DIVISION I SOFTBALL
Cuba, Trojans pass semi test
A poor test score didn't keep Tiera-lyn Cuba down for long.
The junior first baseman, still reeling from a disapppointing test score in trigonometry class, belted a key two-run single as Mililani ousted Moanalua 4-0 last night in the semifinals of the Data House/HHSAA State Softball Championships at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
HHSAA Division I
At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
yesterday
11: Kamehameha 10, Hilo 0
12: Baldwin 3, Kailua 2
13: Mililani 4, Moanalua 0
14: Pearl City 6, Kapolei 3
today
15: Campbell vs. St. Francis, Noon
16: Baldwin vs. Kamehameha, 2 p.m.
17: Moanalua vs. Kapolei, 4 p.m.
18: Mililani vs. Pearl City, 8 p.m.
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Mililani (15-3) will face the Pearl City-Kapolei winner in the title game tonight at 8. It will be a matchup of West Division schools from the Oahu Interscholastic Association.
Moanalua (13-7) will play the Kapolei-Pearl City loser for third place.
Cuba's clutch hit in the fourth inning gave the Trojans a nice three-run cushion.
"I thought I did really well on my trig test, but I wasn't specific enough and got a bad grade," she said. "That was my last class, and I was still mad when we left school. I just decided to direct my anger at Moanalua."
Moanalua's run ended abruptly, but didn't lack for effort.
"I'm proud of how far we got. Mililani is a really good team. We don't see that kind of softball on the east side," Menehunes coach Mitch Matsumoto said.
Mililani (15-3) played flawless defense behind sophomore ace Makani Duhaylonsod. The right-hander fired a four-hitter, getting out of trouble on three different occasions.
An errorless performance by Mililani's defense was impressive.
"That's the only way you're gonna win at the state tournament," said third baseman Dana Lee, who was an integral part of last year's state-title run. "It depends on who makes the least errors."
Duhaylonsod's gritty performance came off an 11-inning complete-game win over Baldwin in the quarterfinals just one night before. The Trojans, with a 25-mile ride back home, didn't get to sleep until well after midnight.
"I think the 11-inning game prepared us for this," Lee said. "Yesterday put a lot of stress on us, but everybody wore their uniforms to school.
"Our fellow students pumped us up even more."
Mililani struck early against Moanalua ace Sarah Robinson. Duhaylonsod provided the key blow, an RBI single, in the first inning. Kimberly Goo, who had doubled, came home to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Cuba, who missed last year's state tourney with an injured shoulder, slapped an opposite-field double to left in the fourth inning, bringing home two more runs for the Trojans.
Mililani |
100 |
210 |
0 |
-- |
4 |
11 |
0
|
Moanalua |
000 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
4 |
2 |
Makani Duhaylonsod and Skye Virtudes. Sarah Robinson and Shelby Nakachi. W--Duhaylonsod. L--Robinson.
Leading hitters--Mililani: Duhaylonsod 2-4, RBI; Chasity Senas 2-3, run.
Pearl City 6, Kapolei 3
An avalanche of errors in the top of the fifth inning by Kapolei gave Pearl City a comeback victory. The Chargers scored five times to pull ahead, 6-2, en route to the semifinal win.
Champagne Paris belted a monster solo home run to left-center in the second inning to give Kapolei a 1-0 lead.
The Hurricanes got a gift in the fourth inning to add an insurance run. With one out and the bases loaded, Ashlyn Ashby sent a liner up the middle that glanced off the glove of pitcher Corrie Nishikida. The shortstop scooped the ball up and tossed it to second, but too late to get the runner. Ka'ili Smith, running home from third, beat the throw to home plate, giving the 'Canes a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Noelle Hirahara grounded to the mound, but a throwing error by Acierto on a toss to third allowed two Pearl City runners to score easily. Moments later, Marina Gusman-Brown singled up the middle to give the Chargers a 3-2 lead.
Kanani Numata followed with an opposite-field single to right, brining the speedy Gusman-Brown home for a 4-2 lead.
Pearl City |
000 |
050 |
1 |
-- |
6 |
8 |
0
|
Kapolei |
010 |
100 |
1 |
-- |
3 |
8 |
6 |
Corrie Nishikida and Noelle Hirahara. Tajia Acierto and Ashlyn Ashby.