Sabers hold off Menehune for 2-1 win
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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WAIPI'O — Loreen Egdamin scored a run in the first inning and drove in another in the fifth, and starting pitcher Bre Patton escaped a runner-on-third, no-out situation in the bottom of the seventh last night as Campbell held on to defeat Moanalua, 2-1, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association softball semifinals.
The Sabers, ranked No. 4 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 11-3 in league play and will face No. 1 Mililani (12-1) in tonight's championship game.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Patsy Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park, and the game will be televised live statewide on OC16.
Moanalua, ranked No. 3, fell to 12-2.
Na Menehune starter Sarah Robinson pitched a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts in a quarterfinal win over Leilehua on Thursday, but Campbell struck early last night.
Egdamin led off the game with a single to right field and stole second base, then advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on Leinna Kalua's sacrifice fly to center.
The Sabers made it 2-0 in the fifth after Randi Schoening hit a two-out single to left and pinch-runner Collette Black scored on Egdamin's double to left-center.
Meanwhile, Patton retired the first seven Moanalua batters in order but Na Menehune began to chip away in the fourth, putting runners at first and second with two outs. Catcher Anuhea Yamaguchi threw out a potential base stealer at third to end the inning, but Moanalua got two more hits in the fifth, advancing a runner to third.
This time, Patton got a grounder back to the mound to escape the jam. Moanalua had eight hits and stranded six runners over the final five innings.
"I knew I had my defense backing me up, and I just put my trust in them," said Patton, who finished with three strikeouts. "I tried to hit my spots and give (the defense) routine plays."
Egdamin's RBI single in the fifth gave Campbell a 2-0 lead, but Na Menehune cut it to 2-1 in the sixth after Robinson's triple brought home Hoku Dela Cruz.
Lauren Oumaye then led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right that got past the fielder and rolled to the fence, allowing Oumaye to reach third base. But Patton got a pop-up to second and two strikeouts to end the game.
"We had our chances, total chances," said Moanalua coach Kristie Morikawa. "But in this tournament, every team is going to be a battle. (The Sabers) came through when they had to, and that's what we gotta do. We had two freshmen up there (batting in the seventh), so that's what you call experience. This was a 'Thank you,' game for us — thank you for the experience."
Campbell suffered a key injury in the fourth when Katie Manuma twisted her right knee in the batter's box. She left the game and did not return, wearing an ice pack on the knee after the game.
Sabers coach David Perreira said Manuma had been scheduled to be tonight's starting pitcher.
CAMPBELL (11-3) 100 010 0 — 2 7 2
MOANALUA (12-2) 000 001 0 — 1 8 0
Bre Patton and Anuhea Yamaguchi. Sarah Robinson and Kylee Oshiro W — Patton. L — Robinson.
Leading hitters — Campbell: Loreen Egdamin 2-3, double, RBI; Randi Schoening 2-3. Moanalua: Robinson 2-3, triple; Lauren Oumaye 2-3.
Read Wes' blog on prep sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.