By BILL O’REAR
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
KEAAU — Senior Kiani Wong pitched a one-hitter and cranked two doubles to spark Kamehameha to a 5-1 win over Kohala in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II softball championship game on Saturday.
The hard-fought contest was played on the Warriors’ field.
Wong, a 5-foot-4 right-hander, dominated the Cowgirl hitters, striking out nine with a laser fastball and nifty changeup. She also walked five but didn’t allow a Kohala hit until the top of the seventh inning with two outs when junior Sheana Cazimero ripped a clean single to center field.
The win was sweet revenge for the big-hearted Wong, who watched the hard-hitting Cowgirls TKO the Warriors last year, denying them a state tournament berth.
“I’m very proud of our young team,” said Wong, one of three seniors on the 15-player roster. “For some of the girls, it’s the first time they’ve played softball and the team improved a lot during the season.”
But going into Saturday, Kamehameha coach Gary Ahu knew Kohala was dangerous.
“Kohala is a good team,” said Ahu, who shaved off most of his bushy white beard for the title game and proclaimed with a smile — “It’s my new look.”
Still, he didn’t think going in that the multitalented Wong would dominate the Kohala offense like she did. Neither did the soft-spoken Wong, who tended to lift her game whenever needed during her outstanding prep career.
“I knew they were a good hitting team,” Wong said. “I wanted to keep the ball low and let our defense do the work. But when I got the early strikeouts and they weren’t hitting, it gave me some confidence.”
Wong had five strikeouts in the first three innings and although the five walks over the seven innings created some extra tension, she came up with the key pitch or out when the Cowgirls threatened. In the fifth inning, for example, Kohala loaded the bases only to watch Wong record three strikeouts to zap the rally.
“Hats off to Kamehameha,” Kohala coach Terrance Alcoran said. “They played really good and deserved to win. Their pitcher was on her game and we couldn’t hit her.”
Cowgirls ace Chyler Imai held the Warriors to five hits while taking the loss. She struck out two and walked three.
Imai, a senior right-hander, held every Kamehameha batter in check, except Wong, the younger sister of fast-rising St. Louis Cardinals prospect Kolten Wong. The Warrior senior had two doubles, including a two-run two-bagger in the fifith inning to stretch the Kamehameha cushion to 5-0.
Wong’s first double, a deep drive to left center field, sparked a two-run rally in the second inning when the Warriors grabbed the lead.
Wong led off with her long drive, then stayed at second base on an infield single by junior Jaylen Shiroma. Junior Elizabeth Kia followed with a pop up near second base and a Cowgirl misplayed the ball and it fell safely to the grass. On the confusing play, the alert Wong sprinted home to make it 1-0. Then after junior Janell Cameros popped out and Kia motored to third base on a steal, junior catcher Gayla Ha-Cabebe singled to right to drive in Kia and extend the lead to 2-0.
In the fifth, senior Shaylyn Kahawai walked and junior leadoff hitter Lehua McGuire reached first on an error. Kahawai scored on the overthrow to first base and the ensuing throw to try to catch the hustling McGuire at second. Ha-Cabebe later drew a walk, bringing Wong to the plate for another one-on-one duel with Imai.
Wong then crushed a long line drive to left center field to score both McGuire and Ha-Cabebe to make it 5-0.
The Cowgirls went 1-2-3 in the sixth, setting up a pressurized seventh when they would need five runs to at least tie against the gutsy Wong & Co.
After one out in the seventh, freshman Ashlyn Van Zandt reached base on a Warrior error and scampered to second on a groundout by senior Jordelle Antonio. Van Zandt sprinted to third base on a pass ball and then home on a wild Wong pitch to slice the deficit to 5-1.
Cazimero then singled to center before Wong got junior Tiani Luga to fly out to end the game.
“Kiani did a good job,” said Ahu a few seconds after his Warriors dumped a cooler of water on him as they celebrated the BIIF title. “Our defense played well, too. Like my old friend Wayne Kawaha always said, ‘Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.’ That’s what I’ve been telling my team all season long.”
Ha-Cabebe also played a key role defensively in catching the hard-throwing Wong.
“Most of the time I’m trying to keep her calm, to keep her attitude up,” Ha-Cabebe said. “She sometimes gets frustrated and loses focus. We try to work together. Today her pitches were going good and her changeup kept them off-balance.”
Besides Wong’s two hits, the Warriors got singles from Ha-Cabebe, Shiroma and Cameros.
BIIF champion Kamehameha (8-9), runner-up Kohala (10-4) and third-place finisher Honokaa (8-7) will represent the league in this week’s state D-II tournament on Oahu. The event runs Wednesday through Saturday.
Honokaa defeated visiting Konawaena 6-3 in the third-place game Saturday.
Following the game at Kamehameha, BIIF softball coordinator Laurie Koustik awarded the host Warriors their championship medals and announced they will be the top seed in this week’s state D-II tournament.
Champion Warriors
Members of champion Kamehameha include seniors Kiani Wong, Shaylyn Kahawai and Kalyn Kanaeholo; juniors Jaylen Shiroma, Namele Naipo-Arsiga, Lehua McGuire, Gayla Ha-Cabebe, Jessica Gerkin, Janell Cameros, Elizabeth Kia and Codi Kualii; and freshmen Samantha Simmons, Taylor Uratani, Regan Stratdmann-Carvalho and Joyce Lilly.
Head coach Gary Ahu is assisted by Keri Kameoka, Maile Quinton and Mike Needham.
Kohala 000 000 1 — 1 1 3
Kamehameha 020 030 x — 5 5 3
Third place
Honokaa 6, Konawaena 3: At Honokaa, senior Kawehi Bell-Kaaekuahiwi belted three hits, including a two-run homer, to lead the Dragons past the Wildcats in the third-place contest.
Bell-Kaaekuahiwi went 3 for 3 with her home run, three RBIs and two runs scored in a productive day for the Dragons (8-7). Teammate Kayla Requelman, a freshman, added an RBI single.
Amanda Varron and Kaua Mitchell each had two hits to lead the Wildcats. Bethany Batangan added a solo homer in the sixth inning.
Sophomore Kayla Kalauli started for Honokaa and pitched six innings to get the win. She gave up eight hits and three runs while striking out two and walking two. Sophomore Hayley Paglinawan hurled a perfect seventh inning to pick up a save.
Batangan went the distance for the Wildcats and took the loss. She allowed seven hits and six runs, striking out three and walking four.
Konawaena finished its season with a 5-10 record.
Konawaena 010 002 0 — 3 8 1
Honokaa 202 020 x — 6 7 1
Division I
Cougars fall
Moanalua beat Keaau 13-0 in a TKO contest on Saturday morning to clinch the final berth in the state D-I tournament on Oahu.
The play-in game was held at the Cougars field.
Moanalua finished sixth in the Oahu Interscholastic Association, thus earning the spot in the play-in game.
Keaau, the BIIF runner-up, finished its season with a 12-6 record.