Courtney Kessell did her part yesterday to ensure a showdown with Miki Asamura in today's Oahu Interscholastic Association championship game. Kessell puts
Kailua in finalStar-Bulletin staff
Kessell pitched a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts to lead the Surfriders past Leilehua 2-0 in an OIA semifinal at Kailua.
"Everything was working for her," Surfriders coach Bernard Victor said.
Mililani blanked Castle 2-0 on Thursday behind Asamura's pitching before rain wiped out the scheduled game between Kailua and Leilehua.
"Kessell's pretty good, she's a different kind of pitcher (than Asamura)," Trojans coach Mike Okimoto said. "(Kessell) changes speeds, throws a curve-drop, induces ground balls."
The championship game today at Kailua follows the third-place game between Castle and Leilehua, which starts at 1 p.m.
"Hopefully we can get a lead and force (Kailua) to hit ground balls," Okimoto said.
Mililani has won 62 consecutive league games, including four straight OIA titles.
"The girls aren't even thinking about (the streak)," Okimoto said. "All they want to do is win (today). It's not about not losing.
"That's not what our goals were. Our goal was to get to the OIA championship game. We get there, hopefully have a good day, have a little luck, and things might go our way. Our next goal is to get to the championship game of the state tournament next week."
Kessell did not walk a batter yesterday and helped herself at the plate. The sophomore got on base twice, with a walk and a hit, to set up both Kailua runs.
"She's getting more confident at the plate," Victor said.
She walked in the second inning and was replaced on the basepaths by courtesy runner Rusty Borges. Borges ended up scoring from third on an infield grounder.
In the fifth, Kessell singled to start another rally. Borges scored for her on a single by Kaimele Hughes.
"We just need to keep swinging the bat," said Victor, whose team made good use of its five hits against Leilehua's Alexis San Nicolas. Loke Lastimosa had a pair of hits for the Surfriders and Jaime Kim had two of the Mules' five hits.
"It's going to be a pitchers' duel," Victor said. "We got where we wanted to be (the OIA final), so now what are we going to do with that?"
On Thursday, Asamura pitched a four-hitter against the Knights.
"She's gotten stronger this year, has more maturity," Okimoto said. "This is her last year, she wants it more."
Victor said he didn't think Mililani's extra day of rest would be a factor, and he also said the team wasn't thinking about how impressive Mililani's winning streak has been.
"We're just going out to try to win the game," he said.
Kapolei earns fifth OIA state berth: Kapolei outlasted Pearl City 9-8 in a wild 10 innings to take fifth place in the OIA, and qualify for its first state tournament.
Tajia Aceirto threw 148 pitches in going the distance for the Hurricanes -- a day after hurling 103 pitches in a 5-2 win over Moanalua. She also had a hit and scored a pair of runs.
The Manuma sisters -- Malama and Valana -- each had three hits, two runs and an RBI.
The Moanalua boys and Kalaheo girls earned the fifth and final OIA berths in the state tournament yesterday. OIA SOCCER
Mililani and Pearl City play each other tonight in the girls and boys OIA championship games at Pearl City. The girls match begins at 5:30 p.m. The boys start at 7:30 p.m.
The boys state tournament runs from Wednesday through Saturday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park. The girls tournament is at Maui's War Memorial Stadium, from Feb. 19-22.
Varsity Boys
Ethan Gonsalves scored the game's lone goal as Castle beat Roosevelt 1-0 in the third-place match. Moanalua topped Kapolei 1-0 in the fifth-place game on Nick Lovan's goal.Mililani, Pearl City, Castle, Roosevelt and Moanalua will represent the boys.
Varsity Girls
Stephanie Sumida and Ambree Ako scored for Aiea in a 2-0 win over Kahuku in the third-place game. Kalaheo downed Leilehua 2-0 in the fifth-place game behind a pair of goals by Anela Gonzales.Mililani, Pearl City, Aiea, Kahuku and Kalaheo will represent the OIA girls on Maui.
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