Homer lifts Kamehameha after 5 1/2 hours, 21 innings
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
In what may be the longest Hawai'i high school softball game in history, Kamehameha edged visiting Punahou, 2-1, yesterday after Brandi Peiler led off the bottom of the 21st inning with a solo inside-the-park home run.
Peiler's liner skipped past the Buffanblu's diving right fielder and rolled to the fence, allowing her to round the bases and score standing up. It ended a 5 1/2-hour marathon — including a seven-minute bathroom break for the teams after the 16th inning — and handed a tough loss to Punahou starter Sarah Weisskopf, who pitched 20 inspiring innings.
McKinley coach Leilani Okuda, who has been directly involved with high school softball here since 1979, said she cannot recall any game going that many innings.
The game not only was historical for its 14 extra frames, but it was crucial in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu title race.
Kamehameha (7-0-1) leaps into a first place tie with Iolani (7-1-1) as both have 15 championship points — two points for each win plus one point for a tie. Punahou (7-2) drops into second place with 14 points.
"This was just two really good teams going at it," Kamehameha coach Ty Sing Chow said. "We always preach to the girls about planning to play past seven innings, but in no way did we ever think it would go 21. It was an awesome game, but for the coaches, it was nerve-wracking."
Like they did in Monday's 0-0 tie with Iolani, the Warriors looked early on like they would put several runs on the board. Their first batter, Liane Horiuchi, gave Kamehameha a quick lead with a solo home run.
The Warriors then got five more hits over the next four innings, advancing runners into scoring position in the first, second, fourth and fifth. But Weisskopf escaped each jam with either flyouts or groundouts. She struck out six batters, but none until the 10th inning.
"She has a lot of movement, and she hits her off-speed pitches really well," Sing Chow said.
Kamehameha starter Noe Esperas, meanwhile, appeared to be cruising along for the first six innings. She allowed only two hits in that span, and just two runners advanced past first base — both times with two outs.
But Weisskopf led off the seventh with a walk, and courtesy runner Adrienne Tanaka moved to second on a walk and to third on Nancy Hamayasu's sacrifice. Tanaka then scored on Kelli Ishii's single to tie it.
Pinch-runner Erica Miyabara almost gave the Buffanblu a 2-1 lead on the next play, but she was thrown out at home on a groundout to Esperas.
Peiler replaced Esperas in the eighth and struck out 10 over the next seven innings before giving way to Kate Robinson, who had seven strikeouts in another seven innings of work.
"We're fortunate to have three quality pitchers," Sing Chow said. "But Sarah was unbelievable; she has a bionic arm. She proved how much she wanted it and threw a tough, gutty game. There's no question about her heart."
Peiler was equally amazed.
"I can't believe she pitched the whole game," she said.
PUN 000 000 100 000 000 000 000— 1 5 0
KS 100 000 000 000 000 000 001— 2 14 4
No outs when winning run scored.
Sarah Weisskopf and Kaha Weir; Noe Esperas, Brandi Peiler (8), Kate Robinson (15) and Kaulana Gould. W — Robinson. L — Weisskopf.
Leading hitters: Pun — Weisskopf 3-8, double; Cristen Aona triple. KS — Peiler 5-9, home run; Kaui Tom 4-8, double; Robinson 3-8, Liane Horiuchi home run.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
