[ HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL ]
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kapolei's Austi Paris (5) looked to the umpire, who called her safe after she slid under the tag of Punahou catcher Kaha Weir in the Hurricanes' 4-2 victory over the Buffanblu.
Acierto helps push
Kapolei past PunahouThe sophomore pitcher gives
the Hurricanes an edge in a 4-2
extra-inning over the Buffanblu
The tighter the game, the better Tajia Acierto plays.
The sophomore ace carried Kapolei High School into today's Datahouse State Softball Championship. Before a sizable and spirited crowd at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, Acierto helped the Hurricanes defeat Punahou 4-2 in extra innings.
"We wanted to go all the way," said Acierto, who had three ice bags taped to her right shoulder and arm after the game. "We wanted to make the state final for our team. We had our goals and we talked about it."
The Hurricanes will face the winner of the second semifinal between Kailua and Kamehameha.
Kapolei (14-1) wanted to make history and it did by becoming the first team from the school to reach a state championship final in the school's four-year existence. Kapolei got two runs in the ninth from a fielder's choice and a Punahou error. The Hurricanes didn't play perfectly, with errors of their own in the bottom of the second inning that allowed Punahou (13-4) to even the score at 2-2.
"I couldn't ask for more," Kapolei coach Tony Saffery. "We have a bend-but-don't-break mentality. We try to instill that into our girls."
Acierto exemplified that best. She pitched herself out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh with Punahou threatening. Two Kapolei errors and a walk had loaded the bases with no outs.
Acierto retired the next three batters she faced. She got Shanna-Lei Dacanay to ground out, Kelli Ishii on a pop-up and then a force out at second to push the game into extra innings.
"I was really scared, but I had confidence in my girls that they would back me up," Acierto said. "They did it. They helped me out."
If Acierto was frightened, she certainly didn't show it. Her teammates had seen her work her magic on more than one occasion.
"She's done that before," catcher Jasmin Yoro said. "She's worked under pressure and she never gives up."
"She's a competitor. She's a tremendous player," added Saffery, who started the Kapolei program four years ago. "She's only a sophomore. She's amazing. I watched her grow up again."
Acierto wasn't the only pitcher to perform well. Punahou pitcher Sarah Weisskopf gave the Hurricanes fits with her changeup.
"She took away our bats," Saffrey said. "She tied up our bats with that changeup."
But Weisskopf didn't get the offensive or defensive support the Buffanblu ultimately needed.
"We didn't execute. We had opportunities," Punahou interim head coach Raynor Minami said. "Kapolei did what they had to do to win."
Both teams got on the scoreboard in the second inning.
Malama Manuma singled to center to start the inning. With one out, Yoro laid down a perfectly placed bunt and reached second on a throwing error. Amanda Shigetani followed with a bloop single to left to score Malama and Yoro.
The Buffanblu got even in the bottom of the second. Catcher Kaha Weir lined a two-out, bases-loaded single to center to score Weisskopf and Cristen Aona. But that would be all Punahou would manage as Dacanay grounded out to end the inning.
W--Tajia Acierto. L--Sarah Weisskopf.
Kapolei (14-1) 020 000 002 -- 4 8 3 Punahou (13-4) 020 000 000 -- 2 5 3 Leading hitters--Kap: Austi Paris, 2-4; Jasmin Yoro, 2-4; Amanda Shigetani, 2-4, 2-run 2b. Pun: Gail Matsushima, 2b; Kaha Weir, 2 RBIs.
KAILUA 3, KAMEHAMEHA 0
Kailua and Kamehameha own 17 state titles between them. But only one powerhouse could advance to today's state final.
In a rematch of last year's state championship, the Surfriders defeated the Warriors in the second semifinal.
Kailua struck first and capitalized on three errors in the fourth inning. That would be all ace Courtney Kessell would need. The junior struck out seven, scattered three hits and walked one.
"The pitching is about 90 percent of the game," Kailua coach Bernard Victor said. "I don't know if that was really her best, but it was good enough. This is her third day in a row. It's a little tough on her."
Kessell wasn't necessarily thrilled with her own performance, but she was delighted Kailua is in the championship game for the second year in a row.
"I give us an 8 out of 10," Kessell said. "Our team was awesome. We had been kind of down because we weren't getting the hits, but our coaches said to put the ball in play."
W--Courtney Kessell. L--Noelani Esperas.
Kamehameha (14-1-1) 000 000 0 -- 0 3 3 Kailua (14-1-1) 000 300 x -- 3 3 4
Leading hitters--Kam: Kaulana Gould, 2b. Kail: Brittany Madayag-Tokunaga, 2-2, 2b; Rusty-Ann Borges, 2b, RBI.DIVISION I CONSOLATION
Mililani 5, Waiakea 3
W--Dana Lee. L--Elise DuPonte.
Leading hitters--Waik: Krystelle Garcia, 2-3, RBI. Mil: Charity Senas, 2-3, 2b, RBI; Casey Sugihara, 2-2, RBI.Lahainaluna 6, Castle 4
W--Tiffany Nava. L--Lia Pedrina.
Leading hitters--Lah: Audrey Chihara, 3-4; Nava, 2-4; Teisha Mizuno, 2-4, 2- 2bs, 3 RBIs.DIVISION II SEMIFINALS
University 5, Honoka'a 0
Jessica Ghazali struck out 10, walked one and allowed only two hits as the Jr. 'Bows rolled over the Dragons in yesterday's inaugural Division II semifinals.Honoka'a committed three errors to University's one and gave up nine hits, including two doubles to Dory Baga and Kuulei Padeken. Baga went 3-for-3 on the night and drove in one run.
W--Jessica Ghazali. L--Deynna Pahio.
Honoka'a (7-4) 000 000 0 -- 0 2 3 University (9-7) 220 001 x -- 5 9 0
Leading hitters--UHS: Richie-Anne Titcomb, 2-4, 2 RBIs; Cara Hasegawa, 2-3, RBI; Dory Baga, 3-3, 2b, RBI; Kuulei Padeken, 2b, RBI.kalaheo 5, lana'i 3
The Pine Lasses committed four errors, one of which drove in two Mustang runs in their semifinal loss.Lana'i used a walk, three hits and three Kalaheo errors in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-3. But, they were unable to put the tying run on base.
W--Kaliko Kepa. L--Jerri Fauate'a.
Kalaheo (7-6) 013 010 0 -- 5 7 4 Lana'i (9-8) 000 003 0 -- 3 6 4
Leading hitters--Kalh: Jessika Ngirblekuu, 3b; DeAnn Horswill, 2-4. Lan: Fauate'a, 2-3, 3b.
HHSAA Div. I Softball
At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
Seeds: 1. Kamehameha. 2. Kapolei. 3. Lahainaluna. 4. Waiakea.Wednesday
Game 1: Castle 18, Keaau 0
2: Mililani 7, Baldwin 6
3: Kailua 2, Waimea 0
4: Punahou 4, Pearl City 0Thursday
5: Baldwin 7, Waimea 1
6: Pearl City 3, Keaau 1
7: Kailua 6, Waiakea 0
8: Punahou 13, Lahainaluna 0
9: Kapolei 4, Castle 1
10: Kamehameha 8, Mililani 0Yesterday
11: Lahainaluna 6, Castle 4
12: Mililani 5, Waiakea 3
13: Kapolei 4, Punahou 2
14: Kailua 3, Kamehameha 0Today
Consolation final: Baldwin vs. Pearl City, noon
Fifth place: Mililani vs. Lahainaluna, 2 p.m.
Third place: Kamehameha vs. Punahou, 4 p.m.
Championship: Kailua vs. Kapolei, 8 p.m.
Div. II
At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
Yesterday
Semifinals
University 5, Honoka'a 0
Kalaheo 5, Lana'i 3Today
Third place: Honoka'a vs. Lana'i, 10 a.m.
Championship: University vs. Kalaheo, 6 p.m.
