Hilo RBI softball team sails through Day 1 at regional

By BILL O’REAR

Tribune-Herald sports editor

Jordyn Waracka fired a no-hitter in the opener and Chelsea Camello tossed a five-hitter in the second game as the Hilo All-Stars finished 2-0 in the first round of the RBI Girls Softball West Regional on Friday in Anaheim, Calif.

Hilo blanked Phoenix 9-0 in Game 1 behind Waracka and then topped host Anaheim 10-5 behind the rock-steady Camello.

The three-team regional for players ages 19 and under continues today with two more games. The top two teams with the best records advance to Sunday’s championship game. The tournament champion earns a berth in the 2012 RBI World Series, slated July 31-Aug. 12 in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in Minnesota.

Waracka, who will be a senior this year at Sacred Hearts on Oahu, dominated Phoenix in Friday’s 9-0 victory. The sister of former University of Hawaii at Hilo standout Amber Waracka, the hard-throwing right-hander struck out 10 and didn’t walk a batter in the 4 1/2-inning contest to get the win.

“Jordyn had really good control of her pitches today and kept Phoenix off-balance,” Hilo manager James Hirayama said. “She had her screwball working, her curveball working, and her changeup working. Coach Fred (Entilla) called a great game and Jordyn really executed what we wanted to do.

“It also helped Jordyn that our girls started off right away hitting the ball. They came out strong, scored some runs, and everyone relaxed from there. It was a good way to start the tournament.”

Shortstop Ciana Matsuoka, a former Kealakehe High School star, went 3 for 3, including a double and a run batted in, to spark Hilo’s nine-hit attack. Bethany Batangan, who will be a sophomore at Konawaena High this year, had two hits, including a double, while Skyler Agrigado, a former Waiakea High standout, went 2 for 2 with a double, a solo home run and three RBIs.

“Skyler’s home run went way over the fence,” Hilo junior assistant coach Casey Yamauchi said, noting the fence is 200 feet away from home plate. “She really hit it hard.”

Teammate Gayla Ha-Cabebe, a talented catcher from Kamehameha-Hawaii, added a single and an RBI for the winners.

Cameron Cassinelli went the distance in the time-limited game for Anaheim and took the loss.

There was a two-hour break between games and Hirayama felt the rest period and heat affected his team in Game 2.

“It was really hot, in the 90s, and it took something out of us in the second game,” the Hilo manager said. “We still played well, but we made a few mistakes and we need to clean those up the rest of the way.”

Camello, a former Waiakea High star, scattered five hits and struck out three to earn the win over Anaheim. The hosts used three pitchers while the Big Islanders banged out eight hits and plated the 10 runs.

Matsuoka (double), Camello, who played left field when not pitching, and Ha-Cabebe each had two hits to lead Hilo. Camello also drove in two runs and Ha-Cabebe added an RBI.

“The kids are really coming together and turning into a very good team,” Hirayama said. “It’s a good range of players from (ages) 13 to 18. I’ve told them that in the year we won the World Series, the team was really close and did a lot of good things together on and off the field. They’re starting to listen and it’s showing.”

Hirayama said the Hilo squad traveled to Las Vegas before the RBI West Regional and played six games against Las Vegas 18-under teams.

“It was good competition and we finished with a 4-2 record,” he said. “As coaches, we were happily surprised and felt the girls really hit the ball well. They gained a lot of confidence in Las Vegas and I think it’s carried over to here in Anaheim. Today, they came out with a lot of confidence and played good softball all day.

“Now, it’s a numbers game. Our goal is to win one game tomorrow (today) and advance to the championship game. Once you get to the championship game, anything can happen. So we don’t want to count our chickens too early, but we’re confident going into the second round and just want to play like we can.”

Hilo (2-0) plays Phoenix at noon Hawaii Standard Time today and Anaheim at 2 p.m. The title game is scheduled at 11 a.m. Sunday with the winner moving on to the RBI World Series.