Saber Nation roared last night.

The Campbell Sabers captured their first state softball crown, stifling Punahou 5-1 in the final of the Data House/HHSAA Division I State Softball Championships before a standing-room-only capacity crowd at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Senior Katie Manuma was the winner again, scattering five hits for her fourth complete-game victory in as many nights. Manuma, who will play for BYU next season, fanned nine batters and walked two. Ioane, who went the distance in Punahou's three tourney wins, struck out five and walked one. All five runs scored by Campbell were unearned.

“;It feels great. The team worked so hard,”; Manuma said.

“;It's super exciting,”; teammate Nicole Arata said. “;We made history.”;

Campbell coach David Perreira, in his sixth year, was appreciative.

“;They've been through it, the experience of heartbreak, coming back and improving every year,”; he said.

Campbell's victory spoiled the hopes of Punahou, which has not won a softball state crown — one of the few sports that the Buffanblu have not dominated. The Buffanblu finished the year 14-4.

Both teams came into the tournament unseeded. Punahou lost a playoff to Mid-Pacific for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu title. Campbell (18-1) suffered its only defeat in the Oahu Interscholastic Association semifinals.

Manuma, always willing to challenge with her fastball, overpowered Punahou's leadoff hitter, Reina Furuya, for a strikeout. However, Mysha Sataraka followed and drove the first pitch over the left-field fence for a solo home run and 1-0 Punahou lead.

Manuma then retired 13 of the next 14 Buffanblu batters.

Punahou's usually reliable defense capsized a bit in the third and fourth innings, allowing Campbell to take the lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Arata scored from third on an error by Punahou shortstop Dori Leong, and Colette Black later scored on a single to right by Summer Palipti to give the Sabers a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth, Sharae Esprecion reached base on a fielding error by Punahou third baseman Sataraka. Manuma followed with a single and Arata delivered a single to center, scoring Esprecion for a 3-1 Sabers lead.

Punahou got two runners on base in the fifth when Hilary Nakaya singled and Jaci Young walked, but Manuma induced Furuya into a groundout to end the inning.

Campbell then added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Arata walked and Daylene Antonio reached base on a fielder's choice. Both came in to score on a single to right by Black, and the Sabers led 5-1.

In the sixth, Punahou put two runners on base when Ioane and Leong singled, but Manuma struck out Young to end another threat.

The Buffanblu threatened again in the seventh, getting two more runners on base before Manuma retired Sataraka for the final out.

THIRD PLACE
Mililani 6, Castle 5
FIFTH PLACE
Mid-Pacific 6, Waianae 4
CONSOLATION
Kapolei 3, Lahainaluna 1