Posted on: Saturday, February 2,2002

SOFTBALL
Kamehameha cruises past defending champ Baldwin

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kamehameha pitcher Leo Sing Chow avenged last season's loss to Baldwin, pitching a four-hitter while striking out 10 in an 8-1 victory. Eugene Tanner • The The Honolulu Advertiser . . . At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium Yesterday's Results Iolani 6, Kealakehe 2 Waimea 7, Waiakea 2 Mililani 6, Maui 2 Semifinals Kamehameha 8, Baldwin 1 Leilehua vs. Kailua, suspended Today's Games Noon — Leilehua vs. Kailua, continuation of suspended game 1 p.m. — Iolani vs. Kaimuki 3 p.m. — Waimea vs. Mililani 5 p.m. — Baldwin vs. Kailua-Leilehua loser 7 p.m. — Kamehameha vs. Kailua-Leilehua winner Note: No admission will be charged for today's completion of the Kailua-Leilehua semifinal game. After the game, the stadium will be cleared and regular admission will be charged for the regularly scheduled tournament games. Admission: Adults $7, students (K-12) $5. Radio: Championship game will be broadcast live on AM 650.

The Baldwin High School softball team already knew that repeating as state champion would be tough, but last night the Bears learned that beating an older and improved Leo Sing Chow might be even tougher.

Sing Chow, a Kamehameha senior who pitched a one-hitter against Baldwin in last year's state title game only to lose 1-0, tossed a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts last night to lead the Warriors past the Bears 8-1 in a state semifinal at the University of Hawai'i's Rainbow Wahine Stadium.

Kamehameha will play the winner of night's suspended game between Kailua and Leilehua tonight at 7.

The Kailua-Leilehua game was suspended because of rain with Kailua batting and leading 2-1 with two out in the top of the fifth. The suspended game will begin at noon today.

The Warriors got all the runs they needed in the first inning on Brandy Peiler's RBI single and Sing Chow's run-scoring groundout. They added a run in the third on two hits and two errors.

Baldwin made it 3-1 in the fourth inning on two hits and two errors, but a chance to close the margin further an inning later disappeared on a key double play.

The Bears got their leadoff runner on, but the next batter was thrown out at first by right fielder Napua Naumu and first baseman Kate Robinson pegged the lead runner on a backdoor throw to second. So instead of having a runner in scoring position with one out, Baldwin was left with two outs and no one on base.

"That play was huge, because softball can be a game of momentum," Bears coach Ryan Souza said.

Sing Chow agreed.

"That was a big play and it helped us get fired up again," Sing Chow said. "We didn't do (the backdoor play) before and we got yelled at, so it's something we've been practicing a lot. It finally paid off."

Kamehameha put the game away in the sixth with five runs on four hits. Sing Chow closed the door on Baldwin's offense by allowing only three of the final 14 batters to reach base, none advancing past first. She struck out six of those batters.

"She's bigger and stronger (this year), and she's got more pop," Souza said. "Her movement got better, too, and she used the changeup to complement everything. She was comfortable and didn't need much of a lead. But like I told our girls, it couldn't happen to a nicer kid. She did awesome."

Sing Chow said she was careful in pitching to the Bears lineup, and was wary of Baldwin's speed on the base paths.

"I tried to move the ball around and change speeds, because anything that came in straight, they ripped it," Sing Chow said. "I also had to try and keep them off the bases."

She did that with no walks, and her defense supported her with no errors. Sing Chow also said the memory of last year's loss helped.

"I've thought about it a lot in the past year," she said. "We used it as motivation. It felt good to play them again, because (last year's loss) helped drive us all season to work hard."

BALDWIN (16-4) 000 100 0—1 4 3

KAMEHAMEHA (16-0) 210 005 x—8 9 2

W—Leo Sing Chow (10 strikeouts); L—Sabrina Alesna-Mindoro

Leading hitters: Baldwin—Ashlyn Russell 2-3. Kamehameha—Brandi Peiler 2-3, 3 RBIs; Ashley Ruff 2 runs scored; Kate Robinson 2 runs scored.

Leading hitters: Waim—Ann Guewa-Bucasas 2-3, double, Waiak—Myra Amisone 2-3, double.