Noga does enough to
keep Waipahu alive

The pitcher shuts down the Warriors
after getting the lead

After a rough start, Waipahu senior Tina Noga recovered to strike out 12 batters and lead the Marauders to the championship game of the HHSAA Division II tournament with a defeat of the Warriors of Kamehameha-Maui, 6-3, yesterday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Marauders will play the winner of the Saint Francis and Konawaena semifinal game on Monday.

Down 3-0 coming into the bottom of the third, Waipahu scored four runs in the inning to grab hold of the lead. Noga took care of the rest. In the four remaining innings, she didn't allow a hit or walk.

"It's unbelievable," Waipahu coach Sheri Elarco said of Noga's pitching game. "She just comes out and performs."

Noga ended the game giving up three hits, one earned run and three walks. At the end of the second inning, those stats looked as though they would be much, much higher.

In the first, Kamehameha-Maui used an aggressive base-running scheme to make the most of Noga's early mistakes. She gave up two hits and a walk to the first three Warrior batters, but followed that shaky start by striking out the side. However, a passed ball by her sister, catcher Krissaundra Noga, allowed Shawna Dunlap to score, giving the Warriors the 1-0 advantage to end the top of the first.

The Warriors scored two more runs in the second inning after two wild pitches by Tina Noga.

"She expects the best out of herself; she pressures herself a little too much," Elarco said. "But then she kind of calmed it down and played awesome."

"I was kind of frustrated," Tina Noga said. "I was trying to play for too many people, so I just had to calm down. But I think as the game went on, I overcame that. When it was 3-0, I didn't want my high school season to end."

It was the opposite story for Warrior pitcher Manalani English. The 5-foot-2 sophomore cruised through the first two innings, facing only eight batters, giving up a hit and a walk. But the third inning started a drastic change of events.

In the third, English faced the entire Marauder batting order, giving up four hits and three walks in the process.

Mahea Spencer got things started for the Marauders, drawing a walk. Then a bunt for a hit by shortstop Kari Sakamoto and walk by Tina Noga loaded the bases with just one out. Third baseman Anna Sooalo then drove in Spencer and Sakamoto with a hit to left field, her only one of the afternoon. The game was tied a few minutes later when Krissaundra Noga drove in her sister on a solidly hit grounder up the middle. Center fielder Andy Medeola then scored Krissaundra Noga on a blast to left field.

"I told them just 'play with your heart,' and that's what they did, and this is the performance that we got," Elarco said.

English gave up nine hits, six earned runs and 11 walks in the game.

"When they were in the lead, our heads started getting down. And our bench did a great job of picking us up, and I think without them, these girls would have just lost it," Elarco said.

Sakamoto went 2-for-3 in the game, as did Krissaundra Noga.

The Marauders added a run in the fifth inning on a Sakamoto drive to right field. Malia Spencer scored, but Maile Spencer was tagged out on her way to home plate.

Waipahu's final run came courtesy of risky base running by Tina Noga. Caught in a rundown between third and home, Noga sprinted toward home plate, going past the catcher and beating the Warriors' Saybel Bissen.

"I didn't think I was going to make it," Tina Noga said with a laugh.

The second Division II semifinal between Saint Francis and Konawaena was called due to rain in the top of the fifth inning. The Troubadours were leading the Wildcats 5-0. The game will resume today at 4 p.m.

Already leading 1-0 going into the third, Saint Francis scored three more runs in the inning.

Kalyn Lee started the inning with a hit off Wildcat pitcher Hina Kimitete. Lee stole second and third base on consecutive pitches. She scored on a drive to center field by shortstop Anita Manuma. Second baseman Sydney Kaneshiro crossed the plate on a Sasha Koki grounder. A wild pitch by Kimitete made it 4-0 Troubadours as Manuma scored.

Kimitete faced four more batters in the inning before finally retiring the side by striking out Chelsea Nasimento.

In the last play before the rain delay, Manuma again scored Lee in the fifth to bring the score to 5-0.

Due to the rain delay, all consolation games are canceled.

HHSAA Division I softball

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

TODAY
11: Canceled
12: Canceled
13: Kapolei vs. Pearl City, 6 p.m.
14: Mililani vs. Kailua, 8 p.m.
15: Canceled
16: Canceled

Monday
17: Losers of Games 13 & 14, 4 p.m.
18: Winners of Games 13 & 14, 8 p.m.

HHSAA Division II softball

At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium

YESTERDAY
Game 1: Waipahu 6, Kamehameha-Maui 3
2: St. Francis 5, Konawaena 0 (postponed in fifth inning)

TODAY
2: Konawaena vs. Saint Francis, 4 p.m.
3: Canceled

Monday
4: Championship game, 6 p.m.