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Miki Asamura used a jumping rise ball to strike out 10 Moanalua hitters and lift Mililani to a 1-0 win in an Oahu Interscholastic Association softball playoff game yesterday at the Trojans' field. Mililani marches
into semifinalsBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe quarterfinal victory moved Mililani a step closer to its fourth straight OIA title and into the state tournament.
"Hopefully, we can get to the championship game," Asamura said. "But we really want to get to states, so this game was really important."
The junior right-hander struck out the side to open the game and ended up with a two-hitter. She gave up singles in the second and third innings, walked none and retired the last 13 batters she faced.
Asamura consistently got ahead in the count, then unleashed her riser to finish the job. The pitch starts out in the strike zone before zipping skyward just before it reaches the plate.
"We don't usually strike out that many times," Moanalua coach Mitch Matsumoto said. "Mostly, it was the rise ball."
Mililani, the three-time defending league champion, advances to host OIA West rival Leilehua in a semifinal at 3:30 p.m. today. Castle hosts Kailua in the other semifinal. All four teams qualified for the upcoming Chevron Softball Championship with their wins yesterday.
Moanalua travels to Kaimuki today for a fifth-place bracket game. Campbell hosts Roosevelt in the other game. The winners will play for fifth-place, and the league's final state tournament berth, tomorrow.
Asamura's performance overshadowed a gritty outing by Moanalua pitcher Mika Tanji. Tanji didn't record a strikeout, but kept the Trojans off balance and induced routine ground balls and pop-ups.
Asamura got the run support she needed in the bottom of the third inning thanks to Karyna Wilkerson's daring on the bases. With two out, Wilkerson singled to center field and promptly stole second. She then took off on a delayed steal on ball four to Brittney Shimamoto. By the time the Menehunes figured out what was going on, the ball had been thrown back to Tanji and her throw to third was wild, allowing Wilkerson to score the decisive run.
"We didn't hit too well today, but when we get on base we just try to run smart," Wilkerson said.
Asamura took care of the rest, setting down the Menehunes in order the rest of the way.
"When Miki pitches we know she's going to shut them down," Wilkerson said. "So once we get that one run we get more excited and we know we can do it."
The Trojans' bats were stifled for much of the game, but they used their formula of strong pitching and air tight defense to survive and advance.
"Everybody knows us," Mililani coach Mike Okimoto said. "They know we're a defensive team. There's nothing to hide. We're not like Kailua or Kamehameha where they have power. ... We're more punch and Judy, and play small ball."
Saturday's third-place and championship games have been moved to Kapolei High School. The games were originally scheduled for Hawaii Pacific University's Hawaii Loa campus field. The third-place game starts at 11 a.m. with the championship game to follow.
At Mililani H.S. field
Moanalua 000 000 0 -- 0 2 2 Mililani 001 000 x -- 1 4 0 Miki Asamura and Erika Au; Mika Tanji and Jazmine Yamamoto. W--Asamura. L--Tanji.
Leading hitters -- Mil: Karyna Wilkerson 2-2, run.
Castle 5, Roosevelt 0: The Knights took advantage of two Rough Rider errors to score three unearned runs and earn a spot in the semifinals.
Castle's Lia Pedrina scattered seven hits en route to the shutout win.
At Castle H.S. field
Roosevelt 000 000 0 -- 0 7 2 Castle 030 002 x -- 5 8 0 Genoa Aiko and Chelsie Kadota; Lia Pedrina and Anuhea Young. W--Pedrina. L--Aiko.
Leading hitters -- Roos: Ashlie Dutro 2-4. Cas: Cheri Defiesta 2-3, Keala Horner 2-3.
Kailua 2, Campbell 0: The Surfriders used a first-inning barrage to score both of their runs and Courtney Kessell made it stand up by striking out 13 hitters to earn the win.
Kailua struck for three doubles and a single in the top of the first inning. Cousins Deja and Cheyene Cavaco both doubled to drive in the Surfriders' runs.
Kessell gave up two hits and two walks in the win.
At Campbell H.S. Field
Kailua 200 000 0 -- 2 5 0 Campbell 000 000 0 -- 0 2 5 Courtney Kessell and Kainoa Hughes; Jenna Sylva and JoVonna Ke'alohi.
Leading hitters--Kail: Tanisha Milca 2-3, 2b; Loke Lastimosa, 2b. Camp: Jalen Garcia, 2b.
Leilehua 5, Kaimuki 0: Alexis San Nicolas pitched a two-hit shutout to lead the Mules to the win.
San Nicolas also paced Leilehua offensively, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double.
At Kaimuki H.S. field
Leilehua 011 030 0 -- 5 11 0 Kaimuki 000 000 0 -- 0 2 2 Alexis San Nicolas and Heidi Garcia; Delia Solia, Crissy Moefu (6)and Umu Matealona. W--San Nicolas. L--Solia.
Leading hitters -- Lei: Koko Guerrero 2-4, 2b; San Nicolas 3-4, 2b; Maile Christian 2-2; Shalayna Nutter-Gaudet 2-2.
Punahou 1, University 0 (10 innings): Sarah Weisskopf went 10 innings and struck out five to pick up the complete-game win. ILH
University's Kehaulani Yamaguchi matched Weisskopf for nine shutout innings before Lindsay Fujita singled in Erin Arakawa with the game winning run.
At Punahou H.S. Field
W--Pun: Sarah Weisskopf.
Leading hitters--Pun: Erica Miyabara, 2-3; Lindsay Fujita, 2-4 game winning RBI; Erin Arakawa, 2-4; Natalie Fujimoto, 3b. UHS: Iwalani Yamaguchi, 2-3; Mandy Yoshizu, 2-4, 2b.
Kaimuki 63, McKinley 41: Jesse Wong nailed five 3-point shots and scored a game-high 20 points as the Bulldogs remained undefeated in the OIA East. Basketball
OIA
Wong and Daniel Tautofi combined for 22 first-half points to help Kaimuki build a 12-point lead at halftime. Tautofi finished with 12 points and Alex Lauriano added 11.
Curt Leong led McKinley with 16 points.
At McKinley H.S. gym
Kaimuki (5-0) 13 19 12 19 -- 63 McKinley (1-3) 11 9 9 12 -- 41 KAIMUKI--Jesse Wong 20, Richy Miyasaka 4, Tino Caires 2, Daniel Tautofi 12, Isaiah Ano 0, Jimmy Miyasaka 4, Nick Milan 3, Alex Lauriano 11, James Davis 7.
MCKINLEY--Taase Jennings 4, Keith Hicks 2, Lincoln Okada 0, Dominic Souza-Larimore 0, Curt Leong 16, William Chriton 0, Elliot Twiggs 2, Joshua Bumanglag 2, Robert Holder 10, Isaiah Iaea 5, David McGhee 0.
3-point goals--Kaimuki 7 (Wong 5, Lauriano, Milan), McKinley 2 (Holder).
JV score--Kaimuki 51, McKinley 46.
Leilehua 49, Kapolei 38: The Mules avoided an upset by shutting out the Hurricanes 11-0 in overtime.
Leilehua's Andrew Talaeai scored four of his nine points in overtime. Derrick Thomas led all scorers with 15 points, while Zacarias Rivera added 10.
E.J. Aton scored 10 points for Kapolei, which lost in overtime for the second time this season.
At Leilehua H.S. gym
Kapolei (0-6) 10 7 14 7 0 -- 38 Leilehua (4-2) 5 15 9 9 11 -- 49 KAPOLEI--E.J. Aton 10, Keith Albano 0, Dandrell Corpus 0, Aaron Lewis 2, Zach Vierra 3, Kaipo Enhada 9, Roland Mason 4, Hector Malazarte 2, Ruben Orosco 4, Warren Simanu 4.
LEILEHUA--Zachary Anduha 0, Tony Brewington 0, Antonio Carter 0, Jon Connelly 0, John Dolac 4, Timothy Flowers 2, Brandon Lowe 0, Kaimana Mehrtens 1, Zacarias Rivera 10, Andrew Talaeai 9, Derrick Thomas 15, Nick Vail 0, Demitrius Washington 8.
3-point goals--Kapolei 2 (Aton, Vierra), Leilehua 1 (Washington).
JV score--Leilehua 60, Kapolei 19.
Kahuku 62, Kailua 54: The Red Raiders used a full-court press to erase a 32-20 halftime deficit and rally past the Surfriders.
Tyler Oto score 11 of his game-high 18 points in the second half as Kahuku outscored Kailua 42-22 after intermission. Inoke Funaki added nine of his 15 points after halftime.
At Kahuku H.S. gym
Kailua (2-3) 13 19 11 11 -- 54 Kahuku (2-2) 8 12 18 24 -- 62 KAILUA--Brad Ching 2, Kealii Kalahiki 6, Mane Masuisui 9, Kekoa Sniffen 10, Taleki Mailau 6, Eddie Campbell 7, Xavier Hoolulu 6, Kainoa LaCount 0, Samson Satele 8.
KAHUKU--Trumaine Oto 5, Ferron Fonoimoana 8, Ekahi Soriano 0, Jaron Casey 0, Sam Spurrier 2, Inoke Funaki 15, Jared Tufaga 0, James Kammerer 7, Tyler Oto 18, Quinlinn Adolpho 3, Tala Esera 0, Quin Ah You 4.
3-point goals--Kailua 2 (Hoolulu, Masuisui), Kahuku 3 (Funaki, Tr. Oto, Ty. Oto).
JV score--Kahuku 54, Kailua 46.
Waipahu 63, Campbell 57: Maurice Daniels hit for 16 of his game-high 24 points in the first half and the Marauders held off a Saber rally to improve to 3-2 in the OIA West.
Eugene Dawson led Campbell with 15 points, while Gentel Morris scored 14.
At Waipahu H.S. gym
Campbell (2-4) 14 15 8 20 -- 57 Waipahu (3-2) 18 17 14 14 -- 63 CAMPBELL--Mark Villanueva 2, Gentel Morris 14, Eugene Dawson 15, Jacob Cadelina 11, Marlou Domingo 0, Norman Arce 0, Travis Pratt 0, Mark Palacios 5, Rylan Redona 0, Allen Brown 10, Del John Mangrobang 0.
WAIPAHU--Branden Chung 9, Bryan Acidera 0, Rumel Mejia 11, Thomas Mason 4, Jacob Aga 0, Francis Caliboso 0, Shane Kaleiwahea 0, Kenneth Cheers 4, Paulo Aga 6, Maurice Daniels 24, Chris Coloma 3, Fritz Creighton 2, Marcus Tuisamata 0.
3-point goals--Campbell 7 (Dawson 3, Morris 2, Cadelina, Palacios), Waipahu 6 (Daniels 3, Mejia 2, Chung).
JV--Waipahu 48, Campbell 39.
Pearl City 48, Waianae 47: The Chargers improved to 4-1 in the OIA West by squeaking past the Seariders (1-4). Details were not available.
Varsity girls Soccer
ILH
Iolani 4, Mid-Pacific 0
Kamehameha 1, Punahou 0
Pac-Five 2, St. Francis 0
Goal scorers--Iol: Kara Ishikawa 2, Lauran Dignam, Dayna Omiya. Kam: own goal. PF:Britta Borne, Jenny Handley.
Varsity boys OIA East
Farrington 2, McKinley 0
Kahuku 3, Kalani 2
Kailua 1, Roosevelt 0
Kaiser 2, Castle 1
Moanalua 2, Kaimuki 0
Goal scorers--Farr: Nathaniel Corpuz, Fred Dona. Kah: Thiago De Oliveira, Kyle Juliano, Danilo Santana. Kaln: Grant Arakaki, Joshua Smith. Kail: Joel Yago. Kais: Landon Beers. Cast: Corey Zablan. Moa: Aaron Miura, Geoffrey Say.Varsity girls
Kailua 2, Roosevelt 0
Kaiser 2, Castle 0
Goal scorers--Kail: Anela Ramelb 2. Kais: Nicole Ortega.Junior varsity girls
Castle 0, Kaiser 0
Kailua 3, Roosevelt 0
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