Kailua rallies past Pearl City to advance in OIA play
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
KAILUA — Like her players, Pearl City High School softball coach Cheyene Thompson got excited when the underdog Chargers jumped to a two-run lead in the first inning against perennial power Kailua yesterday.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I felt good," said Thompson, who starred for the Surfriders and the University of Hawai'i. "But I played for Kailua, so I knew they're a good hitting team and wouldn't just roll over."
Kailua's Chante Mundon dives back to first, beating the throw to the Pearl City's Shantell Lenchanko in an OIA tournament game at Kailua High.
Her alma mater proved her right.
The Surfriders answered with four runs in the bottom of the first and held on for a 4-2 victory in the first round of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association tournament.
Kailua, 9-2 and the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Division, will travel to Campbell (8-2) today for a 3:30 p.m. quarterfinal game against the Sabers (West No. 2).
Pearl City, 6-4-1 and the West's No. 6 seed, appeared primed for an upset yesterday. The Chargers scored runs after doubles by Kellie Nishikida and Kristin Lai and a single by Stacy Sakata.
But the Surfriders got doubles from Danielle Young and Deja Cavaco in the bottom of the first inning, followed by an RBI groundout by Sharde Marshall, and a run-scoring single by Tanisha Milca to take their own two-run lead.
"I was worried, like everybody else," Kailua coach Bernard Victor said. "Sometimes it's tough playing from behind. But (the deficit) probably gave our girls an incentive, because they got aggressive after that."
The two-run lead was more than enough for Young, the Surfriders' junior right-handed starter. She proceeded to pitch six hitless innings and did not allow another Charger past second base. She finished with a three-hitter while striking out two.
"I was nervous in the beginning, but then I got more relaxed and my defense helped me out a lot," Young said. "I just had to calm myself down on the mound."
Thompson said Young mixed things up after the first inning.
"She was throwing more changeups and hitting her spots well," Thompson said. "She's a very consistent pitcher. Our plan was to execute, but it was tough for us to bunt and play the short game."
Young also was one of Kailua's hitting stars, going 3-for-4.
"My coach has been helping me with my batting," said Young, who led off for the Surfriders yesterday. "This was the best game I've had with my hitting."
PEARL CITY (6-4-1) 200 000 0 — 2 3 1
KAILUA (9-2) 400 000 X — 4 10 1
W—Danielle Young. L—Kellie Nishikida.
Leading hitters: PC—Nishikida 1-3, double; Kristin Lai 1-3, double, RBI, Stacy Sakata 1-3, RBI. Kail—Young 3-4, double; Tanisha Milca 3-3, RBI; Kainoa Hughes 2-3; Deja Cavaco 1-3, double.
• • •
• LEILEHUA 4, KALANI 2: Alexis San Nicolas pitched a two-hitter, allowing two runs while striking out five and walking none.
Pikake Nutter-Gaudet hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to tie the score and Megan Correa sealed the victory with a two-run double in the fourth.
KALANI 100 100 0—2 2 2
LEILEHUA 010 300 x—4 4 2
WP—Alexis San Nicolas (2-hitter, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks). LP—Darci Takemoto.
Leading hitters: Lei—Pikake Nutter-Gaudet home run; Megan Correa double, 2 RBIs.
• • •
• MOANALUA 6, WAIPAHU 1: Amanda Shigetani and Jazminn Yamamoto each had two hits to lead the Menehune.
WAIPAHU 000 000 1—1 3 0
MOANALUA 111 003 x—6 11 0
WP—Mika Tanji. LP—Malama Manuma.
Leading hitters: Waip—Amanda Shigetani 2-4, double; Jazminn Yamamoto 2-3. Moan—Tina Noga double.
• • •
• ROOSEVELT 4, WAI'ANAE 2: Kellie Tanabe allowed two runs on five hits while striking out one to pick up the win for the Rough Riders.
ROOSEVELT 100 020 1—4 4 2
WAI'ANAE 002 000 0—2 5 4
WP—Kellie Tanabe (5-hitter, 1 strikeout). LP—Tracy Kane.
Leading hitters: Roos—Ashlie Dutro 2-4. Waian—Wailana Darden 2-3.
Softball Tournament
(Seeds preceding teams; records in parentheses)
(all games 3:30 p.m. unless noted)
Yesterday's first round results
• Roosevelt 4, Wai'anae 2
• Kailua 4, Pearl City 2
• Leilehua 4, Kalani 2
• Moanalua 6, Waipahu 1
Today's quarterfinals
• East No. 5 Roosevelt (7-4) at East No. 1 Castle (10-0)
• East No. 3 Kailua (9-2) at West No. 2 Campbell (8-2)
• West No. 3 Leilehua (8-3) at East No. 2 Kaimuki (9-1)
• East No. 4 Moanalua (8-3) at West No. 1 Mililani (10-0)
Tomorrow
Semifinals
Today's winners at higher seeds
Consolation bracket
Today's losers at higher seeds
Friday
Fifth-place game
Thursday's consolation winners at Kapolei High School field
Saturday
At HPU Windward campus field
Third-place game
Thursday's semifinal losers, 11 a.m.
Championship game
Thursday's semifinal winners, following third-place game
Note: If there is a tie in seeding, home field will be awarded by coin toss.
MAUI SOFTBALL
• BALDWIN 6, MAUI 0: Kristi Ah Yen had three hits and Genna Mailou and Ashley Russell had two hits apiece for the Bears.
Sabrina Mindoro pitched a complete game, giving up eight hits and striking out five.
BALDWIN 000 330 0—6 9 0
MAUI 000 000 0—0 8 1
WP—Sabrina Mindoro (8-hitter, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk). LP—Jana Medeiros.
Leading hitters: Bald— Kristi Ah Yen 3-3; Genna Mailou 2-3; Ashley Russell 2-4, RBIs. Maui—Ashley Tone 2-3.
MIL standings
Baldwin 12-0
Lahaianaluna 10-2
Maui 6-6
Lanai 6-6
Molokai 6-6
King Kekaulike 2-10
Hana 0-12
