KAILUA-KONA — As disconcerting as it was, Kealakehe’s Leisha Nakagawa figured Honokaa’s comeback was inevitable. But, she says, the Waveriders have learned how to keep their calm and pull through.
KAILUA-KONA — As disconcerting as it was, Kealakehe’s Leisha Nakagawa figured Honokaa’s comeback was inevitable. But, she says, the Waveriders have learned how to keep their calm and pull through.
Laughter, according to Nakagawa, is the best medicine. That and a steady diet of Kealakehe’s hitters ripping the ball at the plate.
Kelina Palmer-Kahananui hit a three-run home run in the first inning Friday, and the Waveriders started cranking again during a go-ahead rally in the sixth, all of which was just enough to hold off the Dragons 12-11 in Big Island Interscholastic Federation softball at their home field.
“I think we’re getting better and starting to grow as team,” said Nakagawa, who finished with three hits and an RBI. “Laughing at practice and laughing in the dugout, that’s helped a lot. It helps the whole team stay relaxed and to know we’re just having fun out there.”
Leadoff hitter Tavian Taketa drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the sixth and Nakagawa and Breanna McLeod followed with hits as the Waveriders (5-3 Division I) scored five times to knock out Honokaa starter Kayla Kalauli.
“Each team wanted it,” said Palmer-Kahananui, a junior who finished with five RBIs. “We just had to bounce back and relax.”
Winning pitcher Kiara Cantiberos, the Waveriders’ third hurler of the game, came on in the sixth and got out of a bases-loaded jam after Honokaa (2-4-1 Division II) scored twice to tie the game.
Allie Shiraki touched Cantiberos for a two-run triple as Honokaa scored four runs in the seventh, but Cantiberos got out of the inning to secure Kealakehe’s third straight victory.
“Scary,” Nakagawa said. “I knew Honokaa was going to come back one way or the other.”
Taketa started in the circle, retiring the first nine hitters she faced on four strikeouts, and pitched five innings. As she seemed to tire in the middle innings and walked five batters, the Dragons started to chip away at a 6-0 deficit.
“We came back strong,” Honokaa coach Wesley Fujimoto said.
Zarina Hashegawa doubled to bring home two runners as the Dragons got within 6-5 in the fifth. In the sixth, Palmer-Kahananui came on to pitch, but Jasmine Castro, Neve Ebreo-Castillo and Taylor Souza strung together three consecutive hits and Honokaa went on to tie the score 7-7.
“First three innings, I thought we were looking great and finally coming around,” Kealakehe coach Wesley Takimoto said. “Then it was back to normal, making errors.
“What I like is we’re getting more consistent at the plate. Getting hits from girls who are supposed to be getting hits.”
Eight of the nine hitters in his starting lineup collected at least one hit.
McLeod finished with two, including an RBI single in the sixth, and scored three runs, and cleanup hitter Kaleanani Anakalea-Haleamau provided an RBI double. In the second Brittney Keaunui doubled and scored on Nakagawa’s single.
Kalauli took the loss, pitching 5 1/3 innings and striking out two with a costly walk to Keaunui to lead off the sixth.
Shiraki — who likely would have had a home run in the seventh if she didn’t slip after rounding first — and Castro each finished with two hits for Honokaa. Kayla Requelman doubled and scored to lead off the seventh for the Dragons, who are still in position to grab the fourth and final spot in the Division II playoffs.
“We don’t play seven innings,” Fujimoto said. “They play whenever they want to play.
“They don’t always have confidence in themselves.”
Honokaa 000 232 4 — 11 10 4
Keal. 420 015 x — 12 11 3
Kamehameha 19, Ka’u 1: Mykala Tokunaga hit a home run and picked up the victory in Pahala for the Division II-leading Warriors.
Tokunaga, Kekai Wong-Yuen (three RBIs), Kiarra Lincoln (two RBIs) and Makena Wagner each finished with three hits for Kamehameha (5-2), which can wrap up a berth to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament with wins in two of its three remaining regular-season games.
Kamalani Fujikawa was the losing pitcher for the Trojans (0-7).
Konawaena 16, Kohala 7: Kaila Kaupe Deleon hit two home runs to pace a 24-hit surge in Kapaau as the Wildcats boosted their chances of hosting a doubleheader in the BIIF playoffs.
Kaupe Deleon finished with three hits, three runs and four RBIs for the Wildcats (4-3-1). She hit a two-run home run as Konawaena took a 7-1 lead in the second, then added another two-run shot in the fourth during a six-run rally.
She was far from the only Wildcat to bust out with her bat. Konawaena tallied six extra-base hits.
Teizha Kaluna was 4 for 4 and Lihue Wessel contributed a pair of two-run triples. Kiersen Kawehi Kahele hit doubles and scored three runs with two RBIs. Kawehi Kahele, Teryn Pua Ubando and Bethany Batangan added three hits each. Syleesia Jose (three runs) and Anu Binney compiled two hits apiece.
Batangan pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed six runs, then Kaluna came on and threw 3 2/3 innings of strong relief, yielding only a hit and a walk with strikeout.
Tomiko Coito homered for the Cowgirls (3-5), finishing 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
Ashlyn Van Zandt pitched 6 1/3 innings and took the loss.
Konawaena 430 630 0 —16 24 4
Kohala 103 300 0 —7 7 4
Keaau 15, Pahoa 0: The Cougars (6-2) won at home to move into a second-place tie with Waiakea in Division I, one game ahead of Kealakehe.
Further details on the game were not available.
The Daggers dropped to 1-7.