Kailua stays unbeaten
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Even in the Kailua High School softball team's shiny new uniforms — sans the traditional pinstripes — there was no hiding senior ace Courtney Kessell yesterday.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
And even against a team guided by someone who has coached Kessell in club ball for eight years, there still was no figuring her out.
Kailua's Erin Guerrero reaches for the plate in vain after being tagged by Moanalua catcher Shelby Nakachi in the fifth inning.
Kessell, a three-time Advertiser All-State pitcher, tossed a two-hitter with eight strikeouts and also drove in a run to help the host Surfriders blank previously unbeaten Moanalua, 2-0.
Kailua now sits alone atop the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Red Conference Eastern Division with a 6-0 record. The upstart Menehunes fell to 5-1.
"I've known Courtney since she was 10 years old, so I know what she's capable of doing," said Moanalua coach Mitch Matsumoto, who coaches Kessell's club team, the Kamikaze. "We told our girls to try to be patient, but ..."
Kessell got all the run support she needed in the first inning after her two-out single scored Meghann Pasion, who had reached on a one-out double. The Surfriders added a run in the fifth on Kalina Kama's sacrifice fly after two errors.
Meanwhile, Kessell was threatened only once — in the fourth when Traci Yoshikawa and Kandyce Love got back-to-back singles with two outs. Kessell ended the threat with a strikeout, then set down the final nine batters in order.
"This was more of a fun challenge, because I know their coach and a lot of their players," Kessell said. "But I knew Moanalua is a good team, and they're pitcher (Sarah Robinson) is good."
People knew Kailua — which has nine state championships — would be good again this year but the Surfriders suffered a big blow when second-team All-State third baseman Tanisha Milca broke a bone in her leg during the preseason.
Milca has signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Hawai'i at Manoa next season.
"She was our top batter," Kailua coach Bernard Victor said. "That hurts us a lot."
MOANALUA (5-1) 000 000 0 — 0 2 3
KAILUA (6-0) 100 010 x — 2 8 0
Sarah Robinson and Shelby Nakachi; Courtney Kessell and Erin Guerrero. W — Kessell. L — Robinson.
Leading hitters: Moa — Traci Yoshikawa 1-3, Kandyce Love 1-3. Kai — Meghann Pasion 2-3, double; Kalina Kama 1-2, RBI; Kessell 1-3, RBI.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
Kalaheo 16, 'Aiea 6
Kaliko Kepa pitched a two-hitter and Kau'i Samson batted 3 for 3 to help the host Mustangs stay unbeaten.
'Aiea (5-3) 000 60 — 6 2 3
Kalaheo (8-0) 716 2x —16 12 3
Ashley Scharsch and Carissa Nakamura. Kaliko Kepa and Kaliko Serrao. W—Kepa. L—Scharsch.
Leading hitters: Kalah—Deann Horswill 2-3, double; Serrao 2-4; Jasmine Napihaa 2-3; Kau'i Samson 3-3, Tita Tauai 2-3.
Reported by Al Kaufman
MILILANI 10, LEILEHUA 0
Dana Lee pitched a two-hitter with five strikeouts and Kim Goo hit a three-run triple to help the Trojans remain undefeated.
Leilehua (1-5) 000 000 — 0 2 2
Mililani (6-0) 511 201 —10 14 1
Tiana Vierra and Niki Ige. Dana Lee and Skye Virtudes, Anela Goo (6). W—Lee. L— Vierra.
Leading hitters:Mili—Sierra Senas 4-4; Lee 2-3; Kim Goo 2-4, triple, 3 RBI; Tiera Cuba 2-3; Casey Sugihara double.
Reported by Rose Antonio
Pearl City 10, Kapolei 3
Shanna Vierra and Kanani Numata homered, lifting the visiting Chargers over the defending state champion Hurricanes and into sole possession of second place in the OIA Red West.
Pearl City (5-1) 202 033 0—10 12 1
Kapolei (4-2) 110 000 1— 3 8 3
Marina Guzman and Noelle Hirahara. Tajia Acierto and Ashlynn Ashby. W—Guzman. L—Acierta.
Leading hitters: PC—Kanani Numata 2-3, HR; Krystal Plunkett 3-3; Shanna Vierra 2-4, HR, 3 RBIs; Lauren Fujisaki 2-4. Kap—Austi Paris 2-3; Kaili Smith 2-4; Stephanie Sanchez 2-3.
Reported by Linda Naone
Waipahu 16, Farrington 6
Tina Noga doubled, tripled and struck out nine to lift the Marauders.
Waipahu (6-2) 124 72 —16 5
Farrington (1-6) 000 51 — 6 1 6
Tina Noga, Andy Mendiola (4) and Malia Spencer. Krista Meija, Lou Montauf (4) and Brooke Gascon-vea. W—Noga. L—Meija.
Leading hitters: Waip—Noga 2-3, double, triple, 3 RBIs; Michelle Escobar 2-3.
Reported by Glen Zukeran
Nanakuli 7, Wai'anae 6
Victoria Mau doubled home two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead the Golden Hawks to their first win of the season.
Waianae (1-5) 6
Nanakuli (1-5) 7
W—Ambree Hauhio.
Note: Other details were not reported.
KALANI 4, RADFORD 3
Kathy Kinoshita's RBI single capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh for the Falcons.
Radford (3-5) 100 002 0—3 8 1
Kalani (6-2) 001 001 2—4 3 3
Maua Manuma, Adrian Paulaine (6) and Puni Kakiwa. Krystal Patterson and Kathy Kinoshita. W—Patterson. L—Paulaine.
Leading hitters: Kalani—Kari Odo 2 runs. Rad—Manuma 2-3; Samantha Long 2-3.
Reported by Gwen Okada
Castle 4, Roosevelt 3
Tiani Mattos had two hits and two RBIs, and Lace Keaunui pitched a five-hitter to lead the Knights to a Red East win.
Roosevelt (1-5) 100 110 0—3 5 1
Castle (3-3) 040 000 0—4 12 1
Genoa Aiko and Makana Franks. Lace Keaunui and Tiani Mattos. W—Keaunui. L—Aiko.
Leading hitters: Roos—Franks double, RBI; Kristyn Fuke double, RBI. Cast—Kalei Lebanon 2-4, RBI; Mattos 2-4, 2 RBIs; Stacey Yamada 2-4, RBI.
Reported by Pat Berinobis
Kaimuki 5, Kaiser 1
Genesis Fruean pitched a four-hitter and Alyssha Fiamate had two RBIs for the visiting Bulldogs.
Kaimuki (3-3) 000 010 4—5 5 1
Kaiser (0-6) 001 000 0—1 4 3
Genesis Fruean and Alyssha Fiamate. Lindsay Gibu and Kawehi Chan. W—Fruean. L—Gibu.
Leading hitters: Kaim— Fiamate double, 2 RBIs. Kais—Gibu 2-4.
Reported by George Nueku
Suspended: The game between McKinley and host Waialua was halted in the top of third because of rain. It will resume today at 3:30 p.m. with McKinley leading 8-1.
PUNAHOU 18, SACRED HEARTS 0
Sarah Weisskopf pitched a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and Cristen Aona hit a grand slam and Kaha Weir added three hits and five RBIs for the unbeaten Buffanblu.
Sacred Hearts (1-5) 00 0 00— 0 0 2
Punahou (6-0) 61(11) 0x—18 12 0
Lacey Kiyabu, Allison Castellano (1), Corry Abellanida (3), Kiyabu (4) and Tamieka Trujillo. Sarah Weisskopf and Kaha Weir. W—Weisskopf. L— Kiyabu.
Leading hitters: Pun—Cristen Aona 2-3, grand slam, 5 RBIs, 3 runs; Shanna Dacanay 2-3, RBI, 2 runs; Weir 3-4, HR, 5 RBIs, 2 runs; Kelli Ishii 2-3, 2 runs.
Reported by Carrie Hironaka
UHS 4, Mid-Pacific 0
Jessica Ghazali pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts and Ku'ulei Padaken had a triple with two RBIs for the Junior Rainbows.
University High (4-2) 000 011 2—4 12 0
Mid-Pacific (1-5) 000 000 0—0 3 3
Jessica Ghazali and Cara Hasegawa. Shari Shobu and Torie Sumi. W—Ghazali. L—Shobu.
Leading hitters: UHS— Ku'ulei Padaken 2-4, triple, run, 2 RBIs; Leanne Lariosa 2-3, double; Dory Baga 2-4, run; Richie Titcomb 2-4, run; Ghazali double.
Reported by Dale Titcomb
KAMEHAMEHA 11, ST. FRANCIS 1
Charina Sumner and Liane Horiuchi homered to highlight a 10-run third inning for the Warriors.
Kamehameha (5-1) 10(10) 00 —11 15 0
St. Francis (3-3) 000 10 — 1 2 2
Noe Esperas, Ashley Morisako (5) and Laua'e Emmsley-Chang. Brittney Akana, Alisha Sakamoto (5) and Kalyn Ige W—Esperas. L—Akana.
Leading hitters: KS—Charina Sumner 3-4, double, homer, 3 RBIs; Emmsley-Chang 2-2; Liane Horiuchi 3-4, homer, 2 RBIs; Kaui Tom 3-3, triple, 2 RBIs; Hoku Nohara 2-3, double. St.F—Sydney Kaneshiro double
Reported by Ty Sing Chow
MARYKNOLL 6, IOLANI 5
Brooke Perriton singled home two runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning for a 6-5 lead, and the Spartans held on to beat the Raiders.
Iolani (2-4) 000 140 0—5 6 2
Maryknoll (2-4) 300 030 x—6 8 4
Chelsey Keola and Kaz Masutani; Courtney Gibo, Jade Kurihara (4), Gibo (5) and Jessica Akamine. W—Gibo L— Keola.
Leading hitters: Iol—Keola 2-4, triple 3 RBIs, K. Ahlo 2-4, homer; Mary—Akamine 2-4, Brianna Perez-Haines 3-3, double, 3 RBIs;, Brooke Perriton 2-run single.
Reported by Glenn Jicha
CORRECTION
Campbell defeated Leilehua, 4-3, in 12 innings last week. A different result was published in Tuesday's high school report.
