FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kapolei's Tehani Kaaihue scored yesterday while Pearl City catcher Maya Nagata received the throw from the outfield.
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’Canes hold off Chargers
By Brendan Sagara
Special to the Star-Bulletin
With only three active seniors on his roster to open the Oahu Interscholastic Association softball season, veteran Kapolei coach Tony Saffery knew he and his staff would have their work cut out for them early in the year. Thankfully for Saffery and the Hurricanes, the two veterans he has are two of the state's best.
With sophomore right-hander Kahana Higa making the start in the pitcher's circle after a last-minute lineup change, Kapolei turned to the lead of senior standouts Kaili Smith and Ashlynn Ashby to hold off Pearl City 5-3 in its regular season opener.
"We came out very slow today," Saffery said. "We had to make some adjustments with our lineup, and Lauren (Fujisaki) did a great job keeping us off balance early on, but 'Ili (Smith) came up with the big hits again."
Smith went 3-for-4 with a double to spark Kapolei's attack, accounting for four of her team's five runs in the ballgame.
Pearl City scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first on a triple to left by shortstop Sanoe Aina and made it hold up for two frames, as Fujisaki kept Kapolei off balance with an effective mix of pitches.
Kapolei responded in the top of the third to even the contest on an RBI single by Smith. Tehani Kaaihue led off the inning with a base hit up the middle and advanced to second on Deja Manubog's grounder to third to get herself into scoring position. Smith followed by pulling an 0-1 pitch into right for Kapolei's first run.
Pearl City rebounded back into the lead with a single run in the fourth on a run-scoring groundout by second baseman Courtney Ahlo, which scored Aina, who led off the frame with a single to left.
Kapolei rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead for good, keyed by another timely hit by Smith. After Fujisaki retired Dorian Acierto on a grounder to third to start the inning, Kaaihue singled to center to give the Hurricanes a runner at first with one out.
Manubog followed by dropping a bunt down the third baseline, which was cleanly fielded, but the throw to first was dropped, putting runners at first and second.
With the outfield shifted to defense a ball hit to right, Smith promptly lifted a high drive into a wide-open center field for an RBI double, scoring Kaaihue from second.
The throw back into the infield snuck away from Pearl City catcher Maya Nagata, allowing Manubog to score to give Kapolei the 4-2 advantage.
"I saw them move their defense around so I knew what was going on," Smith said. "They had been throwing me a lot of changes today, so when I saw the pitch I just went after it."
Pearl City battled for a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it a one-run game, taking advantage of a walk and two errors to make it 4-3.
The Hurricanes rallied to get the run back in the top of the seventh on a run-scoring single down the left-field line by Ashby, scoring Smith from third.
Ashby, a fourth-year starter at catcher for Kapolei, provided excellent leadership behind the plate, working with the inexperienced Higa, who overcame two walks and two defensive miscues behind her to earn the win.
"We have some new girls out here -- like Kahana -- and they will be a big asset to our team once they get their confidence, but we have to help them out right now," Ashby said. "We have to remind them that when we make mistakes, once it happens, it's over. Today we did a good job of that."
At Pearl City H.S.
Kapolei (1-0) |
001 |
030 |
1 |
-- |
5 |
9 |
1
|
Pearl City (0-1) |
100 |
101 |
0 |
-- |
3 |
4 |
4 |
Kahana Higa and Ashlyn Ashby. Lauren Fujisaki and Maya Nagata. W--Higa. L--Nagata.
Leading hitters--Kapolei: Tehani Kauhane 2-4, 2 runs; Kaili Smith 3-4, 2 runs; Kailey Fernandez 2-3. Pearl City: Sanoe Aina 2-3.
OIA Red East
Moanalua 2, Kailua 0
Sarah Robinson pitched a two-hitter and hit a double to drive home a run in the first inning as Na Menehune defeated the Surfriders.
At Kailua H.S.
Moanalua (1-0) |
100 |
001 |
0 |
-- |
2 |
10 |
1
|
Kailua (0-1) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Sarah Robinson and Lauren Onmaye. Krista Dumandan and Mikayla Scott, Johnna-Lynn Pedro (4). W--Robinson. L--Dumandan.
Leading hitters--Moanalua: Midrelle Acosta 2-3; Manyann Giles 2-4; Robinson 2b; Brittni Ronolo 2-4. Kailua: Tianna McKeague 2b.
Castle 14, Kalaheo 0
Chandel Dacosin pitched a two-hitter and Katy Wills went 3-for-4 with a double and two triples as the Knights routed the Mustangs in six innings.
At Aikahi Park
Castle (1-0) |
|
100 |
148 |
-- |
14 |
16 |
0
|
Kalaheo (0-1) |
|
000 |
000 |
-- |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Chandel Dacosin and Kelsea Berinobis. Kara Holtzman and Hiilei Olson. W--Dacosin. L--Holtzman.
Leading hitters--Castle: Leisha Liilii 3-5, 2b, 3b; Ashlyn Agustus 2-5, 2b; Maycee Moe 3-3; Dacosin 2b; Katy Wills 3-4, 2b, 2 3bs; Brooke Kaululaau 3-4, 3b. Kalaheo: Erika Segura 2b.
Kaimuki 7, Roosevelt 0
Sheena Hussey went 3-for-4 with a home run and Ashley Kiaaina tossed a three-hitter as the Bulldogs routed the Rough Riders.
At Stevenson Middle School
Kaimuki (1-0) |
005 |
200 |
0 |
-- |
7 |
8 |
1
|
Roosevelt (0-1) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
3 |
1 |
Ashley Kiaaina and Mikki Morihara. Lianna Bajarin and Kamalei Pitoy. W--Kiaaina. L--Bajarin.
Leading hitters--Kaimkuki: Sheena Hussey 3-4, HR; Lindsey Matsunaga 2-4; Bryanna Calves 2-4. Roosevelt: Cierra Kapea 1-3, 2b.
OIA Red West
Leilehua 7, Aiea 1
Kaylen Ynigues struck out nine batters and went 3-for-4 as the Mules dominated Na Alii.
At Kaala Elementary School
Aiea (0-1) |
000 |
010 |
0 |
-- |
1 |
5 |
0
|
Leilehua(1-0) |
202 |
030 |
x |
-- |
7 |
13 |
3 |
Rayna Strom-Okimoto, Marcelle Hiruko (4) and Kori Nishi. Kaylen Ynigues and Chasea Crawford. W--Ynigues. L--Strom-Okimoto.
Leading hitters--Aiea: Hiroko 2-3; Ashlyn Aweau 2-3. Leilehua: Ynigues 3-4, 2b; Brittney Lani 2-3; Crawford 3-4, 2 RBIs, 3b; Alex Smith HR, 2 RBIs, Ciara Paracuelles HR.
Mililani 4, Waipahu 2
The Trojans outlasted the Marauders, led by Kristi Oshiro who went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in two runs. Mililani pitcher Makani Duhaylonsod picked up the win and helped her own cause by knocking in a run.
At Mililani H.S.
Waipahu (0-1) |
000 |
001 |
1 |
-- |
2 |
6 |
1
|
Mililani (1-0) |
002 |
200 |
x |
-- |
4 |
11 |
2 |
Elsa Apo and Angi Sakamoto. Makani Duhaylonsod and Rebecca Lee. W--Duhaylonsod. L--Apo.
Leading hitters--Waipahu: Apo 2-3, Dara Aiwohi- Dutro 2-3. Mililani: Kristi Oshiro 2-4 2b, 2 RBI, Courtney Senas 2-3 RBI; Makani 2-3, RBI.
OIA White
Waianae 13, Kahuku 5
The Seariders scored in five of six innings to cruise past the Red Raiders. Waianae's Rylen Hoapili went 2-for-4, driving in three runs with a double and triple. Winning pitcher Desirae Hanamaikai gave up five runs on six hits, but was able to hold on for the win. For Kahuku, Kaohi Kalili was 2-for-4 with a home run.
At Waianae H.S.
Kahuku (0-1) |
200 |
300 |
-- |
5 |
6 |
4
|
Waianae (1-0) |
151 |
204 |
-- |
13 |
15 |
3 |
Josie Maiava (6) and Julesa Kawaauhau. Desirae Hanamaikai (6) and Shaylene Manuel. W--Hanamaikai. L--Maiava.
Leading hitters--Kahuku: Kaohi Kalili 2-4, HR. Waianae: Rylen Hoapili 2-4, 2b, 3b, 3 RBIs; Hanamaikai 2-4, 2b, 3b; Manuel 3-4 2b, 3 RBIs, Tiffany Tapeni 3-4, 3b.
Nanakuli 10, McKinley 2
The Golden Hawks scored five runs in the first inning and five in the third to ease past the Tigers. Nanakuli was led by Brittany Nao, who homered and drove in two runs.
At Nanakuli H.S.
McKinley (0-1) |
100 |
010 |
0 |
-- |
2 |
5 |
6
|
Nanakuli (1-0) |
505 |
000 |
x |
-- |
10 |
9 |
2 |
Rachel Ragus and Amanda Nakagawa. Sheila Argayoso and Ola Suaba. W--Argayoso . L--Ragus.
Leading hitters--McKinley: Trinda Hong 1-3 3b, Nanakuli: Brittany Nao 1-3, HR, 2 RBI; Violet Mao, 1-3, 2b; Kamil Keawa 2-3, 3b.
Farrington 8, Radford 2
Felecia Tui struck out seven and hit a double, driving in two runs to lead the Governors past the Rams.
At Lanakila Park
Radford (0-1) |
000 |
001 |
1 |
-- |
2 |
7 |
1 |
Farrington (1-0) |
000 |
062 |
x |
-- |
8 |
12 |
0 |
Enn Laurent and Mary Ann Alotaituli. Felecia Tui and Kinciana Ngiralmau.
Leading hitters--Radford: Laurent 2-3, 2b; Hakalani Baranlala 2-3, 3b. Farrington: Amber Sales 3-4; Ngiralmau 3-4; Tui 2b, 2 RBIs; Monica To 2-2, 2 RBIs, 2 run.
Also
Kaiser 3, Anuenue 0
BIIF
Kamehameha-Hawaii 8, Keaau 6
CORRECTION Saturday, March 15, 2008
Maycee Moe plays for the Castle High School softball team. Her name was originally misspelled as Macy in this story.
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