Top softballers have some fun

Tajia Acierto didn't quite look right in royal blue, but she sure played right.

The Kapolei senior hurled Team Maxima to a 5-2 win over Team Armada yesterday in a pivotal matchup in the inaugural New City Nissan Softball Classic.

The crowd at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium enjoyed moderate weather and a multitude of close games between the four all-star teams. In all, six games were played.

The win boosted Maxima to 3-0 in the round-robin format -- with all three wins credited to Acierto -- and secured a spot in today's semifinals at Central Oahu Regional Park. Play begins at 5 p.m., with the title game to follow.

"We have good team chemistry, even though we're all from different schools," said Acierto, who has interest from Hawaii Pacific but may enroll at UH. She aspires to become a registered nurse like her mother.

"It's been fun playing against everyone and meeting them," she added.

Acierto, a four-year starter and the 2004 player of the year when she led the Hurricanes to the state title, wasn't in her usual teal and black. Still, she showed her true colors as a two-way threat, belting an RBI triple.

That hit came in a breakout five-run fourth inning for Maxima. Brook Gascon-Vea (Farrington) ripped a single to right and came in to score on a single by Agesha Lightsy (Kahuku). Vernadine Vickers (Nanakuli) also came in to score on a passed ball before Acierto belted her triple to right center, scoring Lightsy.

Acierto scored on the play thanks to an Armada throwing error. That gave Maxima a 5-0 lead.

Armada rallied in the bottom of the fourth. Shyenne Hussey (Kailua) swatted an RBI single down the right-field line. Moments later, Corrie Nishikida (Pearl City) sent a fly ball into foul territory, where right fielder Charina Sumner (Kamehameha) made the catch next to the fence and threw out baserunner Kaui Tom (Kamehameha) at home plate.

That silenced Armada until the bottom of the seventh, when Tom doubled to right to score Casey Sugihara (Pearl City).

Vickers, playing center field, made a diving catch of a liner off the bat of Nishikida to end the game.

Vickers, a first-team All-OIA shortstop, played both positions during the day.

"She ran into the fence in one of our other games," Acierto said. "She does a lot for our team."

Acierto could set a standard by winning two more games tonight, but is hoping for a reprieve.

"I want to play infield," she said.

Team Maxima 5, Team Armada 2

Team Maxima	000	500	0	--	5	8	2
Team Armada	000	100	1	--	2	7	0

Tajia Acierto and Ashley Phillips. Jessica Ghazali and Shelby Nakachi. W--Acierto. L--Ghazali.

Leading hitters--Maxima: Charina Sumner 3-3, 2b. Armada: Kaui Tom 3-3, 2b.

YESTERDAY'S OTHER RESULTS

Team Maxima 2, Team Titan 1

Team Maxima	000	020	0	--	2	2	1
Team Titan	000	100	0	--	1	3	0

Tajia Acierto and Ashley Phillips. Tiana Vierra, Sarah Fukumoto (6) and Cara Hasegawa. W--Acierto. L--Vierra.

Team Maxima 5, Team Quest 4

Team Quest	200	000	2	--	4	8	2
Team Maxima	200	201	x	--	5	6	2

Noe Esperas and Kaliko Serrao. Michal Pane'e and Ashley Phillips. W--Pane'e. L--Esperas.

Leading hitters--Quest: Marina Gusman-Brown 2-2, Esperas 2-2. Maxima: Cristen Aona 2-2.

Team Armada 2, Team Titan 1

Team Titan	000	000	0	--	1	6	2
Team Armada	020	000	0	--	2	6	1

Anita Manuma and Cara Hasegawa. Corrie Nishikida and Shelby Nakachi. W--Nishikida. L--Manuma.

Leading hitters--Titan: none. Armada: Corrie Nishikida 2-2.

Team Titan 5, Team Quest 4

Team Quest	200	100	1	--	4	4	4
Team Titan	100	020	2	--	5	7	2

Marina Gusman-Brown and Sydney Kaneshiro. Tiana Vierra, Sarah Fukumoto (5) and Chantel Tavares. W--Fukumoto. L--Gusman-Brown.

Leading hitters--Quest: Gusman-Brown 2-2, HR, 2 runs; Chelsey Keola 2-3.

Team Quest 4, Team Armada 3

Team Quest	000	004	0	--	4	6	3
Team Armada	100	002	0	--	3	9	2

Chelsey Keola, Noe Esperas (6) and Sydney Kaneshiro. Corrie Nishikida and Shelby Nakachi. W--Keola. L--Nishikida.

Leading hitters--Quest: Marina Gusman-Brown 2-3. Armada: Casey Sugihara 2-3, Nishikida 3-3.