KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
University shortstop Richie Titcomb just missed the tag on Kamehameha's Kaui Tom trying to steal second base.
Warriors romp Kamehameha was ready for an ambush and cooled down previously hot University 11-1 in a five-inning softball game yesterday at Ala Wai Field.
past Jr. ’Bows
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comThe Junior 'Bows were fresh off their 2-1 upset of Punahou on Saturday and ready to hunt down another Interscholastic League of Honolulu top dog, but the Warriors muffled those aspirations.
"I thought that since we beat Punahou, maybe we could beat Kamehameha," University pitcher Jessica Ghizali said. "But it didn't work out. Kamehameha hit a lot more than Punahou and I wasn't on my game. If I had to do it over again, I would have got my pitches going a little bit more and definitely try to throw way harder."
Ghizali earned the win against Punahou, but Kamehameha chased her out of the pitcher's circle while erupting for seven runs in the third and fourth innings to wipe out a 1-0 Junior 'Bows lead.
The Warriors improved to 10-1 in the ILH, and University dropped to 6-5.
"I know University is capable of playing a lot better than they showed today and that was fortunate for us that they didn't have a very good game," Kamehameha coach Ty Sing Chow said. "Maybe Punahou wore them out for us. They (University) jumped out on us 1-0 and we squandered early opportunities. Finally, we had some key hits and they made mistakes and gave up some walks and before you knew it, everything was going good for us."
The Junior 'Bows made nine errors.
Richie Titcomb singled and scored University's only run on Iwalani Yamaguchi's fielder's choice in the first inning.
Warriors ace Kate Robinson didn't give up another hit and struck out three over the next three innings. Brandi Peiler mopped up, striking out two batters in the fifth.
"Kate's been doing well all season," said Warriors co-captain and senior spark plug Napua Naumu, who stole two bases. "We just backed her up. We're a young team, but a strong-minded team."
Kamehameha left the bases loaded in the first, but went up 2-0 in the third on Sharee Fonoti's RBI hit and two University errors.
In the fourth, Liane Horiuchi ripped an RBI triple to left and Naumu beat out a run-scoring bunt hit to key the Warriors' five-run rally for a 7-1 bulge. University committed five more errors in the inning.
The Warriors added their final four runs in the fifth on Kaulana Gould's leadoff hit, four straight walks, Robinson's sacrifice fly and another Junior 'Bows' error.
"They're a big and experienced team," University coach Larry Sakamoto said. "They've been there (the state tournament) before, and all of that adds up to the success they have. They put a lot of pressure on us. They stole bases, hit the ball hard, are well-coached and are taught to take advantage of certain situations. They executed extremely well."
Punahou 3, Iolani 0: At Iolani, Sarah Weisskopf tossed a five-hitter to silence the Raiders' offense.
The Buffanblu improved to 10-2, one game behind Kamehameha, while Iolani dropped to 8-3.
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