By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
HONOLULU — Hilo came a day early to scout and get a feel of the different level of competition, but the butterflies still showed up and translated into costly errors and a lopsided TKO loss.
The Vikings committed nine errors, giving up unearned runs in bunches, and fell to Kapolei 14-0 in the Division I state softball quarterfinals on Thursday at Rainbow Wahine Stadium.
It was Hilo’s first trip to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament since 2009, and a level of comfort never entered the neighborhood for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion.
The Hurricanes (14-3), the Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up, scored three unearned runs in the first inning on two hits and three errors. Then the self-induced mistakes hung around all game long like a pesky virus.
It took a toll on senior right-hander Ashlyn Kaneshiro’s pitching line. She allowed 14 runs — seven unearned — on 13 hits and three walks. She struck out none.
Kapolei also hit the ball hard, pounding eight extra-base hits. Aimee Aipa had the biggest highlight, cranking a two-run homer over the center-field fence. She was 2 for 3 with three RBIs as the No. 9 batter.
Kacee Navarro fired a two-hitter, walked one and struck out eight, running into limited trouble. She stranded two on base, and finished strong, retiring the final three batters, the last two on strikeouts.
Aliesa Kaneshiro was 1 for 1, with a walk, and Shyanne Higa-Gonsalves went 1 for 2, a small measure of success for Hilo’s offense.
“We didn’t come out hard like we usually do,” Kaneshiro said. “We were nervous. I think we could have done better.”
Hilo coach Leo Sing Chow felt the same way.
“It’s the first time we’ve made nine errors,” she said. “Our team didn’t show up and didn’t have the right mindset. We couldn’t find a way to get that back. The hardest part is our team is good at coming back. I’m pretty sure most of the girls were nervous.
“We came here a day earlier to watch games and saw that it’s a different level of play. But we felt we’re just as good, but the nerves got to them.”
Hilo’s loss continues a trend of BIIF teams falling at states. The league is 0 for 9 at the Division I state tournament since 2010. Also, Moanalua, the OIA’s No. 6 team, pummeled Keaau 13-0 in a state play-in game.
It wasn’t too long ago that Big Island softball was on top of the world. The Hilo all-stars captured the RBI World Series title in 2009.
“There are few youth leagues in Hilo and not only that but it’s for a short amount of time,” said Sing Chow, who pitched Kamehameha-Kapalama to the 2002 state title. “The last two years, I’ve put together a summer team. But we’ve only played Keaau and the RBI team. In Kona, they were all younger, 13 or 14 years old. We have a lot of kids who play other sports.
“I grew up here and we played year-round and more games against a different level of competition. That feeds the programs.”
Accoding to the Tribune-Herald’s count, more than 30 BIIF seniors have signed scholarships, but none for softball. Sing Chow is hoping to change that as well as the league’s direction at states.
“I want to take our girls to Oahu during the summer to showcase them,” she said. “We want to get them into college and get an education. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Vikings (13-5) return the bulk of their starters. They have two senior starters in Ashlyn Kaneshiro and outfielder Tracee Fukunaga. Everyone else will be back, including Aliesa Kaneshiro, a sophomore catcher.
“We have to take things step by step and come out hard,” she said. “It’s a big experience for me, staying with the team and bonding.”
Kapolei 301 55 — 14 13 0
Hilo 000 00 — 0 2 9
Division II
Kohala 6, Honokaa 2: Freshman Ashlyn Van Zandt went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored at Central Oahu Regional Park as the BIIF runner-up Cowgirls advanced to the seventh-place game.
Senior Jordelle Antonio also drove in two runs, and senior Chyler Imai picked up the win for Kohala (11-5), which will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Saint Francis (8-10) at 7 p.m. today.
Hailey Paglinawan suffered the loss for BIIF No. 3 seed Honokaa (8-9).
Honokaa 002 000 — 2 4 4
Kohala 120 201 — 6 7 1
Kaiser 12, Kamehameha-Hawaii 2: The BIIF champion Warriors (8-10) lost their quarterfinal at Central Oahu Regional Park and will face Wailua (9-5) in consolation game today at 5 p.m.