They're not twins, but the Dacosin sisters have that unique wonder-twin power.

Chandelle Dacosin pitched 6 1/3 innings, and younger sister Kaisha's two RBIs helped Castle rally for a 9-5 win over Waipahu yesterday in the opening round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red softball playoffs.

Castle (10-3) advanced to the quarterfinal round and will meet the second-place team in the Red West, Campbell. The game will be played today at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.

Chandelle Dacosin had a rough start, but settled in with help from her sister and catcher, Kaisha, to dominate Waipahu for most of the way. Her location on the inside corner was impeccable. The senior registered seven strikeouts and just one walk. In one stretch, she struck out five of six Waipahu batters.

“;My inside pitches were working. Usually, my outside works,”; she said.

The Marauders (3-10) left an impression on Castle and coach Jon Berinobis.

“;Waipahu's record doesn't indicate anything. They're a scrappy team,”; he said of the Red West's sixth-place team. “;They're playing tough teams all the time over there.”;

The visiting Marauders had no fear of the ninth-ranked Knights. Waipahu struck for two runs in the top of the first on Alyssa Torres' single to right, scoring Angi Sakamoto and Shanelle Sato. That came moments after Castle shortstop Britney Hawn dropped a throw from Dacosin on a fielder's choice play at second.

Waipahu starter Dara Aiwohi-Dutro was steady through three innings, thanks to an error-free defense. However, Castle erupted for four runs in the fourth. Kaitee Wills' triple inside the third-base bag brought Maycee Moe home for a run, and Kaisha Dacosin's single to left brought Wills home to tie the game at 2.

With two outs, Chandelle Dacosin's grounder in the hole was overplayed by shortstop Adrienne Mendiola, allowing Kaisha Dacosin to score the go-ahead run. Chandelle Dacosin then scored on a triple to left by Brooke Kaulula'au.

Aiwohi-Dutro didn't walk a batter until the fifth, when she issued free passes to Wills and Hawn with two outs. Kaisha Dacosin's double off the glove of Sato at third base brought Wills home for a 5-2 lead.

A two-run double by Moe in the sixth inning, compounded by a throwing error, gave the home team a 7-2 lead. Another throwing error by the visitors on the heels of an infield single by Wills, allowed Moe to score, and Castle had a six-run margin. Hawn followed with an infield single, scoring Wills for a 9-2 lead.

The Marauders battled back with four runs in the top of the seventh. Chandelle Dacosin, hit by a pitch and struck in the leg by a pickoff throw by the catcher Sakamoto, wasn't the same in the final inning. After surrendering singles to Delilah Isom-Fuataga and Sakamoto, Dacosin was called for an illegal pitch, or the equivalent of a balk.

On the next pitch, Aiwohi-Dutro drilled a three-run homer to left and Waipahu was within four runs.

Moe took over in relief, allowing two singles before notching the final two outs of the game.

Now the Knights set their target on No. 3-ranked Campbell.

“;It's a TV game and we focus on the game, we get more excited and anxious,”; Chandelle Dacosin said.

Castle was scheduled to play a televised game earlier this season, but it got rained out. Another game for TV was ruled out because of a prom, Berinobis said.

“;You know, the girls want TV,”; he said of his young squad. “;I don't want it.”;

Waipahu's season came to an end with some what-could've-beens in mind.

“;I was very surprised,”; coach John Kapihe said of his team's early 2-0 lead. “;The teams we play on the other side, it's been bam-bam-bam. Our team fought to the end. We tried.”;

Six players were ruled ineligible for the season, he added. Two of them might have been starters.

Kapolei 5, Farrington 1

Waianae 6, Kaimuki 2

Leilehua 7, Moanalua 1

ILH

'Iolani 1, Kamehameha 0

Sacred Hearts 7, Maryknoll 2