Undefeated Punahou tops Kamehameha, 5-0
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The second round has just begun for Interscholastic League of Honolulu softball, but Punahou took a huge step toward the overall title yesterday with a 5-0 home victory over three-time defending champion Kamehameha.
The Buffanblu (7-0) defeated the Warriors, 4-2, in the season opener last month. Every other team in the league has at least two losses, so Punahou has some wiggle room but is not celebrating the title just yet.
Weisskopf
"This was a great win, but we still have a lot of games left to play," said senior pitcher Sarah Weisskopf, who pitched a five-hitter with seven strikeouts yesterday. "Coach (Kristl Chinen) just told us to soak this up today and tomorrow, and then on Monday all our focus has to be on Maryknoll."
Still, Kamehameha (5-2) is by far the biggest roadblock on the championship path, which takes on added importance this season since the ILH is awarded only one Division I state tournament berth.
The Warriors challenged early yesterday, putting two runners on in the first and loading the bases with one out in the third. But the Buffanblu thwarted both threats, including an inning-ending double play in the third.
"You could tell Kamehameha really wanted to beat us," Weisskopf said. "They came out strong. But we practiced hard for them, staying late and working on pressure situations. So when those situations came up, I knew my defense would be right behind me."
Weisskopf was locked in a duel with Warriors junior Noe Esperas for four innings, until Punahou broke it open in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, pinch hitter Kim Nagamine lined the first pitch into left for a run-scoring single, then two more runs came across after an errant throw to home on a force play.
Shanna-Lei Dacanay's bloop single to right scored Erica Miyabara to make it 4-0. Kaha Weir then led off the sixth inning with a home run to left field to make it 5-0.
"If you make mistakes against this team, you're going to pay for it," Kamehameha coach Ty Sing Chow said. "We had our opportunities early, but Punahou is loaded."
This certainly looks to be the Buffanblu's payoff season. They have 11 seniors, including six four-year lettermen.
"This team is special, and they know they have a chance to do something special," Chinen said. "Every single player participated in summer ball. They know it's a process, and they love the process."
For the Warriors, who have qualified for the past five state tournaments, it is now a process of winning and waiting for others to upset Punahou.
"Anything is possible," Sing Chow said. "University is a very good team, and so is St. Francis. And even though it's a down year for Iolani, you can never count them out. It's a tough league, and there's still a lot of season left. With only one berth, the pressure is on everybody, including Punahou — as good as they are."
KAMEHAMEHA (5-2) 000 000 0 — 0 5 1
PUNAHOU (7-0) 000 041 x — 5 7 0
Noe Esperas and Laua'e Emmsley-Chang; Sarah Weisskopf and Kaha Weir. W — Weisskopf. L — Esperas.
Leading hitters: KS — Liane Horiuchi 1-2, Charina Sumner 1-3, Emmsley-Chang 1-3, Hoku Nohara 1-3, Shelby Ford 1-3. Pun — Weir 2-3, home run, Cristen Aona 1-3, double, Kim Nagamine 1-2, RBI, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 1-3, RBI, Jeri Shimazu 1-2, Adrienne Tanaka 1-3.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
• • •
University High 5, Maryknoll 3
Jessica Ghazali hit a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to boost the Junior 'Bows, who also got a homer and three RBIs from Richie Titcomb.
Maryknoll (2-6) 000 300 0—3 9 1
University High (6-2) 002 010 2—5 11 1
Courtney Gibo, Jade Kurihara (7) and Jessica Akamine. Jessica Ghazali and Cara Hasegawa. W—Ghazali. L— Kurihara.
Leading hitters: Maryknoll— Mahina Gahn 3-3, run; Brianne Preza Haynes 2-3. University High—Richie Titcomb 2-4, home run, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Reesene Choy 3-4; Leann Lariosa 2-3, run; Ghazali double, 2 RBIs.
Reported by Dale Titcomb
Iolani 6, St. Francis 1
Chelsey Keola pitched a four-hitter and hit a two-run triple for the Raiders.
St. Francis (4-4) 010 000 0—1 4 6
Iolani (3-4-1) 004 020 X—6 7 0
Anita Manuma and Ashley Smith, Sydney Kaneshiro (6). Chelsey Keola and Kaz Masutani. W—Keola. L—Manuma.
Leading hitters: Iolani—Keola 2-4, triple, 2 RBIs; Lauren Oyadomari 2-4, triple.
Reported by Chelsea Unemori and Sarah Trugent
Sacred Hearts 9, Mid-Pacific 2
Tamieka Trujillo, Samantha Saito and Jessica Casson each had two hits to lead the Lancers.
Mid-Pacific (1-8) 002 000 0—2 8 3
Sacred Hearts (3-6) 100 026 0—9 11 0
Shari Shobu and Torie Sumi. Corry Abellanida and Tamieka Trujillo. W—Abellanida. L—Shobu.
Leading hitters: Mid-Pacific—Meghan Laughlin 2-3. Sacred Hearts—Trujillo 2-3; Samantha Saito 2-3; Jessica Casson 2-3; Maleselina Manupuna triple, 2 RBIs.
Kalaheo 20, Farrington 11
Winning pitcher Kaui Samson also led the Mustangs' 25-hit attack with five hits, including a triple, and two RBIs.
Kalaheo (9-0) 155 022 5—20 25 6
Farrington (1-7) 204 003 2—11 14 7
Kaui Samson and Tita Tauri. Krista Meija, Lou Montaus (3) and Brooke Gascon-Vea. W—Samson. L—Meija.
Leading hitters: Kalaheo—Samson 5-6, triple, 2 RBIs; Sharlina Siliga 4-6; Kukilani Gacer 4-6, triple, 3 RBIs; Jasmine Napikau 4-5, 2 RBIs; Jessica Mirohskua 3-4, 2 triples, 3 RBIs. Farrington—Hope Pomele 3-4, double; Kuualoha Kanekoa 2-4, double; Gascon-Vea 2-4, double; Pearl Pula 2-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Stephanie Gonzalez 2-3.
Reported by Glenn Zukeran
Pearl City 3, campbell 0
Corrie Nishikida pitched a five-hitter and Krystal Plunkett drove in two runs for the Chargers.
Pearl City (6-1) 001 100 1—3 11 1
Campbell (3-4) 000 000 0—0 5 1
Corrie Nishikida and Sanoe Aina. Breanne Patton and Chanel Baligaui. W—Nishikia. L—Patton.
Leading hitters: Pearl City—Nishikida 2-4; Krystal Plunkett 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Aina 2-4, double.
Reported by David Perreira
KAPOLEI 9, NANAKULI 1
Tajia Acierto spaced eight hits with six strikeouts and Austi Paris hit a two-run homer for the Hurricanes.
Kapolei (5-2) 002 221 2—9 9 3
Nanakuli (1-6) 100 000 0—1 8 3
Tajia Acierto and Abulynn Ashby. Ambree Hauhio and Victoria Mao. W—Acierto. L—Hauhio.
Leading hitters: Kapolei— Kaili Smith 2-4; Austi Paris 1-3, 2-run HR; Acierto triple; Pam Ribac 2-4. Nanakuli—Bernadine Vickers 2-4, double; Kyra Ako-Paul 2-4; Jasmine Otumaka double, RBI.
Reported by Houston Anderson
Waipahu 6, Kalani 0
Tina Noga pitched a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts and had three hits, including a two-run homer, to propel the Marauders.
Waipahu (7-2) 101 011 2—6 7 1
Kalani (6-3) 000 000 0—0 1 6
Tina Noga and Anna Sooalo. Tasha Fong and Kathy Kinoshita. W—Noga. L— Fong.
Leading hitters: Waipahu—Noga 3-4, homer, 2 RBIs; Kriss Noga 2 runs.
Reported by Gwen Okada
'Aiea 17, Mckinley 1
Ashley Scharsch pitched a four-hitter and Na 'Ali'i's scored 10 runs in the first to rout the Tigers.
'Aiea (6-3) (10)22 21—17 7 2
Mckinley (2-7) 100 00—1 4 7
Ashley Scharsch and Sasha Andrade. Allyson Hanaoka and Ashley Vega. W—Scharsch. L—Hanaoka.
Leading hitters: 'Aiea—Tasha Johnson 3-4, double, 3 RBIs; Scharsch double.
Reported by Leilani Okuda
Roosevelt 4, Kahuku 3
Makana Frank had three hits, including an RBI single with two outs in the top of the 13th inning, as the Rough Riders edged the Red Raiders.
Roosevelt (2-5) 110 000 001 000 1—4 14 1
Kahuku (3-4) 000 020 001 000 0—3 11 1
Genoa Aiko and Makana Frank. Kamaile Hughes and Tatiana Vaimoui. W—Aiko. L—Hughes.
Leading hitters: Roosevelt—Kristyn Fuke 4-6, double; Frank 3-7, double; Kimberly Fuller 3-7, double. Kahuku—Vaimoui 3-6, triple; Kanoe Kamakeeaina 2-5, double, 2 RBIs.
Elsewhere:
Castle 5, Kaiser 3; details not available
Radford 11, Waialua 0; details not available
Soccer
The Farrington and Castle boys teams suffered their first losses of the season yesterday. Kenneth Ogata scored two goals as Moanalua beat Farrington, 4-3, while Robert Crotogino's goal lifted Kalaheo over Castle, 1-0.
The Governors and Knights, who shared the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division lead starting the day, fell to 5-1-0 and yielded the lead to Roosevelt (6-1-0).
O'ahu Interscholastic Association
Eastern Division
Boys Varsity
Kaiser 3, McKinley 0
Goals—Kaiser: Jacob Curtis, Kaipo Dean, Steele Le Gros.
Roosevelt 4, Kaimuki 0
Goals—Roosevelt: Holden Lau 2, Paulo Barros, Jong Kim.
Moanalua 4, Farrington 3
Goals—Moanalua: Kenneth Ogata 2, Logan Lee, Jason Honjo. Farrington: Ioane Siuta 3.
Kalaheo 1, Castle 0
Goal—Kalaheo: Robert Crotogino.
Kahuku 4, Kailua 0
Goals—Kahuku: Redmond Tutor 2, Koty Juliano, Maika Manipon.
Girls Varsity
Kaiser 2, McKinley 0
Goals—Kaiser: Carianne Makino, Eryn Akazawa
Roosevelt 2, Kaimuki 0
Goals—Roosevelt: Larilyn Alota, Jenna Uyehara.
Moanalua 5, Farrington 0
Goals—Moanalua: Vanessa Butin 3, Haloye Wilcox, Lena Yee.
Castle 1, Kalaheo 0
Goal—Castle: Brianne Wong.
Kailua 1, Kahuku 0
Goal—Kailua: Melanie Yoshida.
Girls JV
Moanalua 6, Farrington 0
Kalaheo 2, Castle 0
Kahuku 2, Kailua 0
Interscholastic League of Honolulu
Girls Varsity
Iolani 1, Kamehameha 0
Goal—Iolani: Keri Oyadomari.
Punahou 7, Mid-Pacific 0
Goals—Punahou: AC Collins 2, Kelsie Look 2, Lizzy Carlson, Ashley Nied, Chelsea Deptula.
