'Iolani ace Brittany Guro has absolutely dominated as of late.

Last week, the right-hander pitched shutouts as she bested two defending state championship teams, Division II Pac-Five and Division I Kamehameha. She allowed just seven hits while striking out 13 in 14 innings.

Yesterday, Guro was just as dominating in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu showdown against third-ranked Mid-Pacific, She struck out six, allowed five hits—all singles—with no walks.

But as good as Guro was, Mid-Pacific freshman Keiki Carlos was even better. Carlos and the Owls (5-2) handed the second-ranked Raiders their first loss of the season 1-0.

“;It was a really great pitching duel,”; said 'Iolani coach Lance Watanabe. “;I think that Mid-Pac came out ready to play. They made some outstanding plays.”;

Mid-Pacific's outstanding play started with Carlos' outstanding pitching performance. Though the freshman admitted to having “;butterflies”; at the start of the game, she settled down quickly.

Carlos scattered four hits, allowed only one runner to reach third, and walked none. She struck out five, including the final batter of the game.

Her fastball had a particular zing to it that 'Iolani batters struggled to catch up with all game.

“;We rely on her ability to keep teams at bay with her fastball,”; said Owls coach Willie Quinn. “;She's young and she's learning, but I think she has a lot of talent.”;

Carlos helped out her own cause by coming up with two spectacular late-inning defensive plays. In the sixth, after 'Iolani's Kim Souza opened the inning with a single, Carlos snagged a line drive off Kryn Masutani's bat that seemed destined for the outfield grass and to start an 'Iolani rally. Instead, Carlos recorded the out and doubled up Souza off first base.

With one out in the seventh, Carlos dove for a short popup along the first-base line. She hit the ground hard, but somehow came up with the ball and the second out of the inning.

When 'Iolani did hit Carlos hard, Mid-Pacific played nearly flawless defense. Center fielder Corrie Murashige chased down a ball at the fence on a dead sprint. Shortstop Kristin Yama atoned for an earlier error by making a nice play in the hole to rob Kaili Taniguchi of a hit in the fifth.

“;Defensively, we played our best game today,”; Quinn said.

The Owls scored the game's only run in the second. Mari Tanaka led off with a solid single to left and, after a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Desi Dung, infielder Kacy Aoki scored Tanaka with a bloop single to right.

It was the first run 'Iolani—and Guro, who has started every game—had allowed since a 2-1 win over Punahou on March 21.

Carlos, a precocious freshman who has pitched in every game this season, improved to 4-1.

Yet 'Iolani's worst news of the day might not have been the loss but the fact that the Raiders can look forward to many more matchups against Carlos in the future.

“;She's a really tough, young girl,”; Watanabe said. “;I'm sad to say we have to see her another three years.”;

ILH

No. 8 Kamehameha 3, Maryknoll 1

Punahou 5, Saint Francis 3

OIA

Kalaheo 5, Aiea 1

BIIF

Baseball

ILH

Saint Louis 15, Damien 8

The Crusaders collected 18 hits and the Monarchs committed eight errors in a lopsided decision.

Kini Enos hit a pair of doubles and drove in three to lead Saint Louis.

OIA RED WEST

Aiea 5, Waianae 1

Shane Okubo and Brennan Alejo combined on a five-hitter as Na Alii defeated the Seariders.

BIIF