Mililani turns focus on Baldwin
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Hawai'i High School Athletic Association softball tournament pairings finally have been set in stone — to the joy of some and consternation of others — and now it's time to settle differences on the field.
Advertiser library photo
The tournament starts today with four first-round games at the University of Hawai'i's Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, beginning with Castle (11-2) vs. Kea'au (7-2) at 1 p.m.
Kailua junior Courtney Kessell may get the call today when the Surfriders (11-1-1) play Waimea (11-0).
Other games have Mililani (11-2) facing Baldwin (14-3) at 3, Kailua (11-1-1) playing Waimea (11-0) at 5, and Punahou (11-3) meeting Pearl City (9-3-1) at 7.
Kailua and Baldwin swapped places in the bracket late Monday afternoon following a discovery of an overlooked guideline, and yesterday Mililani was still trying to figure out why another guideline did not prompt the HHSAA to have it swapping places with Kailua, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's third-place team.
But Mililani coach Mike Okimoto said that while he and his players — who were OIA runners-up — felt cheated by the prospect of having to face No. 1 seed Kamehameha (13-0-1) in tomorrow's quarterfinals, the best way to lift their spirits is to win.
"The coaches and (athletic directors) did all they could already, so now we just gotta play," Okimoto said. "I told the girls we just have to focus on Baldwin first, because they're a good team, and we gotta do our best to beat them."
Coaches seem to agree that this year's tournament field is one of the most balanced, with no truly dominant team. Consider, for example, that Kamehameha played to a nine-inning, 0-0 tie with Iolani, which did not qualify for the tournament. The Warriors also needed 21 innings to defeat Punahou, 2-1.
Also consider that Leilehua, the only team to defeat Mililani during the regular season, also failed to qualify for the tournament. Castle, which is 11-2, earned a berth only after edging Leilehua in the OIA fifth-place game.
"We're happy with the No. 1 seed, but I thought it really doesn't matter who we play after looking at all the teams," Kamehameha coach Ty Sing Chow said Sunday night. "Mililani is tough, and we thought Kailua is better than their record. And if you look at the other bracket, you've got Kapolei (12-1), Punahou, Pearl City and Castle ... You just don't know who will win because that's how good all of the teams are."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ACES
Kailua junior Courtney Kessell is the reigning Advertiser State Player of the Year and still is Hawai'i's top strikeout pitcher. Even in her one loss (to Kapolei, 4-0), she struck out eight. In a 2-2 tie with Pearl City, Kessell had 12 strikeouts. She also had 13-strikeout games against Leilehua and Castle, the latter a no-hit performance. ... The hottest pitcher coming into the tournament may be Kapolei sophomore Tajia Acierto, who tossed a pair of two-hitters and a four-hitter in the OIA tournament, including two shutouts. Unlike Kessell, Acierto is not a big strikeout pitcher but has what Okimoto calls a "sneaky fast" delivery that induces a lot of groundouts and flyouts. ... Kamehameha actually has three pitchers who are capable of throwing complete games: seniors Brandi Peiler and Kate Robinson and sophomore Noe Esperas. In the 21-inning marathon against Punahou, each pitched seven innings and combined for 18 strikeouts. ... Punahou junior Sarah Weisskopf may be the craftiest pitcher in the tournament. After all, she managed to last 20-plus innings against Kamehameha by scattering 14 hits while striking out only six. ... Waiakea senior Elise DuPonte may not have a marquee name like the other pitchers, but she more than held her own in last year's tournament. DuPonte pitched a complete game in the Warriors' 3-2 upset of Punahou in the first round and then tossed a four-hitter in a quarterfinal victory over Waimea. ... Mililani sophomore Dana Lee has filled the shoes of two-time Advertiser All-State pitcher Miki Asamura. Lee came through in several clutch games, including a 1-0 regular-season victory over Kapolei, an eight-inning three-hitter in a 3-1 victory over Wai'anae, a one-hit shutout of Kahuku in the OIA quarterfinals and a five-hitter in a 7-1 OIA semifinal win over Pearl City.
ACIERTO
SLUGGERS
Kapolei has three of the state's top hitters coming from the same family in the Manuma sisters — sophomore Anita, junior Malama and senior Valana. They hit second, fourth and fifth, respectively, in a loaded lineup. Sandwiched in the No. 3 spot is Austi Paris, who went 7 for 9 with four doubles in the OIA tournament. ... Kamehameha's lineup is solid from top to bottom: Liane Horiuchi, Kaulana Gould, Peiler, Sharee Fonoti, Nicole Kalakau, Robinson, Lena Nahale, Emi Snow and Kaui Tom. Horiuchi can hit home runs from the leadoff spot and has the speed to get bunt hits and stolen bases. Gould, Peiler, Fonoti, Kalakau, Robinson and Snow are headed to college programs. Even Tom, the No. 9 hitter, is a threat as evidenced by her performance against Iolani, when she went 2 for 3, including the go-ahead RBI single. ... Mililani senior Charity Senas missed all but two regular season games with a torn medial collateral ligament, but returned to play third base in the OIA tournament. When healthy, Senas has the speed to bat leadoff and the power to bat third or cleanup. ... Kessell, Weisskopf, Lee, DuPonte and Acierto are not just their teams' respective aces, but also among their most consistent hitters. Punahou also has a dangerous No. 3 hitter in junior Gail Matsushima. ... Pearl City, led by the Nishikidas (Kellie and Corrie), Krystal Plunkett, Marina Guzman, Kanani Numata, Shanna Viera and Noelle Hirahara, pounded out a staggering 17 hits against Castle in the OIA quarterfinals. The Chargers love to hit fastballs. ... Much of Waiakea's offense comes from DuPonte, Nicole Riviera, Laine Shikuma, Krystelle Garcia and Leigh Springer. ... Kea'au lost to Waiakea in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship game 4-3 in eight innings. The Cougars' top hitters are Angelica Moniz-Naki, Leidine Keli'ikoa and Ku'uipo Nihipali.
SENAS
GLOVES
Many of the plays in softball are made by shortstops, and the tournament features several good ones. Kamehameha's Fonoti has signed with Utah and can make the diving stop and throw from the hole. Valana Manuma has signed with UH and plays second base on Kapolei's baseball team. Kimberly Goo filled in admirably for Senas during the regular season. Punahou junior Shanna-Lei Dacanay is a standout basketball player who helps Weisskopf get by with few strikeouts. Castle senior Kalena Souza has range, good footwork and a strong arm. ... Mililani center fielder Samantha Bolosan has made outstanding catches in center field, as has Kapolei senior Amanda Shigetani. Anita Manuma covers a lot of ground in left field. Kamehameha's Tom has made several clutch plays in right field and can make the 9-3 putout. The Warriors' Gould has signed with UH and discourages potential base stealers with her throwing arm.
FONOTI
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
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| Softball
DataHouse State Championships Division I At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, UH TODAY G1—Kea'au vs. Castle, 1 p.m. TOMORROW Consolation G5—Losers of G2 and G3, 9 a.m. Winners' bracket G7—Waiakea vs. Kailua-Waimea winner, 1 p.m. G8—Lahainaluna vs. Punahou-Pearl City winner, 3 p.m. G9—Kapolei vs. Kea'au-Castle winner, 5 p.m. G10—Kamehameha vs. Mililani-Baldwin winner, 7 p.m. FRIDAY Consolation G11—Losers of G8 and G9, 10 a.m. G12—Losers of G7 and G10, noon Semifinals G13—Winners of G8 and G9, 6 p.m. G14—Winners of G7 and G10, 8 p.m. SATURDAY Consolation—Winners of G5 and G6, noon Fifth place—Winners of G11 and G12, 2 p.m. Third place—Losers of G13 and G14, 4 p.m., Championship—Winners of G13 and G14, 8 p.m.
At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, UH FRIDAY Semifinals University vs. Honoka'a, 2 p.m. Kalaheo vs. Lana'i, 4 p.m. SATURDAY Third place—Semifinal losers, 10 a.m. Championship—Semifinal winners, 6 p.m. |
