Posted on: Sunday, January 25, 2004
Kapolei romps to share first in OIA West
| • | Moanalua boys lay claim to OIA East title |
| • | Watanabe's early goal lifts Castle, 1-0 |
| • | Massey lifts Leilehua over Kapolei, 59-43 |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Yesterday was just one of those days for the Leilehua High School softball team.
While much of the island enjoyed clear afternoon sunshine, the Mules' biggest home game of the season was sprinkled with a drizzle in the early innings, followed by increasingly heavy raindrops, and then a downpour after the fifth frame at Ka'ala Elementary School field.
The worst part was, the game was over at that point because Kapolei pounded out a 10-0 victory that was shortened by the 10-run mercy rule. Although the game was short on innings, it was huge in the standings because Kapolei, Leilehua and Mililani entered the day at 7-1 and tied for first place in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Western Division.
The Hurricanes' win leaves them tied with Mililani, which was awarded a forfeit victory over Waialua (lack of players) yesterday. Kapolei's regular-season finale is at home against Wai'anae on Wednesday, while Mililani travels to 'Aiea that same afternoon.
If Kapolei and Mililani win, they will share the West title, but Mililani will get the West's coveted No. 1 seed in the OIA playoffs because it beat the Hurricanes 1-0 on Dec. 27.
Leilehua, which plays at Nanakuli on Tuesday, is left with trying to stay out of the dreaded No. 4 seed, which would potentially place it against defending state champion Kailua in the OIA quarterfinals.
"You don't want to be facing Kailua and (ace) Courtney Kessell that early," Kapolei coach Tony Saffrey said. "Plus, if you (are seeded) in top two, you're at home. But the way this season has gone, you really don't know who will show up."
Leilehua, which defeated Mililani 6-3 on Jan. 15, was in a position to control its own destiny yesterday but dug itself a 4-0 hole in the first inning. Malama Manuma and Amanda Shigetani each had RBI singles, but the Mules also hurt themselves with two errors.
It was a sign of things to come.
The Hurricanes made it 6-0 in the third as the rain started to fall and more Leilehua mistakes sprouted. The Mules committed four errors in the inning, and finished the game with nine.
"A lot of it is mental, and so much of it is our inexperience," Leilehua coach MaryAnn Christian said. "It's just basic stuff, but Kapolei hit the ball and forced us to make plays, which we didn't do."
The Mules committed two more errors in the fourth, and Kapolei helped itself with three hits — including Malama Manuma's two-run homer — to make it 10-0.
Hurricanes starter Tajia Acierto, meanwhile, cruised along with a two-hitter. She struck out four and walked none.
Leilehua ace Alexis San Nicolas struggled early and did not get the same kind of offensive or defensive support as Acierto, and No. 3 hitter Pikake Nutter-Gaudet also had an off day, striking out twice in her only at-bats.
"We coach Alexis and Pikake on our outside (summer) team, so we know their capabilities," Saffrey said. "Alexis is a great pitcher, but we were seeing the ball well and I think when our girls started hitting a good pitcher, that gave them a lot of confidence. I was expecting to play the short game, but when I saw how they were seeing the ball, I said I'm not going to take the bat out of their hands. Everything was hit-and-run, and they all came through."
Tajia Acierto and Jasmin Yoro; Alexis San Nicolas, Tiana Vierra (4) and Pikake Nutter-Gaudet. W — Acierto. L — San Nicolas.
Leading hitters: Kapolei — Malama Manuma 2-4, home run, 3 RBIs; Austi Paris 2-3, Amanda Shigetani 1-3, RBI.
• Pearl City 3, Wai'anae 1: Marina Guzman, Corrie Nishikida and Krystal Plunkett combined on a six-hitter and the Chagers' capitalized on three Seasiders' errors in the fourth inning to score two runs, en route to a OIA West victory.
Marina Guzman, Corrie Nishikida (5), Krystal Plunkett (5) and Noelle Hirahira. Tracy Kane and Kalena Hanohano. W — Guzman. L — Kane.
Leading hitters: Pearl City — Plunkett triple.
• Nanakuli 9, Campbell 8: The Golden Hawks scored two runs in the top of the seventh, then held off a Sabers' rally in the bottom of the inning to escape with an OIA West victory.
Nanakuli led 9-6, but Campbell scored twice before leaving the tying run stranded at second base.
Sierra Jelisi and Vernadine Vickers. Shafawn Eltagonde and Alicia Pada. W — Jelisi. L — Eltagonde.
Leading hitters: Nanakuli — Chantel Tuiloma 2-3, double; Jelisi 2-4; Maydenn Tangaro 3-4. Campbell — Pada 2-4, double, triple; Rochelle Barrett 2-4.
OIA EAST
• KAILUA 1, MOANALUA 0: Courtney Kessell pitched a one-hitter with 13 strike-outs, leading the host Surfriders past the Menehunes in an OIA East game.
Kessell also drove in the winning run in the sixth inning when her single brought Tanisha Milca home from second.
Mika Tanji and Shelby Nakachi. Courtney Kessell and Erin Guerrero. W — Kessell. L — Tanji.
Leading hitters: Kailua — Tanisha Milca 2-3; Kessell 2-3, RBI; Rusty-Ann Borges 1-3, triple.
• Kahuku 8, Kalaheo 0: Kamaile Hughes pitched a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts as the visiting Red Raiders routed the Mustangs.
Kawehi Ulii, Misty Ka'ana'ana and Hughes all had multiple hits for Kahuku.
Kamaile Hughes and Kawehi Ulii. Kaliko Kepa and Kaliko Serrao. W — Hughes. L — Kepa.
Leading hitters: Kahuku— Ulii 2-4; Huges 2-4, double; Misty Ka'ana'ana 2-3.
• CASTLE 12, KALANI 0: Lia Pedrina, Audrey Ako and Uilani Kekauoha combined on a no-hitter to lift the host Knights over the Falcons in an OIA East game.
Pedrina homered and Ako drove in three runs with two triples and a double.
Heather Takahashi and Kathy Kinoshita. Lia Pedrina, Audrey Ako (3), Uilani Kekauoha (5) and Tiani Mattos. W — Pedrina. L — Takahashi.
Leading hitters: Castle — Pedrina home run; Ako 3-3, 2 triples, double, 3 RBIs.
• ROOSEVELT 8, KAIMUKI 0: Genoa Aiko gave up just one hit to help the visiting Rough Riders beat the Bulldogs in an OIA East game. Chevelle Kauahipaula went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles.
Genoa Aiko and Chevelle Kauahipaula. Mindy Hirokawa and Kelsi Campos. W — Aiko. L — Hirokawa.
Leading hitters: Roosevelt — Kimberly Fuller 2-4, double; Kauahipaula 3-4, 2 doubles.
• Kaiser 11, McKinley 2: Lindsay Gibu went 2 for 2 and blasted a two-run homer in the second inning, and Marisa Ramia pitched a four-hitter with six strikeouts, as the visiting Cougars routed the Tigers.
Marisa Ramia and Lindsay Gibu, Jaime Nerona (6). Gloria Hong, Vinesa Fiu (4), Hong (7) and Noelani Infiel. W — Ramia. L — Hong.
Leading hitters: Kaiser — Gibu 2-2, home run, 2 RBIs; Aniscia Wakita double; Whitney Yui 2-2, double, triple; Ramia double, 2 RBIs. McKinley — Melody Ababa homer; Noelani Correia double.
ILH
• KAMEHAMEHA 2, HAWAI'I BAPTIST/ST. ANDREW'S/ST. FRANCIS 0: Kate Robinson struck out nine and the host Warriors remained unbeaten in the ILH.
Single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings were enough for Kamehameha, which improved to 10-0-1.
Carolyn Fisher and Jamie Fernandez. Kate Robinson and Nicole Kalakau. W — Robinson. L — Fisher.
Leading hitters — HBA/St.A/St.F: Fisher 2-3, double. Kamehameha: Kalakau 1-3, triple.
• Maryknoll 10, Sacred Hearts 0: Jade Kurihara pitched a three-hitter and Heather Uekawa went 3 for 3 as the host Spartans routed the Lancers.
Uekawa's single in the first inning drove in three of Maryknoll's four runs.
Allie Castelleno and Tamiki Trujullio. Jade Kurihara and Brooke Perriton. W — Kurihara. L — Castelleno.
Leading hitters — Sacred Hearts: Trujullio 2-3, triple. Maryknoll: Heather Uekawa 3-3, 3 RBIs; Jessica Akamine 2-3 double, triple, 2 RBIs.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
