After all, she did get to play at the University of Hawai'i's plush Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium in front of a capacity crowd of 1,200 and a live statewide TV audience. And she got a shiny state runner-up medal to keep forever.

"This was great," said Tsuruda, a starting shortop who transferred to Kalaheo this year after sitting on the Kailua bench for three seasons. "Nobody thought we could get this far, especially since this team won only one or two games last year. So just to be here, that's an accomplishment."

The inaugural Data House State Division II title game quickly turned into a rout after the Junior 'Bows (10-7) scored one run in the first inning, two in the second and seven in the third. Mandy Yoshizu hit two triples and drove in a run to lead UHS' offense, and Jessica Ghazali pitched a one-hitter with five strikeouts in shutting out the Mustangs (7-7).

But even for the champions, it did not lose any significance just because the game was shortened to five innings because of the 10-run rule or because their trophy has "Division II" written on it.

"I want to thank the people who started this (tournament), I'm really happy they did it," said Ghazali, who has only 53 others in her sophomore class. "We're a really small school, but they gave our team an opportunity."

Junior 'Bows head coach Randy Oyama got to play in state baseball tournaments while attending 'Aiea in the early 1980s, and he said he's glad UHS' girls got to be a part of the same atmosphere.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Oyama, a former standout first baseman at UH. "I feel like if we play ball, we can compete with anybody. We beat Iolani and were tied with Kamehameha 0-0 for five innings. But the (Interscholastic League of Honolulu) is highly competitive and every game is tough. So this is a great idea — it hurts no one and helps a lot of teams like ours. I think they should do it for all the sports."

Despite the loss, and the fact that her former teammates were playing Kapolei in the Division I title game afterward, Tsuruda said the transfer was worth it.

"I wouldn't be playing at Kailua, and for me that's all I ever wanted to do," she said. "It's not all about winning. It's also about playing softball and having fun."

• KALAHEO (7-7) 000 00 — 0 1 3
• UNIVERSITY HIGH (10-7) 127 0X — 10 9 0

Kailko Kepa and DeAnn Horswill; Jessica Ghazali and Iwalani Yamaguchi.

Leading hitters—University High: Mandy Yoshizu 2-2, two triples, RBI; Reesene Choy 2-3, double, RBI.

• Lana'i 10, Honoka'a 1: Jerri Fauate'a pitched a four-hitter to lead the Pine Lasses past the Dragons in the third-place game.

Fauate'a, Liana Alboro and Kayla each had two hits for Lana'i of the Maui Interscholastic League.

The two teams combined for 14 errors, including nine by Honoka'a of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.

The game was called after six innings because of a time limit.

• LANA'I (10-8) 221 311—10 9 5
• HONOKA'A (7-5) 100 000— 1 2 9

Jerri Fauate'a and Liana Alboro. Deynna Pahio and Whitney Acdal. W—Fauate'a. L—Pahio.

Leading hitters—Lana'i: Fauate'a 2-4, RBI;Alboro 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kayla Eligado 2-4. Honoka'a: Brancy Juan triple.