a 1-all tie in the top of the sixth inning as the Lancers of the ILH upset the No. 3 seeded Red Raiders of the KIF.
SACRED HEARTS (6-10) 000 101 0-2 2 2
KAUA'I (11-2) 100 000 0-1 4 3
Joslyn Eugenio and Chelsea Kamai. Wailana Borrero and Sam Koga. W-Engunio. L-Borrero.
Leading hitters-Kaua'i: Randi Oketani 2-3, triple, double.
'AIEA 3, KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI 1
Rayna Strom-Okimoto went 2 for 3 and drove in two runs, and Ashley Scharsch scattered seven hits in leading Na Ali'i of the OIA to an upset of the No. 4 seeded Warriors from the MIL.
KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI (9-6) 000 001 0—1 7 2
'AIEA (9-2) 002 001 X—3 5 1
Manalani English and Sharron Matsuda. Ashley Scharsch and Sasha Andrade. W—Scharsch. L—English.
Leading hitters—KSM: English 2-3; Matsuda 2-3, double; Taena Garcia 2-3. 'Aiea: Tasha Johnson 2-3; Rayna Strom-Okimoto 2-3, 2 RBIs.
CONSOLATION
KOHALA 2, KONAWAENA 2
The Cowgirls defeated the Wildcats on a coin toss after both teams played to a 2-all tie after six innings.
KONAWAENA (9-5) 011 000-2 3 0
KOHALA (1-1) 100 100-2 3 0
Kayla Kurashige and Candice Fujino. Lavinia Holschuh and Kylie Gonsalves.
Leading hitter-Kon: Katie Bowman double.
KING KEKAULIKE 9, MOLOKA'I 4
Kelsey Nobriga, Mykel Love 2-2 and Carlyn Costales each had two hits to lead Na Ali'i.
KING KEKAULIKE (8-4-1) 234 0-9 8 4
MOLOKA'I (7-9) 110 2-4 2 4
Katie Pelangka, Candyce Love and Randi Gutina. Joreen Kepa and Shardae Maliu-Calairo. W-Pelangka. L-Kepa.
Leading hitters-KK: Kelsey Nobriga 2-3; Mykel Love 2-2; Carlyn Costales 2-3.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.