HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Tui, Governors shut down Cougars
Want to know how to claim your first league title in style?
Have your star pitcher throw a no-hitter, and watch as your blistering lineup knocks home 15 unanswered runs.
New faces
The OIA White has had a different champion in softball every year:
2008: Farrington
2007: Kahuku
2006: Kalaheo
2005: Waipahu
Source: OIAsports.com
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Farrington did just that yesterday in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Division softball championship at Central Oahu Regional Park, posting a 15-0 shellacking of Kaiser in five abbreviated innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Lady Govs starter Felicia Tui was untouchable in giving up just a walk and striking out five. Meanwhile, she and her teammates roughed up the Cougars, who didn't help things with seven errors that helped lead to a five-run third inning and seven-run fourth to blow open the game.
Not that the Govs (10-4) needed any help. Their body language and fearless baserunning had Kaiser (10-4) back on its heels in the early going.
"I'm so happy. We're from Kalihi, and nobody thought we could do what we did," said Farrington coach Glenn Zukeran, who thanked former Govs coach Fred Nagao. "These girls, they really deserve it. They wanted this game so bad."
Tui notched four RBIs on a pair of doubles to add to her outstanding game. She was nearly speechless afterward.
"It feels good. My defense backed me up. We have a lot of school spirit," said the junior, who posted a 15-strikeout game earlier in the tournament.
Right fielder Amber Sales, who scored three times, laughed at her teammate's reserved nature.
"She was amazing. Outstanding," Sales said. "One of the best games I've seen her pitch. She's very mellow and humble. She tries to keep it to herself."
The teams had split the season series and Cougar ace Jessie Hathaway was returning from a three-game absence because of injury. Things looked up after the Govs scored twice in the first inning, when Hathaway quickly retired Farrington in the second.
After that, the Kaiser defense struggled to put runners away.
"The effort wasn't there, I don't think," Kaiser coach Deanedra Kahunahana. "But we got here, it means something -- they worked hard to get here. It's all right, we'll get them back.
"Today was their game, everybody was pumped on the side, and they responded," she added.
Catcher Kinciana Ngiralmau scored three runs and drove in three more and left fielder Victoria Tagovailoa added two RBIs.
Tui walked the second batter of the game then proceeded to retire 14 straight to end it.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
Farrington (10-4) |
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205 |
71 |
-- |
15 |
12 |
0
|
Kaiser (10-4) |
|
000 |
00 |
-- |
0 |
0 |
7 |
Felicia Tui and Kinciana Ngiralmau. Jessie Hathaway, Kayla Alcoran (4) and Chelsy Okuma. W--Tui. L--Hathaway.
Leading hitters--Farrington: Chanel Scanlan-Sevao 2 runs; Amber Sales 2-4, 3 runs; Ngiralmau 3-4, 3 runs, HR, 3 RBIs; Monique To 2 runs; Tui 3-4, 2 2b, 4 RBIs; Victoria Tagovailoa 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Elena Wooten 3b; Brittany Lopez 2 runs.