Leilehua topples Mililani to reach state semifinals

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

It could have been known as "the shot heard around Central O'ahu," except Pikake Nutter-Gaudet's two-run homer yesterday happened at the University of Hawai'i's Rainbow Wahine Stadium in Manoa.

Kailua's Kamaile Hughes connects for a two-run double in the first inning of yesterday's quarterfinal game against Maui. Kailua advanced to today's semifinals of the Chevron girls state softball championships with a 11-2 victory. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Mules, who finished fourth in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, will play Kailua (13-3) at 8 p.m. in a matchup of unseeded Cinderella teams. Kailua defeated Leilehua 4-3 two weeks ago in the OIA's third-place game.

Nutter-Gaudet's home run came on a 1-0 pitch with one out in the bottom of the first inning after a walk to Shannon Guerrero. Although it was not a bottom-of-the-ninth shot, it had the same dramatic impact because it drove in the game's only runs. Mules starter Alexis San Nicolas pitched a three-hitter to shut out the No. 2-seeded Trojans (13-1) and help Leilehua to its first win over Mililani since 1998.

This year, the Trojans edged the Mules 3-2 in the regular season and 5-0 in the OIA semifinals.

"We didn't want to lose to them again," said Nutter-Gaudet, whose home run was her sixth of the year.

Leilehua coach MaryAnn Christian said Nutter-Gaudet actually entered the tournament in a bit of a slump, and she considered moving her a spot up or down from the cleanup position to take some pressure off.

"But when I asked her, she said, 'Coach, I can do it,'" Christian said.

Aside from Nutter-Gaudet, the person most happy about the home run was San Nicolas.

"When she hit it, I said, 'Finally, about time,'" San Nicolas said. "It made me relax out there (on the mound). And it came at the right game, the right time, because we really wanted this win."

Mililani coach Mike Okimoto said that was obvious.

"They're a scrappy team and they've got heart," Okimoto said. "They're a tough, aggressive team, and they won when it counted."

MILILANI (13-1) 000 000 0—0 3 1
LEILEHUA (11-5) 200 000 x—2 4 2

WP—Alexis San Nicolas. LP—Miki Asamura.

Leading hitters: Mili—Christal Chong 2-3. Lei—Shannon Guerrero 2-2; Pikake Nutter-Gaudet home run.

• Kailua 11, Maui 2: The Surfriders jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first inning and Danielle Young pitched a four-hitter to help Kailua (13-3) advance to tonight semifinal against Leilehua.

Kamaile Hughes went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Young, Loke Lastimosa and Jaushlyn Mansinon also had two hits each for the Surfriders.

MAUI (10-8) 000 020 0—2 4 5
KAILUA (13-3) 810 020 x—11 14 3

WP—Danielle Young. LP—Jana Lee Medeiros.

Leading hitters: Maui—Medeiros 2-3. Kail—Young 2-5, Loke Lastimosa 2-3; Kamaile Hughes 2-3, 2 RBIs; Jaushlyn Mansinon 2-3.

• Baldwin 8, Waiakea 0: The Bears played their second straight errorless game of the tournament yesterday and advanced to tonight's semifinals. Baldwin, defending state champion and the Maui Interscholastic League runner-up, will play top-seeded Kamehameha in tonight's semifinals at 6.

To get an idea of the Bears' defensive effort yesterday, consider that starting pitcher Sabrina Alesna-Mindoro threw a one-hitter without any strikeouts.

"I like (UH baseball coach) Mike Trapasso's philosophy," Baldwin coach Ryan Souza said. "I like to emphasize defense. Especially in this year's tournament — there aren't too many totally dominant pitchers, so you're going to give up hits. It's more of a hitters' tournament, so it'll probably be won on defense."

The Bears' pressure-oriented offense, which scored two runs in the top of the first inning, allowed them to play "D" while protecting a lead. Leadoff batter Faaali Patolo started with a walk, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. No. 2 hitter Zoie Sevilla followed with another walk and stolen base. Patolo came home on Kristi Ah Yen's groundout and Sevilla scored on Alesna-Mindoro's single.

Baldwin made it 5-0 in the third inning on three hits, a hit batter and an error.

BALDWIN (16-3) 203 012 0—8 8 1
WAIAKEA (11-3) 000 000 0—0 1 4

WP—Sabrina Alesna-Mindoro. LP—Myra Amisone.

Leading hitters: Bald—Zoie Sevilla 2-3, 3 runs; Kristi Ah Yen 2-3, 2 runs; Alesna-Mindoro 3-4, 3 RBIs.

• Kamehameha 3, Waimea 0: Senior left-hander Leo Sing Chow pitched a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts and two walks and also hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to lead the No. 1-seeded Warriors (15-0) past the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion Menehune (11-2).

Sing Chow struck out five of the first six batters she faced and six of the first nine, taking a perfect game into the fourth inning. The only hit she allowed was a double by Destinie Maka Keamoai with one out in the bottom of the fourth.

Sing Chow retired the next eight batters before walking two in the seventh. She then got a groundout and strikeout to end the game. She finished with 64 strikes in 88 pitches.

Kamehameha took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on Kaulana Gould's two-run single.

KAMEHEMEHA (15-0) 020 000 1—3 6 0
WAIMEA (11-2) 000 000 0—0 1 2

WP—Leo Sing Chow. LP—Alexis Nawai.

Leading hitters: Kam—Sing Chow 2-3, home run.

• Kaimuki 7, Castle 2: Sheena Asaau went 3-for-4 and scored two runs to lead the way for Kaimuki of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association over Eastern Division rival Castle in a consolation game. Lovely Moyle allowed two runs on six hits to pick up the win.

CASTLE (12-3) 011 000 0—2 6 4
KAIMUKI (12-4) 113 101 x—7 7 2

WP—Lovely Moyle. LP—Anuhea Young.

Leading hitters: Cast—Puna Waiolama 2-3. Kaim—Sheena Asaau 3-4.