Looking for a weakness in the Kamehameha softball team's lineup? Better grab a magnifying glass. Kamehameha 13-0
after beating PunahouBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe Warriors' talent and depth shone through yesterday in an 8-0 victory over Punahou. Eight of Kamehameha's nine starters either recorded a hit or scored a run in the win in the Warriors' home finale.
"One through nine is very strong for us," Kamehameha coach Ty Sing Chow said. "We're very confident with all nine batters hitting the ball. But we won't be afraid to put it down and play small ball when we have to."
Kamehameha (13-0) has clinched the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship and closes the regular season today with a make-up game against Mid-Pacific.
"It was a good win for us, because beating a good team like Punahou gives us a good start going into states," Sing Chow said.
Punahou, which started four freshmen, ends its season at 10-4. The Buffanblu needed a win over Kamehameha and an upset by Hawaii Baptist over Iolani yesterday to have a shot at finishing second in the league and claiming a state tournament berth. Their loss ensures that Iolani will be the ILH's second representative in next week's Chevron State Softball Championship.
The Buffanblu tried to stay close with the Warriors early on yesterday, but Kamehameha exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to break the game open.
Kaulana Gould, who bats seventh in the Warrior batting order, hit an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the second to give Kamehameha a 1-0 lead. The Warriors added another run in the third on Leo Sing Chow's single to score Kate Robinson.
Sing Chow sparked Kamehameha's fifth-inning outburst with a one-out triple, which Gina Cummings followed with an RBI bunt single. After Sharee Fonoti reached on an error, Samantha Sardinha hit a two-run double to left.
Ashley Ruff, who has accepted a scholarship to play for Hawaii next year, capped the inning with a three-run home run to center field.
"I just wanted to get on or advance the runners," Ruff said. "I wasn't really looking to hit a home run, and I was surprised I hit it that well."
The offensive support was more than enough for Leo Sing Chow, who struck out nine and walked none in a complete game effort.
Kamehameha will try to complete a perfect ILH season today before attempting to win its first state title since 1998, when this year's senior class was in the eighth grade.
"To go undefeated in the ILH is a tribute to their fortitude and mental toughness," Punahou coach Kristl Okuhara said. "They should get a medal for that."
At Kamehameha H.S. field
Punahou (10-4) 000 000 0 -- 0 6 4 Kamehameha (13-0) 011 060 x -- 8 11 0 Sarah Weisskopf and Natalie Fujimoto; Leo Sing Chow and Kaulana Gould, Nicole Kalakau (5). W--Sing Chow. L--Weisskopf.
Leading hitters -- Pun: Lindsey Fujita 2-3; Erin Arakawa 2-3. Kam: Ashley Ruff 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Kate Robinson 2-4; Sing Chow 2-4, 3b, RBI; Gould HR; Samantha Sardinha 2-3, 2b, 2 RBI.
Other ILH games
Sacred Hearts 14, Mid-Pacific 4
Iolani 6, Hawaii Baptist 0
Winning pitchers -- SH: Nicole Cazinha; Iol: Ianeta Lei
Leading hitters -- SH: Noelle Yampuku 2-4; Penny Chock 3-3, 2 RBI; Kimi Daniel 2-3; Amber Juan 2-3, 3 RBI; Tiani Lopez-Mattos 2-4, HR, 3 RBI. MPI: Ashley Sato 2-3, 2b, RBI. Iol: Blair Agena, 2-3, 2b, 3 RBI; Stacey Higa 2-4, 2b; Maile Sylva 2-4, 2b.
Leilehua 60, Waianae 55: Derrick Thomas scored 17 points in the second half to lead the Mules to a win over Waianae in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division game. OIA West Basketball
Waianae led 28-27 at halftime, as Preston Popa scored 13 of his game-high 18 points before intermission.
After sitting out the first half as disciplinary measure, Thomas came off the bench to score 12 of Leilehua's 16 third-quarter points to give the Mules a 43-42 lead entering the final period.
John Dolac helped the Mules protect the lead by going 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. As a team, Leilehua made 18 of its 23 free throw attempts in the second half.
Dolac finished with 13 points, while Brandon Lowe and Andrew Talaeai scored 11 points each.
Kekoa Reyes scored 12 for Waianae.
At Leilehua H.S. gym
Waianae (2-5) 14 14 14 13 -- 55 Leilehua (5-2) 14 13 16 17 -- 60 WAIANAE--Jacob Milare 7, Brentin Fabrao 2, Preston Popa 18, Kekoa Reyes 12, Jason Tau 8, Ollie Dunlap 6, Justin Lafua 2.
LEILEHUA--Tony Brewington 0, Antonio Carter 0, Jon Connelly 0, John Dolac 13, Timothy Flowers 0, Brandon Lowe 11, Kaimana Mehrtens 0, Zacarias Rivera 6, Andrew Talaeai 11, Derrick Thomas 17, Demitrius Washington 2.
3-point goals--Waianae 2 (Milare, Popa), Leilehua 5 (Lowe 3, Dolac 2).
JV score--Leilehua 51, Waianae 42.
Waipahu 64, Waialua 43: Maurice Daniels scored 10 of his game-high 17 points in the second half as the Marauders pulled away from the Bulldogs.
Paulo Aga added eight of his 11 points in the third period as Waipahu outscored Waialua 28-12 after intermission to break open a close game.
At Waipahu H.S. gym
Waialua (1-6) 12 19 8 4 -- 43 Waipahu (5-2) 15 21 16 12 -- 64 WAIALUA--Daniel Jamora 12, Pookela Gasper 7, John Carrano 2, James Leong 0, Mark Hayes 1, Nicholas Serrone 0, Ikaika Soares 6, Aaron Agsalda 0, Brady Abendanio 0, Jonathan Keao 0, Jonathan Aceret 15.
WAIPAHU--Branden Chung 4, Bryan Acidera 3, Rumel Mejia 2, Thomas Mason 2, Jacob Aga 0, Francis Caliboso 3, Shane Kaleiwahea 2, Kenneth Cheers 0, Paulo Aga 11, Maurice Daniels 17, Chris Coloma 8, Fritz Creighton 10, Marcus Tuisamata 2.
3-point goals--Waipahu 3 (Daniels 3).
JV score--Waipahu 42, Waialua 40.
Aiea 79, Nanakuli 53: Daniel Min scored 18 points to lead Na Alii to a rout of the Golden Hawks.
Aiea broke the game open in the second quarter by outscoring Nanakuli 31-11. Chris Antonio contributed all 12 of his points in the quarter, while Min scored 9.
Lamont Williams added 12 points for Aiea, while Wes Williams chipped in with 11.
Jacob Kaawa led Nanakuli with 14 points.
At Nanakuli H.S. gym
Aiea (6-1) 14 31 21 13 -- 79 Nanakuli (1-7) 11 19 16 7 -- 53 AIEA--Taylor Watanabe 9, Chris Antonio 12, Jerome Duldulao 2, Nathan Olaivar 0, Lamont Williams 12, Samson Chung 2, Aaron Powell 1, Daniel Min 18, Ken Honda 0, Wes Williams 11, Arthur Phanphengdy 4, Jeremy Yuen 2, Anthony Johnson 6, Dennis Dedicatoria 0, Michael Doney 0.
NANAKULI--Evared Romena 6, Jacob Kaawa 14, John Chandler 7, Eddie Ko 4, Rolando Celes 9, Alika Enos 4, Kaleo Enos 2, Jojo Wilkins 4, Henry McShane 3.
3-point goals--Aiea 3 (Johnson, Min, Watanabe), Nanakuli 3 (Chandler, Kaawa, Romena).
JV score--Nanakuli 47, Aiea 40.
Mililani 45, Pearl City 43: Mililani (7-0) survived a close call against the Chargers to remain undefeated in the OIA West. Pearl City fell to 5-2.
No other details were available.
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