Kailua beats Kamehameha for state softball title

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Sophomore Courtney Kessell pitched a five-hitter with eight strikeouts and Danielle Young had an RBI single and scored a run last night to lift the Kailua High School softball team to a 2-1 victory over Kamehameha and its first Chevron State Championship since 1997.

Kailua sophomore Courtney Kessell pitched a five-hitter with eight strikeouts, none of which was more important than the one that ended the game with a Kamehameha runner on third base. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

"To be honest, I was nervous throughout the whole game," Kessell said. "I knew Kamehameha was a great swinging team. But the team calmed me down and I calmed myself down."

Warriors starter Kate Robinson struck out the side in the first inning and had two strikeouts in the second. But Kailua took a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Young was hit by a pitch to lead off, advanced to second on Loke Lastimosa's sacrifice bunt and scored on Kamaile Hughes' two-out single to left field.

Kailua's Tanisha Milca runs to first base in the fifth inning in the final of the Chevron State Softball Championships at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The Surfriders defeated Kamehameha, 2-1, to avenge last year's title-game loss to the Warriors. Kailua completed its season with a 16-0 record, while Kamehameha finished 17-3. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Robinson was then removed for reliever Brandi Peiler, who proceeded to throw 3¡ shutout innings with five strikeouts.

"We faced (Peiler) in the preseason, but she showed she improved," Kessell said.

Kamehameha closed to 2-1 in the fifth after Sharee Fonoti singled, went to second on Napua Naumu's sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Emi Snow's single.

The Warriors put runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth, but Kessell got a strikeout to end the threat.

In the seventh, Kamehameha's Fonoti led off with a single, went to second on a wild pitch and took third on Nicole Kalakau's sacrifice bunt. Kessell then snared Kaulana Gould's line drive back up the box for the second out and got the final strikeout to end the game.

"We had confidence in her (Kessell)," said Young, a fourth-year senior outfielder. "This feels great. We've been wanting it ever since we lost to them last year."

• Mililani 18, Waiakea 0: Miki Asamura pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and no walks as the Trojans (15-2) beat the Warriors (11-4) for third place in a game shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.

Asamura also had three hits and three RBIs as Mililani banged out 17 hits.

Laine Shikuma went 2-for-2 for Waiakea, which committed six errors.

Trojans coach Mike Okimoto said Saturday night he encouraged his team to "play for pride" after a tough semifinal loss to Kamehameha.

"I told them if we finish third, that's third in state, not third in the (league)," Okimoto said. "I told them, 'To be one of the top three teams in the state, that's pretty good.' "

Mililani (15-2) 040 4(10)—18 17 1

Waiakea (11-4) 000 0 0— 0 2 6

Miki Asamura and Erika Au. Elise DuPonte and Jenna Yanagi. WP—Asamura. LP—DuPonte. Leading Hitters: Mili—Asamura 3-4, 3 RBIs; Stefanie Lum 2-3; Erika Au 2-5, 3 RBIs; Sandy Nakamura double, RBI; Charity Senas 4-5, double, 6 RBIs; B.J. Shimamoto 3-5, 2 RBIs. Waik— Laine Shikuma 2-2.

• Castle 6, Leilehua 1: Lia Pedrina pitched a five-hitter, taking a shutout into the top of the seventh, to lead Castle to the consolation championship.

Anu Young had two RBIs for the Knights while Nicole Ige batted 2-for-3 for Leilehua.

Leilehua (10-7) 000 000 1—1 5 5

Castle (12-4) 402 000 X—6 4 4

Alexis San Nicolas and Pikake Nutter-Gaudet. Lia Pedrina and Anu Young. WP—Pedrina. LP—San Nicolas.

Leading Hitters: Lei—Nicole Ige 2-3, RBI. Cast—Young double, 2 RBIs.

• • •