[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]
Kailua holds off Leilehua
With their backs against the wall, the defending state champion Kailua Surfriders proved they're still the team to beat in the Oahu Interscholastic Association.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Sheyenne Hussey hit a two-run double, and pitcher Courtney Kessell struck out the final two batters to preserve a 3-1 victory over Leilehua in a game that nearly saw an end to the Surfriders' undefeated campaign.
Mules starting pitcher Alexis Nicolas San did not give up a hit until the sixth inning, but the Surfriders made use of their lone scoring chance to advance to today's OIA semifinal game against Kapolei.
"Their pitcher did a good job," Kailua coach Bernard Victor said. "She was a little quick for us and did a good job moving the ball around, making it tough on our hitters."
Completely baffling Kailua for the first five innings, Nicolas San got the run support she needed in the top of the fourth inning on a one-out RBI single by Deanna Langsi, who made it all the way to third base on the play after an error by the left fielder.
"We struggled a little bit out there, but I was just hoping sooner or later we'd come through," Victor said.
His team listened as Chante Wallwork singled with one out in the sixth inning for Kailua's first hit of the game. Erin Guerrero followed that with a single of her own, and after a wild pitch moved the runners over, Hussey connected on a 3-2 pitch and smashed a double to left-center, giving Kailua the lead.
"I just went up there determined to get a hit," Hussey said.
The hit proved to be a little extra special for Hussey, who according to her coach, had been struggling at the plate.
"She hadn't been hitting much," Victor said. "But she's one of our better batters, which is why she was in there, and it was nice for her to come through for us."
Courtney Kessell, who added an RBI single later in the inning, picked up the win for Kailua, but struggled a little with some of her pitches.
"Courtney was at a bit of a disadvantage because of the weather," Victor said. "She uses a bit more rotation on her pitches, so a wet ball made things more difficult for her than it would a normal pitcher."
Kessell finished with 13 strikeouts.
Kailua 3, Leilehua 1
W--Courtney Kessell. L--Alexis Nicolas San.
Leading hitters--Kai: Sheyenne Hussey, 1-3, 2b, 2 RBI; Chante Wallwork, 1-1, bb, run. Lei: Pikake Gaudet-Nutter, 3-3, 2 2b, run; Deanna Langsi, 2-3, RBI.Kapolei 2, Roosevelt 0
At Kapolei H.S. Field
W--Genoa Aiko. L--Tajia Acierto.
Leading hitters--Kap: Austi Paris, 2-3, 2b; Amanda Shigetani, 2-3, 2b; Malamaisaua Manuma, 2b.
ILH
University 9, Mid-Pacific 4
The Junior 'Bows' win over the Owls (5-7) yesterday set up a two-game battle in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II softball.University and the combined team from Hawaii Baptist/St. Andrew's Priory/St. Francis both finished 7-7. The teams will meet this afternoon at Kamehameha to determine the ILH Division II champion.
Tomorrow afternoon, University faces off against just St. Francis at Iolani for the lone D-II berth to the state tournament.
The combined team isn't eligible for state tournament competition, but St. Francis can still qualify since it's able to field to a full team without players from HBA and Priory.
Yesterday, the Junior 'Bows broke a 3-all tie in the second inning and never trailed. Mandy Yoshizu tossed a five-hitter while her team paired 15 hits off Owls pitcher Shari Shobu.
At Mid-Pacific
W--Mandy Yoshizu. L--Shari Shobu.
Leading hitters--MPI: Jasmine Viera, 2-4, triple, single. UHS: Yamaguchi, 2-4, RBI; Yoshizu, 2-4, 2 runs; Cara Hasegawa, 2-3, triple, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Ku'ulei Padeken, 2-3, 3 RBIs, run; Reseene Choy 2-3, single, double; Jessica Ghazali double 2-3, single, run, RBI.Iolani 11, Sacred Hearts 0
Kaz Masutani drove in four runs with a double and home run as Iolani routed Sacred Hearts in five innings.Monique Obra pitched a complete game for the win.
Iolani 11, Sacred Hearts 0 (5 innings)
Winning pitcher--Monique Obra.
Leading hitters--Iol: Chelsey Keola, 2-2, HR, 2 RBIs; Kaz Masutani, 2-3, 2b, HR, 4 RBIs; Tiff Rodrigues, 2-4.Punahou 7, HBA/SA/SF 0
Sarah Weisskopf threw a two-hitter as the Buffanblu (11-3) cruised past Hawaii Baptist/St. Andrew's Priory/St. Francis (7-7).Weisskopf also batted 2-for-4 as Punahou took advantage of five errors by HBA/SA/SF.
At Kamamalu Field
WP--Sarah Weisskopf. LP--Carolyn Fisher.
Leading hitters--Pun: Shanna-Lei Dacanay, 2-4, double; Kelli Ishii, HR; Weisskopf, 2-4; Adrienne Tanaka, triple.