StarBulletin.com

Girls back on diamond in Nissan


By

POSTED: Tuesday, June 01, 2010

There are other ways to remember a winless season, but they probably couldn't have been better for Seaana Kaapa-Napulou.

The Farrington utility standout pitched four innings and drove in a run as Team Armada stymied Team Titan 7-3 on Saturday in opening-day play of the fifth annual New City Nissan Goodwill Softball Classic at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.

“;It feels good to win,”; said Kaapa-Napulou, whose Farrington team endured an 0-12 season in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East. “;Finally.”;

Kaapa-Napulou is one of about 60 players in the two-day tourney, which concluded yesterday. She held Titan, which included standouts Rebecca Lee (Mililani), Courtney Senas (Mililani) and pitcher Lianna Bajarin (Roosevelt) without a run for three innings and left with a 7-2 lead after four. All in all, a stunning achievement for someone who pitched just twice all season.

“;We're just chilling and having fun. I had great support,”; she said. “;I'm not a pitcher. I'm a catcher and infielder.”;

Alyssa Cipriano's two-run single and a run-scoring single by Lindsey Matsunaga (KaimukI) helped Armada to a 4-0 lead. Run-scoring hits by Natasha Miller (Farrington) and Corrie Murashige (Mid-Pacific) added to the lead.

Kaapa-Napulou, who drove in a run with a squeeze bunt in the fourth, finished the game at third base as Dara Aiwohi-Dutro (Waipahu) tossed the final three innings.

Bajarin drove in all three runs for Titan.

Kaapa-Napulou credited pitching coach Jessica Morton.

“;I learned a lot from her. The T-line thing — inside, outside with changeups and fastballs,”; Kaapa-Napulou said of the team's three practices.

In another tourney-opening game, Team Rogue rallied past Team Maxima 8-5 in nine innings. Kristi Oshiro (Mililani) led Rogue with three runs, including one in the deciding ninth frame.

It was still an up day for Maxima infielder Gerika Pantohan, who will play for the University of Hawaii next season. She spent part of her Sunday watching the Rainbow Wahine upset Alabama in a super regional game to qualify for the College World Series.

“;It was exciting. I was concerned for a while. I still feel a little bit intimidated, but I feel excited because I'm going to grow into that level,”; said Pantohan, who helped Campbell win its first Division I state softball title this season.

A number of players missed Saturday's games due to graduation ceremonies. Players from 'Iolani, Kamehameha, Punahou and St. Francis put on their brand-new Nissan jerseys Sunday.

Some of them were on coach Tamara Kaluau's Maxima team.

“;We're enjoying coaching girls from different schools,”; the Kailua coach said. “;Having fun and making the most of their last high school softball.”;