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Prep Beat
The Mililani softball team practices to the oldies. Mililani dances to
state softball victoryTim Crouse
Special to the Star-BulletinThey may want to switch to the music of 98 Degrees.
With the popular band's music blaring over the loudspeakers at nearby Cooke Field, Mililani eked out a 1-0 win over Kailua in the quarterfinals of the Chevron State Softball Championships at Rainbow Wahine Stadium yesterday.
The music came from dancers who were practicing for their halftime performance in Sunday's Pro Bowl.
Mililani coach Mike Okimoto discovered earlier in the year that his team seems to play better when accompanied by music.
"One day it was kind of quiet and practice was dragging, so I (turned on) some music," Okimoto said. "They were smiling more and singing and were a little looser. We have good practices with the music."The Trojans, and three other teams, are two wins away from being able to play celebration music for winning the state championship.
Kamehameha, Iolani and Baldwin also moved into today's semifinals with wins yesterday.
Baldwin and Iolani meet at 5:30 p.m. in a rematch of a semifinal last year which the Raiders won, 1-0, and Mililani and Kamehameha square off at 7 p.m.
After waiting almost two full days to get a chance to play -- eight games had been played before Mililani took the field in yesterday's last game, and several teams had already played twice -- the Trojans didn't waste much time in putting a run on the board.
Anuhea Diamond singled to right field with one out in the second to score Adrienne Kasaoka. The ball got past the outfielder and Diamond advanced to third, but Kailua's Danielle Young retired the next two batters, with the help of a sparkling snag by shortstop Jana Pintz.
The Trojans threatened several more times in the game, but Young always managed to get out of trouble, thanks in large part to some great throws by Pintz from deep in the hole.
"There could have been a couple more hits and we could've scored a couple more runs. (Pintz) played a heckuva game," Okimoto said.
Trojan ace Miki Asamura also received defensive help -- with Johnna Rowland catching a line drive at third that might have gone for a double or triple and Lauren Kim making a fine running catch in left.
Only two Kailua runners reached second base, and Asamura ended Kailua's only real scoring threat by recording a strikeout with runners at first and second in the fourth.
The sophomore allowed just two singles -- both in the fourth -- walked one and struck out five.
"I don't have to worry about striking (every batter) out," Asamura said. "I can just let them hit and rely on my defense to help me out."
Mililani 010 000 0 -- 1 5 1 Kailua 000 000 0 -- 0 2 2 Miki Asamura and Anuhea Diamond. Danielle Young and Kainoa Hughes. W--Asamura. L--Young.
Leading hitters--Mil: Karyna Wilkerson 2-3, 2b; Diamond RBI.
Iolani 8, Kaimuki 1
The Raiders jumped all over the Bulldogs early, bashing 11 hits in the first three innings, and got a strong pitching performance from Ianeta Lei -- but momentum stalled when Ashley Elliazar was injured in a base-running collision in the top of the fourth.Elliazar, who was pinch running, collided with shortstop Tyleen Tausaga in front of second base, and remained on the ground for over 15 minutes.
She was taken to Kaiser Hospital with an injury to her right side.
"I think she jammed her hip," Iolani trainer Charley Gima said. "She could move it, though."
Iolani couldn't score any runs and managed just three hits after the delay. And the Raiders committed seven errors in the game.
Lei helped her own cause with a pair of hits and three RBIs.
Iolani 251 000 0 -- 8 14 7 Kaimuki 100 000 0 -- 1 4 1 Ianeta Lei, Stephanie Lum and Tricia Sakamoto. Jamie Reyes, Chrissy Moefu and Tahra Hussey. W--Lei. L--Reyes.
Leading hitters--Iol: Lei 2-3, 2b, 3 RBIs; Tara Yanagihashi 2-2, Taryn Nagata 2-5, 2b; Noelle Izumi 2-4; Jocelyn Tamayo 2-3.
Baldwin 2, Pearl City 0
Shannon Tabion overpowered the Chargers, striking out 13 batters and allowing just a infield single, to outduel Loihi McKeague.Seven Pearl City hitters went down swinging and six were called out on strikes. Tabion struck out five in a row at one point. She walked two and allowed just one ball to leave the infield.
The Bears broke through against McKeague in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and one out and the infield drawn in, Kaleo Eldredge smashed a shot to the shortstop, who bobbled the ball briefly before unsuccessfully trying to throw out Eldredge at first. Alena Matsui, who singled with one out to start the rally, scored on the play.
Zoie Sevilla followed with a single to drive in Eldredge.
McKeague struck out three, walked one and, amazingly, recorded six of her 18 outs on comebackers to the mound.
Pearl City 000 000 0 -- 0 1 2 Baldwin 000 002 x -- 2 5 0 Loihi McKeague and Ashley Pagatpatan. Shannon Tabion and Ashlyn Russell. W--Tabion. L--McKeague.
Leading hitters--Bald: Kaleo Eldredge RBI; Zoie Sevilla RBI; Alena Matsui 2-3.
Kamehameha 11, Hilo 0
Leo Sing Chow threw three perfect innings with six strikeouts and Sharee Fonoti finished off the near no-hitter for the Warriors.Sing Chow was especially effective changing speeds. She recorded three strikeouts on off-speed pitches.
Talia Ruth provided the big hit in the second with a bases-clearing double to left-center field.
Hilo helped Kamehameha by committing nine errors.
The Vikings got their lone hit of the game with two outs in the sixth on a triple down the right field line by Mary Clair Highfield.
Kamehameha 143 102 -- 11 11 0 Hilo 000 000 -- 0 1 9 Leo Sing Chow, Sharee Fonoti (4) and Tricia Arneson, Samantha Sardinha. Cassie Kahana, Alisha Mihara (6) and Diana Nakoa. W--Sing Chow. L--Kahana.
Leading hitter--Kam: Talia Ruth 3-run 2b; Brandi Peiler 2-3, 2b, RBI.
Consolation semifinal
Waimea 6, Lahainaluna 1
Waimea 110 400 0 -- 6 9 2 Lahainaluna 000 000 1 -- 1 5 2 W--Albette Nawai.
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