Kailua softball reigns over Castle, 7-0
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
A wet field caused by morning showers postponed Wednesday's high school softball showdown between Castle and Kailua.
But for Castle, the real downpour happened in the second inning yesterday, when visiting Kailua rained seven hits on Knights ace Lia Pedrina and scored all but one of its runs in a 7-0 victory.
The Surfriders now sit alone atop the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division standings with a 6-0 record. Castle fell to 6-1.
Although the win came a day late, it was well worth the wait for Kailua.
"We so wanted to play (on Wednesday)," said Surfriders ace Courtney Kessell, who pitched a six-hitter with 12 strikeouts and two walks. "I was all ready the night before; I slept early and was all pumped up the next morning. Then we found out after school (about the postponement), and we were so mad."
Kailua unwound in the second inning, after being set down in order in the opening frame. The Surfriders sent 10 batters to the plate, getting RBI singles from Chante Mundon, Erin Guerrero, Danielle Young and Loke Lastimosa. The other two runs came on Tanisha Milca's RBI groundout and Young's delayed steal of home.
That was more than enough support for Kessell, although the Knights threatened in the sixth by loading the bases with one out. But Kessell got a strikeout and Milca made a running catch of Kristen Uza's long drive to left field to snuff the rally.
"The lead made me feel comfortable, because I knew even if I made a mistake, it wouldn't matter as much," Kessell said. "But I tried to stay focused, and the rest of the team stayed focused, too."
Pedrina allowed only two earned runs in nine regular-season games last year, but Kailua was able to swing the bat consistently yesterday and hit to all fields throughout the lineup. Pedrina gave up 10 hits and had only one strikeout.
"Kailua is a strong-hitting team," Castle coach Jon Berinobis said. "They put the ball in play and make things happen. They got runners on and when we moved up our infield, they got hits over our defense. Spotting Courtney one run is tough, but six ..."
Even veteran Surfriders coach Bernard Victor was impressed with how his team swung the bat against such a quality pitcher.
"We came out hitting," Victor said. "I was surprised."
Kessell's performance was less of a shock. As a freshman last year, she went 8-3 in the regular season and playoffs and struck out 76. Kessell's trademark riser helped her strike out five in the first two innings yesterday.
"We knew she'd be tough to hit, but trying to lay off that riser is tough," Berinobis said. "She improved from last year. She has a lot of poise."
Victor said a year of maturity has benefitted his team, which lost only one senior after finishing second in the state tournament.
"Courtney is bigger and stronger, and her ball is a little faster than last year," Victor said. "The whole team is better."
Kailua 060 000 1—7 10 0
Castle 000 000 0—0 6 2
Courtney Kessell and Erin Guerrero, Kainoa Hughes (5). Lia Pedrina and Anuhea Young. WP—Kessell. LP—Pedrina.
Leading hitters: Kail—Kamaile Hughes 2-3, triple, 2 runs; Chante Mundon 1-2, 1 RBI; Guerrero 1-2, 1 RBI. Cast—Lia Pedrina 2-4; Sachelle Featheran 2-2.
• KAHUKU 9, KAISER 8: Kawehi Uli'i singled to short with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to score Nicole Pouha with the winning run.
Shawna Kanoa had three hits and five RBIs for Kahuku.
Kaiser 202 001 300—8 11 5
Kahuku 230 100 201—9 17 2
Lindsay Gibu and Whitney Yui. Shawna Kanoa, Kawehi Uli'i (7) and Ulii, Kanoa. WP—Kanoa. LP— Gibu.
Leading hitters: Kais— Samantha Saffery 2-4, 1 RBI; Karry Austin 2-3, 1 RBI; Sharde Pratt triple, 2 RBIs. Kahuk—Kanoa 3-5, triple, 5 RBIs; Casey Kaiwa 3-5, 1 RBI; Agesha Lightsy 2-3, 1 RBI.
Reported by Anue Santiago
• KALANI 8, FARRINGTON 2: Heather Takahashi allowed six hits and struck out seven to lead the Falcons.
Ashlee DeGuzman and Casey BeeBe had two hits each to lead Kalani.
Kalani 330 200 0—8 10 1
Farrington 101 000 0—2 6 2
Heather Takahashi and Ashlee DeGuzman. Billie Morn and Tiffany Pei. WP—Takahashi. LP— Morn.
Leading hitters: Kalan— A. DeGuzman 2-3, triple; Casey BeeBe 2-4; Nikki Woitovitch triple. Farr—Krista Mejia 2-3, double; Charde Caballero 2-3, double.
Reported by Eric Arasato
• MOANALUA 16, MCKINLEY 0: Mika Tanji and Melissa Force combined for Moanalua's no-hitter with seven strikeouts.
Camille Peraro and Jasmine Shigematsu each had three hits to lead the Tigers' 18-hit offense.
Moanalua 333 16—16 18 0
McKinley 000 00— 0 0 4
Mika Tanji, Melissa Force (4) and Jazminn Yamamoto. Dawn Yara and Evita Cabrera. WP—Tanji. LP—Yara.
Leading hitters: Moan—Amanda Shigetani 2-3, 3 RBIs; Tanji homer; Kepua Lee 2-4, double, homer, 3 RBIs; Camille Peraro 3-4, triple; Jasmine Shigematsu 3-4, Shelby Nakachi 2-2; Yamamoto 2-3, 2 RBIs.
Reported by Leilani Okuda
• ROOSEVELT 10, KALAHEO 0: Kelli Tanabe pitched a two-hitter and batted 3-for-4 to propel the Rough Riders.
Kaliko Kepa had both Mustang hits.
Roosevelt 130 105—10 9 1
Kalaheo 000 000—0 2 1
Kelli Tanabe and Chevelle Kauahipaula. Kaliko Kepa and Kaliko Serrao. WP—Tanabe. LP—Kepa.
Leading hitters: Roos—Kristen Tanabe 2-4; Tanabe 3-4; Makara Frank 2-3. Kalah—Kepa 2-3.
Reported by Al Cofran
• PEARL CITY 46, RADFORD 0: Krystall Plunkett batted 6-for-7 and teamed with Kellie Nishikita on a five-inning one-hitter for the Chargers.
Celine Akana hit two home runs for Pearl City, which amassed 29 hits.
Radford 000 00—0 1 5
Pearl City 4 (10)(16) (16)x—46 29 0
Filamana Manuma, Adrienne Poulain (3), Manuma (3) and Adrienne Poulain and Sam Long. Krystall Plunkett , Kellie Nishikita (5) and Stacey Sakata. WP—Plunkett. LP— Manuma.
Leading hitters: PC— Celine Akana 2-6, 2 home runs, 4 RBIs; Plunkett 6-7; Marci Lobendahn 4-7, 3 runs, 2 RBIs.
Reported by Cheyene Hoshino
• KAPOLEI 10, 'AIEA 0: Tajia Aceirto and Chaz Ebaloarosa combined for a six-inning , and Malama Manuma had four hits and three RBIs to lead Kapolei.
'Aiea 000 000—0 0 2
Kapolei 024 022—10 14 0
Pukai Castillo and Megan Sakamoto. Tajia Aceirto, Chaz Ebaloarosa (5) and Jasmin Yoro. WP—Aceirto. LP—Castillo.
Leading hitters: Kapo—Malama Manuma 4-4, triple, 3 RBIs; Valana Manuma 2-3, 2 doubles; Austi Paris 2-3, 2 doubles.
Reported by Linda Naone
• MILILANI 14, WAIPAHU 1: Dana Lee and Miki Asamura combined for a two-hitter, both to Nicole Vierra, to lift the Trojans.
Mililani 851 00—14 9 0
Waipahu 001 00— 1 2 0
Dana Lee, Miki Asamura (4) and Erika Au. Nicole Vierra, Nicole Enos (2), Noela Noga (3) and Jenna Rosario, Enos (3). WP—Lee. LP—Vierra.
Leading hitters: Mili— Au 3-4, double, 4 RBIs; Charity Senas 2-3, 3 RBIs; Brittny Shimamoto 2 RBIs; Lee 2 RBIs. Waip—Vierra 2-3.
Reported by Leighton Kaapana
• NANAKULI 6, WAIALUA 3: Johnelle Ioane and Victoria Mao hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth to boost Nanakuli.
Waialua 011 000 1—3 4 4
Nanakuli 111 030 x—6 8 3
Jaylyn Keao and Ashley Onizuka. Charloreal Kekuna and Jandie Higashi. WP—Kekuna. LP—Keao.
Leading hitters: Nana— J. Higashi 2-3, 2 singles; Johnelle Ioane home run, 2 RBIs; Victoria Mao hom run; C. Kekuna 2-3, 2 singles.
Reported by Houston Anderson Jr.
