Last week, Mililani saw its 62-game OIA win streak end in a title-game loss to Kailua. Last night, the Trojans beat Castle 4-2 in what they hope is the first of a four-game streak that would win them the Chevron State Softball Championship Tournament. Asamura leads
Mililani to winBy Marc Dixon
mdixon@starbulletin.comAce Miki Asamura fired a 110-pitch five-hitter and was one out away from a shutout before Castle rallied in the seventh at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Leading 4-0, the Trojans took the field and admittedly had thoughts of today's meeting with Baldwin before finishing the game at hand.
"I guess we relaxed a bit," said Asamura. "I was thinking that we had it and I relaxed a little too much. It was my mistake."
Using a screwball, fastball and several off-speed pitches, the 5-foot-2 senior struck out 11 and consistently kept the Knights off balance. Not until the seventh inning were the Knights able to collect more than one hit in an inning.
Asamura's counterpart, Lia Pedrina, threw 86 pitches and managed two hits. Her presence alone was a pre-game concern for Mililani.
"I expected them to be better tonight, because last time we played them they didn't have their best pitcher and centerfielder," said Asamura. "And since we beat them before there was more pressure. Plus the underdogs had been winning today."
Mililani's first run came in the second when Sandy Nakamura led off the inning with an opposite-field double that hugged the left-field line. After a sacrifice, catcher Erika Au drilled a fastball up the middle to break a mini-slump and give Mililani a 1-0 lead.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mililani's Charity Senas tagged out Castle's Kalei Lebanon attempting to steal last night in the Trojans' 4-2 state softball win.
In the fourth, the Trojans doubled the advantage. Thiffany Anguay-Kalau ripped the second offering of the inning down the right-field line past Castle rightfielder Cheyna Farley. The ball rolled to the wall and Anguay-Kalau cruised into third with a lead-off triple. Stefanie Lum got the first of her two RBIs with a fielder's choice to make it 2-0.
Nakamura and Lum drove in two more runs in the sixth and it appeared that the Trojans were on the verge of a convincing opening-round victory. But the Knights, hoping to borrow some magic from their OIA champion football team, had other ideas.
Pinch-hitter Kalei Lebanon started the seventh with a single up the middle, just past a diving Charity Senas. Stacy Yamada followed with a one-out bouncer up the middle. With two out, Young Anu dribbled a swinging bunt that Asamura fielded. Her first overhand throw of the evening sailed into right field, giving Castle its two runs. Mililani then booted Pedrina's grounder, putting the tying run on first. However, Asamura ended the rally by striking out Megan Cravalho for the third time.
Waiakea 3, Punahou 2: Krystelle Garcia's three-run triple in the fourth inning pushed the Warriors (10-2) to an upset of the Buffanblu (14-4).
Waiakea pitcher Elise DuPonte earned the complete-game victory with no walks, surviving 11 Punahou hits.
DuPonte beat Punahou ace Sarah Weisskopf, who went the distance and struck out seven.
Kapolei 3, Hilo 0: Tajia Aceirto made sure the Hurricanes' first experience in a state tournament game was a good one, scattering five hits against the Vikings (10-2).
The Hurricanes scored twice in the first inning against Jessica Moniz and added a third run in the second.
Kapolei (12-3) plays defending state champion Kamehameha today in the quarterfinals.
Lahainaluna 4, Leilehua 2: The Lunas took advantage of five Mules errors to advance to a meeting with top-seeded Kailua (13-0).
Tiara Kukahiko scattered seven hits while striking out three and walking two for Lahainaluna (15-4).
The Lunas scored twice in the top of the seventh to take a 4-0 lead. Shalayna Nutter-Gaudet smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh for the Mules (9-6). Alexis San Nicolas took the loss.
All games at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium State softball
Seeded teams
1. Kailua (13-0), 2. Kamehameha (15-2), 3. Baldwin (14-3), 4. Waimea (10-2).Yesterday
Lahainaluna 4, Leilehua 2
Kapolei 3, Hilo 0
Waiakea 3, Punahou 2
Mililani 4, Castle 2Today
Game 5: Leilehua vs. Punahou, 11 a.m.
Game 6: Waimea vs. Waiakea, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Kailua vs. Lahainaluna, 3 p.m.
Game 8: Kamehameha vs. Kapolei, 5 p.m.
Game 9: Baldwin vs. Mililani, 7 p.m.Tomorrow
Game 10: Hilo vs. Castle, noon
Game 11: Losers of Games 6 and 7, 2 p.m.
Game 12: Losers of Games 8 and 9, 4 p.m.
Game 13: Winners of Games 8 and 9, 6 p.m.
Game 14: Winners of Games 6 and 7, 8 p.m.Saturday
Game 15: Winners of Games 5 and 10, 2 p.m.
Game 16: Winners of Games 11 and 12, 4 p.m.
Game 17: Losers of Games 13 and 14, 6 p.m.
Game 18: Winners of Games 13 and 14, 8 p.m.
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