WAIPI'O — Sticking together as a team paid off for the Maryknoll softball team, which rallied for a 4-3, eight-inning win over top-ranked Kamehameha last night at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

Kimi Okaneru drove in Hillary Uekawa with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Spartans, ranked 10th in the Advertiser's statewide poll of media and coaches, improves to 4-3 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. The Warriors are 6-1.

"It started from this morning," Maryknoll coach John Uekawa said. "The team met at 11 o'clock and they stuck together like one team."

The Spartans took that message of playing together to heart, showing their own grit and some quick baserunning to pull off the upset.

With two outs in the eighth, Uekawa singled to short right field. Okaneru, who didn't have a hit the entire game, then lined a pitch to the left-field fence to drive in the game-winner.

"It feels good," Okaneru said of her hit. "It (the pitch) was inside."

Maryknoll tied the game at 3 in the the fourth on a wild, two-error play.

Kori Nishitomi hit an infield grounder, but the Kamehameha throw to first base went into right field. Nishitomi raced over to third, then scored after Kamehameha's throw from the outfield went wide of the home plate.

It was one of five errors committed by the Warriors.

"Errors were costly," Kamehameha coach Randy Tamura said. "That one, she went all the way around."

The Warriors nearly broke the tie in the top of the fifth on Pomai Kalakau's deep drive to center field. But center fielder Uekawa caught the ball near the fence to end the inning.

"I was just thinking don't hit the fence," said Uekawa, who credited her team's bench for raising everyone's spirits. "I was afraid I was going to hit it and fall over."

Kamehameha threatened with two outs in the top of the eighth after Kalakau reached second base on an error. Mel Awa pinch ran for Kalakau and advanced to third base on a wild pitch by Ariel Silva.

Kahea Taniguchi then walked to put runners on the corners. Ashley Morisako then lined a foul ball down the right-field line that was caught to end the inning.

Silva struck out seven in six innings. She entered the pitching circle in the third inning after Alyssa Nada pitched the first two. Nada struck out one.

"I could tell in warmups, I was in my rhythm," Silva said.

Kalakau's RBI single that scored Shaleese Javillo gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Maryknoll took a 2-1 lead in the first on Silva's RBI single and an error that scored Shelcie Ropozo.

Jamie Millwood gave the Warriors a 3-2 lead in the second with a two-run single. Millwood finished 3 for 4.

Kamehameha pitcher Amber Waracka struck out six, and both coaches feel the loss may help the Warriors.

"Kamehameha played a great game," coach Uekawa said. "They have (NCAA) D-I quality players. Something like this will make them stronger."

Tamura hopes his team can take something from the loss.

"Hopefully, we'll learn from this," he said. "This might have been a good thing for us."

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2451.

KAMEHAMEHA (6-1) 120 000 00—3 5 5

MARYKNOLL (4-3) 200 100 01—4 6 2

Amber Waracka and Pomai Kalakau. Alyssa Nada, Ariel Silva (3) and Kimi Okaneru. W — Silva. L — Waracka.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Jamie Millwood 3-4, 2 RBIs. Maryknoll: Hillary Uekawa 2-4.

MID-PACIFIC 4, 'IOLANI 1

Desi Dung scattered seven hits in her complete game victory, and Kristin Yama went 2 for 3 with two RBIs to lead the Owls over the Raiders at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

Kai Masutani went 3 for 4 with three doubles for the Raiders.

'IOLANI (3-4) 000 000 1—1 7 3

MID-PACIFIC (2-5) 120 000 X—4 7 1

Britney Guro and Kai Masutani. Desi Dung and Kaydi Kochi. W — Dung. L — Guro.

Leading hitters — 'Iolani: Masutani 3-4, 3 doubles. Mid-Pacific: Kristin Yama 2-3, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Asia Botelho

SACRED HEARTS 5, PAC-FIVE 3

Joslyn Eugenio fired a four-hitter and also batted 2 for 3 with a double and RBI to lead the Lancers over the Wolfpack at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

Teammate Corry Abellanida had two hits and an RBI. Pac-Five's Joedee Lovell had a triple and an RBI.

PAC-FIVE (4-3) 020 010 0—3 4 1

SACRED HEARTS (4-3) 004 010 X—5 7 3

Sheridan Mahelona, Annie Lariosa (3) and Britney Hagihara. Joslyn Eugenio and Chelsea Kamai. W — Eugenio. L — Mahelona.

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: Joedee Lovell 1-2, triple, RBI. Sacred Hearts: Eugenio 2-3, double, RBI; Corry Abellanida 2-2, double, RBI.

Reported by Chester Hirano