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Mixing a flurry of hard liners with a couple of bloopers, Kailua erupted for six second-inning runs on the way to a 7-0 softball victory yesterday over rival Castle. Kailua shuts out Castle
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comAll parts of the visiting Surfriders' game were clicking as Courtney Kessell pitched a five-hitter with an error-free defense behind her.
"We got a good jump on Castle," Kailua coach Bernard Victor said. "Courtney wasn't as sharp as usual, but she did a good job today. She had some good pitches going, but she also needed the defensive help and she got it."
Kessell struck out 12, a number that Castle coach Jon Berinobis thinks could have been lower had his batters been more patient.
"We knew she was going to be tough to hit," Berinobis said. "She got a lot of our hitters with her strikeout pitch, a riser, and our batters weren't laying off of it. Our batters were just cutting loose two much, swinging free instead of forcing her to come over the plate."
The Surfriders improved to 6-0 and took a half-game lead over the Knights (6-1) in the Oahu Interscholastic Association East Division.
Castle stranded nine runners, and its best chance to score was snuffed out by Kailua left fielder Tanisha Milca in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and two out, the Knights' Kristen Uza cracked a long fly ball to left field and Milca ran back toward the line to snare the ball, which had appeared destined to drive in at least two runs.
"I was thinking, 'Please let me catch the ball,' " Milca said. "It was nerve-racking going after that ball. But we work hard in practice on stuff like that with (assistant) coach Don Ferreira. He hits balls over our heads and we practice running after them. Now I know the reason we practice that so much."
The Surfriders connected for seven singles, including RBI hits by Danielle Young, Loke Lastimosa, Chante Mundon and Erin Guerrero, in their six-run second frame.
"We've been hitting well lately, throughout the regular season," Victor said. "It's been a lot different than the preseason, though. Back then we were hitting but not scoring runs with the timely hits."
Kamaile Hughes clocked a booming triple to right and scored on an outfield error for the Surfriders' final run in the seventh.
Castle pitcher Lia Pedrina gave up 10 hits in the loss.
"That one inning (the second), we were out of our game plan," Berinobis said. "She (Lia) was throwing it right down the pipe. Spotting Kailua even one run is not something you can do, especially with Kessell on the mound."
Pearl City 46, Radford 0: Crystal Pond was a hero of sorts yesterday, even though her team lost by 46 runs.
Pond, a designated hitter, singled in the third inning for the Radford softball team. It was the only hit the visiting Rams had and one of the few bright spots in a dismal day.
Pearl City's day was a lot happier, as the Chargers punched out 29 hits in a 46-0 home victory.
"We had only nine players and everybody was hitting really good," Pearl City coach Cheyene Hoshino said in a phone interview. "We weren't trying to advance runners for extra bases, so I don't know what else we could do. I don't have subs. If I had a whole bunch of subs, I would have put them in."
Rams coach Albert Hetrick didn't think Pearl City ran up the score.
"Pearl City did a very good job, not sending runners," Hetrick said. "When you're hitting the ball like they did, you can't help but score. ...
"I had a long talk with the girls on the bus ride home. They don't feel good, but they left positive and were asking when the next practice is. They want to get back to work and improve."
McKinley coach Leilani Okuda, who has been involved with OIA softball as a coach since 1983, believes the 46-run margin is a league record.
Kellie Nishikida drove in five runs and Celine Akana belted two homers to lead the Chargers.
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