Kamehameha is best in state softball

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Kamehameha Schools softball team proved once and for all last night that it is the best in the state, winning the official crown with a 4-0 victory over Kailua at University of Hawai'i's Rainbow Wahine Stadium.

The Kamehameha Warriors celebrate after beating Kailua, 4-0, to win the state softball championship. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Unseeded Kailua (14-4) did not go down quietly, however, loading the bases with two outs and Jaushlyn Mansinon at the plate in the bottom of the seventh.

On a 3-2 pitch, Sing Chow got Mansinon to pop out to first to end the game.

Sing Chow, who struck out 11 in a quarterfinal victory over Waimea on Thursday and 10 in Friday's semifinal win over Baldwin, had only one strikeout last night.

"Kailua is a strong hitting team," said Sing Chow, a senior. "But I knew my defense would be there for me, because they always are. That just makes it more special, because we could do it as a team."

Kamehameha's offense provided single runs in the first and third innings.

In the first, Kate Robinson drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on Brandi Peiler's single.

In the third, Peiler hit a one-out double and scored on Sing Chow's double. Sing Chow's home run in the sixth, which cleared the center field fence, came with one out and followed a single by Peiler.

Kailua also put the ball in play, but Sing Chow and her defense kept the Surfriders from generating any rallies. Warriors right fielder Napua Naumu threw out two runners at first base, and until two outs in the seventh, Sing Chow did not allow a runner past second.

But the underdog Surfriders, with only one senior on their roster, showed they could be the team to watch in 2003. Freshman starter Courtney Kessell struck out five of the first six batters she faced, though none the rest of the game. She allowed six hits and walked one.

"I told her, 'No feel too bad,'" Kailua coach Bernard Victor said. "Not too many freshmen get to pitch in the state championship game."

Sing Chow, for one, never got that chance.

"I wish I knew what that felt like," Sing Chow said. "She's a very talented pitcher, and she has a very bright future."

Kamehameha coach Ty Sing Chow, Leo's uncle, said Kessell is no ordinary freshman.

"She's composed already," he said. "She had us fishing early on. She just made a couple of mistakes."

The rest of the young Surfriders also impressed Ty Sing Chow by not hanging their heads after falling behind 4-0 in the sixth.

"They played to the last pitch, the last out," Sing Chow said. "I give them great credit, because they never gave up."

Victor said the loss wasn't a total disappointment, considering Kailua finished third in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division and third in the OIA tournament.

Kamehameha was the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and state runner-up last year.

"I told our girls before the game that (the Warriors) had more to lose than us," Victor said. "Nobody expected us to be here."

Kamehameha had won six state titles, but none since 1998. The Warriors lost to Baldwin, 1-0, in last year's state championship game.

"Last year we were really sad because we worked so hard and came so close," said senior shortstop Ashley Ruff, who has signed to play for UH next season.

"This was our last chance, the last time we'd be playing together. It feels great."

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SEMIFINALS

• Kailua 2, Leilehua 1: Kessell pitched a three-hitter and struck out nine to lead the Surfriders past the Mules in a game that was suspended by rain Friday night.

Kessell, who walked none, allowed seven hits and struck out eight with three walks in a 4-3 victory over Leilehua two weeks ago. That win had given the Surfriders third place in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association.

Leilehua had taken a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on Ericka Ige's RBI single which scored Coco Guerrero. But that would be the Mules' last hit of the game as Kessell retired 10 of the next 11 batters.

Kailua offense, meanwhile, quickly erased Leilehua's lead by scoring two runs in the top of the fifth. Sharde Marshall led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Mansinon and came home on Kessell's single. Pinch runner Rusty Ann Borge then scored on an error after Danielle Young's single.

That's when the rains came Friday night, causing the remainder of the game to be played at yesterday.

KAILUA (14-3) 000 020 0—2 6 3
LEILEHUA (11-6) 000 100 0—1 3 1

W—Courtney Kessell. L—Alexis San Nicolas.

THIRD PLACE

• Baldwin 5, Leilehua 0: Angela Larose pitched a no-hitter to lead Baldwin past Leilehua in a game ended after six innings due to a time limit. Ashlyn Russell hit a solo home run for Baldwin.

BALDWIN 110 201—5 5 2
LEILEHUA 000 000—0 0 4

W—Angela Larose. L—Alexis San Nicolas

Leading hitter: Baldwin—Ashlyn Russell home run

FIFTH PLACE

• MILILANI 5, WAIMEA 0: Johnna Rowland shut out the Marauders, pitching a no-hitter before giving up a single to Bridget Louis in the sixth inning.

WAIMEA (12-3) 000 000 0—0 1 4
MILILANI (15-1) 004 001 x—5 6 0

W—Johnna Rowland. L—Albette Nawai.

Leading hitter: Mili— Miki Asamura 2-3, triple.

SEVENTH PLACE

• IOLANI 5, KAIMUKI 2: The Raiders scored two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings as they defeated the Bulldogs in the consolation final.

IOLANI (14-3) 000 122 0—5 9 4
KAIMUKI (12-5) 100 001 0—2 4 2

W—Ianeta Lei. L—Lovely Moyle.

Leading hitters: Iol—Maile Lei Sylva 2-4; Monique Obra 2-4; Jocelyn Tamayo 2-3; Blair Agena double. Kaim—Tyleen Tausaga 3-3, 2 doubles, 2 runs.