Kamehameha closes in on third straight ILH title
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Kamehameha Schools softball team took a huge step toward capturing its third straight Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship yesterday, rallying past Iolani, 3-1, at Ala Wai Elementary School field.
The Warriors (11-0-1) now have 23 championship points with games remaining against Sacred Hearts (today) and Maryknoll (on Saturday). Punahou, which is 10-2 (20 points) after an 8-1 victory over University yesterday, plays Hawai'i Baptist/St, Andrew's/St. Francis on Saturday and Iolani on Monday.
Iolani, 8-2-1 (17 points), plays University on Saturday, Punahou on Monday and Sacred Hearts on Tuesday.
Kamehameha can clinch the title with a victory over Sacred Hearts (1-10) today.
Only two ILH teams will advance to the Division I state tournament, and Kamehameha, which has appeared in the past two state finals, has clinched at least a playoff for one of those spots.
"They're solid in their lineup one through nine," Iolani coach Chris Shimabukuro said. "There's no weaknesses on offense or defense."
The Warriors proved that yesterday, with another errorless game and a key hit from their No. 9 batter, sophomore Kaui Tom.
The Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Kaz Masutani slammed a one-out double and came home on Tara-lyn Odo's single. But Kamehameha tied it in the fourth after Kaulana Gould singled, courtesy runner Charina Sumner stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on Sharee Fonoti's single to right.
In the fifth, the Warriors' Lena Nahale walked, stole second and scored on Tom's two-out single to center field. Tom then came home on Liane Horiuchi's triple to center.
On a team with up to six seniors likely to advance to college softball, Tom has been one of the hottest hitters. She went 2 for 3 yesterday to boost her average to .382.
"It takes everybody to win games," said Tom, a right fielder. "The bottom of the order is just as important as the top or middle."
That especially has been true of late, as Kamehameha has struggled to score runs despite a stacked lineup. The Warriors tied Iolani 0-0 in nine innings two weeks ago, and scored only twice in 21 innings in a marathon victory over Punahou on Jan. 17. Six days later, they squeaked past HBA/St.A/St.F, 2-0.
"At least we're seeing and hitting the ball, so sometimes it's just a matter of timing," Kamehameha coach Ty Sing Chow said. "The key is for them to not get frustrated, to keep swinging."
The Warriors' pitching has remained consistent, with Noe Esperas and Kate Robinson combining on a five-hitter yesterday.
Kamehameha (11-0-1) 000 120 0 — 3 7 0
Iolani (8-2-1) 001 000 0 — 1 5 2
Noe Esperas, Kate Robinson (6) and Kaulana Gould; Sheryl Fukuda, Monique Obra (6) and Tara-lyn Odo. W — Esperas. L — Fukuda.
Leading hitters: KS — Kaui Tom 2-3, RBI; Sharee Fonoti 2-3, RBI; Liane Horiuchi triple, RBI; Brandi Peiler double. Iol — Kaz Masutani 2-3, double; Sheryl Fukuda 2-3; Tara Yanagihashi 1-3, RBI.
Punahou 8, University High 1: Gail Matsushima blasted a three-run homer in the second and a two-run single in the fourth to power the Buffanblu over the Jr. Bows.
Punahou (10-2) 230 300 0 — 8 9 1
University high (5-6) 000 100 0 — 1 3 5
Sarah Weisskopf and Kaha Weir. Jessica Ghazaldi, Mandy Yoshizu (4) and Iwalani Yamaguchi. W — Weisskopf. L — Ghazaldi.
Leading hitters: Pun—Shanna-Lei Dacanay 2-4, 3 runs; Gail Matsushima 2-3, homer, 5 RBIs; Weisskopf 2-4; Erica Miyabara 2-3.
MID-PACIFIC 5, MARYKNOLL 4: The host Owls scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning against the Spartans.
Maryknoll (2-11) 200 000 101 0 — 4 7 3
Mid-pacific (3-9) 010 200 001 1 — 5 11 4
Jade Kurihara and Brooke Perriton. Shari Shobu and Tori Sumi. W — Shobu. L — Kurihara.
Leading hitters: MPI — Meghan Laughlin 2-5; Sumi 2-5; Melissa Sloan 2-4. Mary — Kristi Watanabe 2 runs.
HBA/ST.A/ST.F 9, SACRED HEARTS 2: Carolyn Fisher and Brittney Akana combined on a no-hitter to lift Hawai'i Baptist/St. Andrew's/St. Francis over the Lancers.
HBA/St.A/St.F (6-6) 110 103 3 — 9 11 4
Sacred Hearts (1-10) 000 020 0 — 2 0 5
Carolyn Fisher, Brittney Akana (7) and Jamie Fernandez, Tiffany Farias (4). Zeshalee Wells and Tamika Trujilla. W — Fisher. L — Wells.
Leading hitters: HBA/St.A/St.F—Courtney Gibo 2-3; Alexandra Zieser 2-3; Sasha Koki 3-3, RBI; Fisher triple, RBI.
OIA
ROOSEVELT 4, MOANALUA 2: Kimberly Fuller had an RBI single in the top of the 13th inning and the visiting Rough Riders scored another run on an error to rally past the Menehunes.
Roosevelt (8-2) 020 000 000 000 2 — 4 6 1
Moanalua (6-4) 200 000 000 000 0 — 2 5 1
Genoa Aiko and Chevelle Kauahipaula. Mika Tanji and Shelby Nakachi. W — Aiko. L — Tanji.
Leading hitters: Roosevelt — Megan Pasion 2-6, double, 2 RBIs; Kimberly Fuller 2-6, RBI. Moanalua —Mika Tanji 2-4, double; Joy Matsukawa 2-4.
KAPOLEI 7, WAI'ANAE 0: Tajia Acierto hurled a one-hitter as the host Hurricanes earned a share of the OIA Western Division title with Mililani (both 9-1).
Austi Paris and Amanda Shigetani each drove in a pair of runs for Kapolei and Acierto struck out 11.
Wai'anae (6-4) 000 000 0 — 0 1 1
Kapolei (9-1) 015 010 X — 7 7 0
Tracy Kane and Tihane Laupola. Tajia Acierto and Jasmin Yoro. W — Acierto. L — Kane.
Leading hitters: Kapolei—Malamaisua Manuma 2-3, triple, RBI; Yoro 2-2, triple, RBI.
JV—Kapolei 15, Wai'anae 4.
CASTLE 9, KAHUKU 0: Lia Pedrina pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks for the host Knights.
Castle's Tiani Mattos went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a bases-clearing triple in a seven-run sixth inning.
Kahuku (7-3) 000 000 0 — 0 2 3
Castle (9-1) 100 017 x — 9 6 1
Kamaile Hughes and K. Ulill. Lia Pedrina and Tiani Mattos. W —Pedrina. L — Hughes.
Leading hitters: Cast — Mattos 2-3, triple, 4 RBIs; Audrey Ako 2-2; Cheynah Farley homer, 2 RBIs.
Kaimuki 1, Kaiser 0: Mindy Hirokawa pitched a three-hitter and Brandi Sasaki accounted for the game's only run with a homer in the fifth.
Kaiser (4-6) 000 000 0 — 0 3 0
Kaimuki (4-6) 000 010 X — 1 3 1
Lindsey Gibu and Charde Pratt. Mindy Hirokawa and Chelsea Gonichec. W — Hirokawa. L — Gibu.
Leading hitters: Kais—Whitney Yui double. Kaim—Brandi Sasaki home run.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
