Double threat
leads Kaimuki

Leave it to a freshman to spoil Kauai's first trip to the Data House Hawaii High School Athletic Association Softball Championships.

Genesis Texeira Fruean pitched a two-hit shutout and added a two-run homer as Kaimuki continued its hot finish to the season. The Bulldogs shut out the Red Raiders 4-0 yesterday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium to advance to today's quarterfinals against Kapolei at 5 p.m.

The Bulldogs, who finished the OIA regular season with a 5-7 record, won three of four games in the OIA tournament, and continued their winning ways with last night's blanking of Kauai, which entered its inaugural state tournament at 11-1.

"I think we're one of the hottest teams in the tournament," Kaimuki head coach Lene Tausaga said. "Softball is a team sport and, once these girls came together as a team, they've done well."

It all starts with Fruean, who continued her torrid freshman season by completely shutting down the Red Raiders. Kauai's Nos. 3-4-5 hitters finished a combined 0-9 with three strikeouts.

"Speed-wise, she was just way faster than anything we had seen (on Kauai)," Red Raiders head coach Jacqueline Inouye said. "She caught us on some stuff that we had worked on, but we just didn't make the right adjustments fast enough."

The Red Raiders held tough behind starting pitcher Sherri Gebauer early, but Kaimuki finally broke through with the game's first run on a two-out RBI single by Brandi Sasaki in the bottom of the third inning.

The Bulldogs were able to stretch the lead to 3-0 one inning later as Fruean blasted a two-run home run to left, scoring Ashley Kiaaina.

From there it was all Fruean, who retired 12 of the next 13 batters heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Red Raiders were able to mount a mini-charge with two outs as pinch hitter Krystal Ijima tripled to left. But after a walk to Darcie Allianic, Fruean got Jenna Mercado to fly out to right to end the game.

"At the end I was working on throwing some pitches I was working on, like curveballs," Fruean explained. "I just stepped back, focused on getting the last girl out, and we got the win."

Fruean also hit an RBI double in the sixth inning to finish 2-for-3 with 3 RBI.

"It's always fun at the plate, but I would rather throw a two-hitter," she said.

"This team has really come together and our performance in the (OIA tournament) has really given us confidence," Tausaga added. "We depend a lot on Genesis, but we'll be looking for some of the other girls to step up as well if we're to keep winning."

Kaimuki (9-8)	001	201	0	--	4	7	0
Kauai (11-2)	000	000	0	--	0	2	0

Genesis Texeira-Fruean and Brandi Sasaki. Sherri Gebauer and Ulu Kelekoma. W--Texeira-Fruean. L--Gebauer.
Leading hitters--Kaim: Texeira-Fruean 2-3, 2b, HR, 3 RBIs; Kanoe Nicola 2-3, 2b, run; Antonina Atiga-Mareko 2b, run. Kauai: Krystal Ijima 3b.

Kailua 1, Moanalua 0

Pinch runner Shyla-Ann Pedro scored the game's only run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to push the Surfriders into the state quarterfinals.

Courtney Kessell pitched a one-hitter, walking none and striking out nine. But it was Kessell's leadoff single in the seventh that gave Kailua the chance it needed.

After Pedro came on to pinch-run, Alisha Vegas sacrificed her to second. After consecutive infield singles loaded the bases, Natasha Fabinal-Duarte hit a hard grounder that was picked up by shortstop Daisy Phanphongsa, but she one-hopped her throw home and the catcher couldn't come up with the ball as Pedro slid through the tag.

The unearned run overshadowed a gutsy pitching performance from Menehunes starter Sarah Robinson. The freshman gave up just four hits, walking two and striking out eight.

Moanalua (8-7)	000	000	0	--	0	1	1
Kailua (15-1)	000	001	1	--	1	4	3

Sarah Robinson and Shelby Nakachi. Courtney Kessell and Erin Guerrero. W--Kessell. L--Robinson.
Leading hitters--None.

HHSAA Div. I softball

At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
Seeds: 1. Punahou. 2. Kapolei. 3. Baldwin. 4. Waiakea.

Yesterday
Game 1: Pearl City 10, Hilo 0, 5 inn.
Ê2: Kaimuki 4, Kauai 0
Ê3: Mililani 9, Lahainaluna 2
Ê4: Kailua 1, Moanalua 0

Today
Ê5: Lahainaluna vs. Moanalua, 9 a.m.
Ê6: Hilo vs. Kauai, 11 a.m.
Ê7: Pearl City vs. Baldwin, 1 p.m.
Ê8: Mililani vs. Waiakea, 3 p.m.
Ê9: Kaimuki vs. Kapolei, 5 p.m.
10: Kailua vs. Punahou, 7 p.m.

Tomorrow
11: Losers of Games 8 & 10, 10 a.m.
12: Losers of Games 7 & 9, Noon
13: Winners of Games 7 & 9, 6 p.m.
14: Winners of Games 8 & 10, 8 p.m.

Saturday
15: Winners of Games 6 & 5, Noon
16: Winners of Games 12 & 11, 2 p.m.
17: Losers of Games 13 & 14, 4 p.m.
18: Winners of Games 13 & 14, 8 p.m.

HHSAA Div. II softball

At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium

Tomorrow
Game 1: Kamehameha-Maui vs. Waipahu, 2 p.m.
Ê2: Konawaena vs. St. Francis, 4 p.m.

Saturday
Ê3: Losers of Games 2 & 1, 10 a.m.
Ê4: Winners of Games 2 & 1, 6 p.m.