By

POSTED: Friday, May 14, 2010

This time, the Sabers finished the job.

Barely.

Katie Manuma hurled a two-hitter and her defense stepped up in the nick of time as Campbell ousted Castle 3-0 last night in the semifinals of the Data House/HHSAA Division I State Softball Championships at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Campbell (18-1) is chasing its first state softball championship, relying heavily on the arm of Manuma, who is 3-0 in the tournament. It was a different result from last week's matchup between the teams, when Castle (13-5) upset Campbell in the Oahu Interscholastic Association semifinals for the second time in as many years.

“;When we found out we'd play them again, we knew we'd bring our 'A' game,”; said Manuma, who struck out eight and walked one.

Once again, it was a struggle for the Sabers defensively, especially after they committed three errors in the bottom of the sixth inning with Manuma trying to protect a 2-0 lead. But instead of crumbling, the Sabers were tighter than ever under duress.

“;When things go wrong, we come together and pick each other up,”; Manuma said of her team's chat in the sixth inning. “;We talk about our daily lives and just remain calm, just picking each other up, being sarcastic and trying to make each other laugh. That takes the stress off and forget about mistakes.”;

               

     

 

 

STATE SOFTBALL         at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium         TODAY         Division I final         » Punahou vs. Campbell, 7 p.m.         TODAY         Division II final         » Pac-Five vs. Waimea, 5 p.m.

In the sixth, the senior bore down in the face of danger. After three errors allowed Castle to place runners at third and second base with just one out, Manuma struck out Alyssa Cipriano.

Kalena Lessary, who singled to right in her previous at-bat, was caught looking at an inside fastball for a third strike. Manuma had come through again.

Leisha Liilii was a hard-luck pitcher for the Knights, allowing just one earned run. The junior whiffed one batter and walked another.

“;They were pretty tough,”; said Liilii, who permitted just four hits. “;We were just a couple of hits short.”;

The Sabers struck for a run in the first frame after Manuma doubled and courtesy runner Tiana Rosario raced home on a throwing error by Castle shortstop Brittany Hawn.

The pitchers dueled on and Manuma got more help in the fourth inning. Daylene Antonio led off with a walk and courtesy runner Jessica Arata moved to second base, beating a throw by Liilii on a sacrifice bunt. After a sac bunt by Collette Black advanced Arata to third, Arata scored on a passed ball and the Sabers led 2-0.

That lead held up, and Campbell added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Nicole Arata tripled to right and scored on a single by Antonio.

It was a test of wills for Manuma, who has battled injuries to her knee and ankle without losing her quirky sense of humor. Assistant coach Kevin Nagamine tells the ace to use her “;screw curve”; pitch in tight situations.

“;There's no such pitch,”; Manuma said. “;One day, we saw a lady trying to teach someone how to throw it, so it's a little inside joke with us.”;

Instead, Manuma relied on a precise fastball and an assortment of off-speed pitches to baffle the Lady Knights.

The Knights have one of the youngest rosters in the tournament.

“;I think we can take it all the way next year,”; Liilii said. “;We work hard every day and push each other. We're like family already.”;

Punahou 8, Mililani 3

In the nightcap, pitcher Jasmine Ioane belted two home runs in the first two innings as the Buffanblu overpowered the defending state champions.

Ioane was stellar on the mound, throwing a three-hitter and permitting two unearned runs in the sixth inning. She struck out seven and walked one.

Punahou (14-3), runner-up from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, has a shot at its first softball state title tonight against Campbell. The Buffanblu, under coach Bob Makahilahila, have played the most balanced, consistent softball in the tourney.

After Mysha Sataraka drilled a triple to score teammate Reina Furuya, Ioane clubbed a towering 3-run shot over the left-field fence off Mililani starting pitcher Tiari-Jay Fernandez to give the Buffanblu a 4-0 lead.

An inning later, Jaci Young singled and came home on a single to center by Sataraka. Ioane then socked a drive over the right-center-field fence and Punahou led 7-0.

Punahou added a single run in the fifth when Sarah Hiramatsu walked, and Hilary Nakaya singled to right. The throw to third base was off-target, allowing Hiramitsu to score.

Ioane was a powerhouse on the mound for the third night in a row. The senior retired the first 10 batters she faced.

Mililani loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but Ioane induced Kristi Oshiro into a groundout to second, where Furuya made a diving stop and a clean throw to end the inning.

The Trojans kept battling and finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth thanks to Punahou miscues. Courtney Lee singled, went to third on an infield error and scored on a wild pitch by Ioane. Courtney Senas, who reached base earlier on the error, came in to score on another wild pitch.

DIVISION II

Waimea 13, Waialua 3

The Menehunes launched themselves into the Division II state championship game with a victory over the Bulldogs.

After trailing 3-2, Waimea's offense kicked into gear with back-to-back five-run innings in the fifth and sixth. The game finished in six innings due to the 10-run rule.

Gaylan Matagiese led the Menehunes with a two-run home run in the first and finished with three runs and RBIs. Waimea's Davelynn Tafiti and Tanisha DeFabian also fared well at the plate, scoring two runs driving in two runs apiece.

Alyssiah Hernandez and Ciara Balidoy led Waialua's offense, hitting 2-for-3, with Hernandez adding an RBI.

Pac-Five 6, Kalani 1

Despite not having a first-round bye, the Wolfpack clawed their way to the state championship with a semifinal victory over top-seeded Kalani yesterday.

After upsetting No. 4 seed Konawaena on Wednesday, the Wolfpack toppled the Falcons in convincing fashion, scoring three runs in the fourth and fifth innings, while allowing a single run in the sixth.

Kalani pitcher Jade Teruya struck out five batters, but could not stop Alena Hookano, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Pac-Five right fielder Sofia Luczak added another double, two runs, and two RBIs.

Kristi Belse led the Falcons, going 2-for-3 with a triple and scoring a run.

CONSOLATION

Kauai 9, Konawaena 1
Kalaheo 10, Hana 0
Aiea 12, Kamehameha-Hawaii 2
Kalaheo 6, Kauai 5