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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 4, 2008

Trojans top Campbell win second straight Red championship, 4-3

Photo gallery: Softball

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Mililani players pose for photos after they beat Campbell, 4-3, for the OIA Red Conference title.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Mililani's Makani Duhaylonsod might not have been at her best on the mound last night against Campbell, but she more than made up for it at the plate.

Duhaylonsod batted 2 for 2, including a go-ahead double in the bottom of the fifth, as Mililani beat Campbell, 4-3, to repeat as O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference softball champion at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

"We were just telling her to make contact in that situation with a runner on first," said Mililani coach Rose Antonio. "That was a good hit, clutch hit, timely hitting. She came through for us."

Courtney Senas led off the inning with a walk and came around when Duhaylonsod lined a 1-2 pitch to the right-center fence, which made it 4-3.

"I was just looking for the ball in the right zone for me to hit," Duhaylonsod said. "I just wanted to make good contact and get on base."

Mililani, ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, improved to 14-1. No. 4 Campbell dropped to 11-4.

Duhaylonsod, a senior right-hander, pitched a six-hitter with five strikeouts. She also hit three batters and walked one.

After she got the lead, Duhaylonsod retired the final six batters.

"Pitchers go through that. She dug deep and found a way to get the 'W'," Antonio said.

Mililani took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Kristi Oshiro homered over the right-field fence.

"That hit was huge," Antonio said. "That was momentum right there."

The Trojans led 2-0 after Duhaylonsod's solo shot to left in the third.

Campbell took the lead by scoring three runs on four hits in the fourth. Loreen Egdamin had an RBI single and Breanne Patton put the Sabers ahead with a two-run single to right.

"These kids, they have a never-give-up attitude all the time," Antonio said. "We were up 2-0, they went up 3-2, and they never gave up our kids."

Mililani tied it at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth when pinch runner Brittany Baysa scored on a throwing error by the shortstop.

Earlier in the inning, Baysa stole second on a close play.

Campbell coach David Perreira came out to discuss the call with the second-base umpire.

"She got her," Perreira said of shortstop Egdamin. "If you look at the play again on TV, you can see. The girl kind of stopped in her tracks after being tagged. You can't help it. It's part of the game. The umpires see what they see and make their judgment calls."

Leinna Kalua started on the mound for Campbell and Patton entered in the fourth. Perreira said he wanted to use ace Katie Manuma, but her "knee gave out and she tore something in her knee" the previous day against Moanalua in the semifinals.

Perreira hopes to get another shot at Mililani, the team that also beat his Sabers in last year's Red Conference title game.

Mililani, Campbell, Moanalua, Kailua and Castle qualified for the state tournament. A sixth OIA team will play the Big Island Interscholastic Federation's No. 2 team for another berth.

"We got out there and hit Makani hard today," he said. "Mililani made the plays when they had to, and hit the ball when they had to. ... We hope to see them again in the state tournament in the same situation."

CAMPBELL (11-4) 000 300 0—3 6 1

MILILANI (14-1) 101 110 X—4 4 1

Leinna Kalua, Breanne Patton (4) and Anuhea Yamaguchi. Makani Duhaylonsod and Rebecca Lee. W — Duhaylonsod. L — Patton.

Leading hitters—Campbell: Patton 2 RBIs; Gerika Pantohas 2-3; Amber Kaulia double. Mililani: Kristi Oshiro solo homer; Duhaylonsod 2-2, double, homer, 2 RBIs;

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.