Ioane pitches Punahou into quarters
POSTED: Wednesday, May 12, 2010
For the past few years, the Punahou softball team could only watch as other programs on campus reveled in state tournament conquests.
Just last week, the school claimed state championships in golf, tennis, judo, water polo and baseball. The softball program, meanwhile, hadn't appeared in a state tournament since 2005.
So yesterday's 4-0 win over Kapolei in the Division I opening round of the Datahouse/HHSAA Softball State Championships proved particularly gratifying for the Buffanblu.
“;We definitely want to try to be a part of that, so they inspire us to try to get to that point,”; senior pitcher Jasmine Ioane said of Punahou's state tournament tradition. “;Especially for the seniors, this is super exciting.”;
Ioane helped the Buffanblu make a victorious return to the tournament by firing a shutout at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, sending the Buffanblu into the quarterfinals to face fourth-seeded Baldwin today at 3 p.m.
Ioane allowed just four singles, struck out five and walked none. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate and doubled in the third inning.
STATE SOFTBALL DIVISION I Today at RWSS » Waiakea vs. Castle, 1 p.m. » Baldwin vs. Punahou, 3 p.m. » Mililani vs. Waianae, 5 p.m. » Mid-Pacific vs. Campbell, 7 p.m.
DIVISION II
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She's part of a senior class that endured some rough times coming up through the program to end their careers in the state tournament.
“;It's their last time and they've never had the chance to enjoy a state tournament, so I think they're really relishing all the atmosphere of the moment,”; third-year head coach Bob Makahilahila said. “;I was really proud of them today.”;
When he was hired at Punahou, Makahilahila—who previously served on the coaching staffs at Kamehameha and St. Francis—looked to build the program by setting the foundation at the younger levels. He also enlisted the aid of former longtime Mililani coach Mike Okimoto, who led the Trojans to the 2005 championship, as an assistant coach.
“;The varsity is the key, but the program starts from intermediate to JV,”; Makahilahila said. “;I meet with all our coaches, we work together in the offseason, so once the season starts the JV and intermediate coaches are on the same page as the varsity.”;
This year's varsity squad earned a state berth by advancing to the ILH championship game before falling to Mid-Pacific, the tournament's second seed.
The Buffanblu stayed in the hunt for the state title—one of the few Punahou has never captured—by scoring single runs in the second and third innings and adding two more in the fourth against Kapolei.
Reina Furuya opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to score Sarah Hiramatsu. Ioane doubled off the fence in right-center in the third and courtesy runner Nicole Tamura eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Furuya singled in a run in the fourth and came in on Mysha Sataraka's RBI double to left.
That was more than enough for Ioane, whose twin brother, Punahou football standout Jeremy Ioane, signed with Boise State in February.
“;We were a little nervous, but we just had to play our game,”; she said.
Waianae 7, Kealakehe 2
Pililani Smith-Keopuhiwa struck out six in a complete-game performance and hit a three-run homer in the third inning to lead the Seariders into the quarterfinals.
Kyree Naiwi also doubled and homered for Waianae, which advanced to face top-seeded Mililani today.
Castle 6, Lahainaluna 0
Leisha Liilii tossed a four-hit shutout and drove in two runs in the win. The Knights will face BIIF champion Waiakea in the quarterfinals.
Castle took control with a five-run second inning, highlighted by Brittany Hawn's two-run triple.
Campbell 12, Roosevelt 0
Senior pitcher Katie Manuma struck out five in a two-hit shutout, and the Sabers moved on to face second-seeded Mid-Pacific tonight at 7.
Manuma contributed an RBI double as Campbell struck for four runs in the first inning. Brianne Silva-Kapihe drove in four runs, two scoring on a sixth-inning double. The game was called after six innings due to the 10-run rule.
DIVISION II
Kauai 11, Molokai 1
Looking to defend their state title from a year ago, the Red Raiders easily dispatched the Farmers in the opening round of the Division II tournament at Central Oahu Regional Park.
Kauai pounded out 13 hits in a game shortened to six innings, led by Tia Obrero's 4-4 performance, which included three runs and two RBIs. Randee Layosa, Melia Aki, Naja Pungan and Waileia Kanealii each had two hits as the Red Raiders advance to tonight's quarterfinal game vs. top-seeded Kalani at 7 p.m.
Pungan also got the win, going the distance and scattering seven hits.
Waialua 7, Kohala 6
The Bulldogs scored twice in the seventh to come from behind to defeat the Cowgirls.
Karina Bayudan picked up the win and Ciara Balidoy went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
With the win, Waialua advances to meet third-seeded Hana in a quarterfinal matchup at 5 p.m..
In the loss, Kui Ching went 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
Kalaheo 9, Kamehameha-Hawaii 1
The Mustangs scored four runs in the first two innings before plating five in the third en route to a victory against the Warriors.
Sarah Fitzherbert recorded the win and also went 4-for-4 and scored twice. Erika Segura had a triple and three RBIs for Kalaheo, which advances to tonight's quarterfinal against second-seeded Waimea at 7 p.m.
The Warriors committed seven errors in the game.
Pac-Five 5, Aiea 2
The Wolfpack scored two runs each in the fourth and fifth as they pulled away from Na Alii.
Sheridan Mahelona went the distance in the circle for Pac-Five, giving up two runs on seven hits. She also had two hits and scored twice.
