Punahou ace reloads after marathon

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

WEISSKOPF

She went 2 for 3 with a double and RBI as a designated player in the Buffanblu's 5-0 victory over visiting Maryknoll.

"(The arm) felt good today, but yesterday it was sore," Weisskopf said. "I just lied down all day and relaxed."

She certainly deserved the rest.

The 21-inning game is believed to be the longest since Hawai'i high school softball began in 1977, and Weisskopf's 20 innings pitched (she gave up the game-winning home run leading off the bottom of the 21st) also is considered a state record.

The national record for longest game is 35 innings, played by two Huntington Beach, Calif., teams (Ocean View and Marina) in 1983.

Of course, Weisskopf did not care about any records — just winning.

"When I was a freshman, we played Kamehameha in the preseason and (late in the game) I told our coach I couldn't pitch anymore," she said. "We ended up losing, so I didn't want that to happen again. I wanted to stretch it the farthest I could go."

To the amazement of other players, coaches and parents, Weisskopf kept returning to the pitching circle inning after inning ... after inning ... after inning ...

"We were looking at her pitch count, and we kept asking her, 'How's your arm? How's your legs?'" Punahou coach Ray Minami said. "We were concerned, but she's honest about that kind of stuff and she actually looked stronger (in the late innings). She wanted the game, and it was just mental toughness. She has a lot of heart."

Punahou 5, Maryknoll 0: Lindsay Olmstead pitched a two-hitter to lead the Buffanblu past the Spartans in a makeup game from an earlier rainout.

MARYKNOLL (1-9) 000 000 0— 0 2 1
PUNAHOU (8-2) 100 112 X—5 10 1

Jade Kurihara and Brooke Perrington. Lindsay Olmstead and Kaha Weir. W—Olmstead. L—Kurihara.

Leading hitters: Pun—Sarah Weisskopf 2-3, double, RBI; Weir 2-3; Shanna-Lei Dacanay 2-4.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.