BIIF softball: Kamehameha rolling on a TKO ride

KEAAU — Mykala Tokunaga promises Kamehameha doesn’t have to do anything special to keep things interesting, but these days this is what passes as drama for the Warriors.

It would be an exaggeration to say the game was hanging in the balance, but Kamehameha had to fight and scratch out a rally in the sixth inning Thursday to avoid what would have been their first full BIIF game of the season, beating Hilo 11-1 on its field.

Is a walk-off TKO a thing? Could the Warriors (7-0), who have outscored their opponents 101-9, compile an entire season of TKOs and never see the seventh inning.

“It’s kind of our personal goal,” sophomore Taylor Sullivan said, “but we’re just trying to do our best every game.”

Tokunaga fired a three-hitter with four strikeouts as the four-time defending BIIF Division II champions Warriors started what figures to be their most competitive five-game stretch of the season by putting the Vikings (2-3) in a 4-0 hole in the first inning.

Winning, pitching and hitting never get boring for Tokunaga, a senior, and neither does getting ready for the HHSAA tournament.

“We’re trying to get ahead from the beginning because it will help us at states,” the right-hander said. “When we get to states, we usually wait until the end to pick it up.

‘This season, from the beginning we’ve been good and just rolling.”

Tokunaga’s two-run single was one of five hits for Kamehameha in the first inning against Hilo starter Zoe Cabarloc, who settled down enough in the middle innings to put the Warriors on TKO watch.

Sullivan accounted for three of Kamehameha’s 14 hits. She singled and scored in first, singled in a run in the second, and her single in the sixth drove in two runs.

After swinging for the fences as a first baseman during her freshman year, Sullivan has given Tokunaga a few breaks in the circle this season — she tossed a five-inning no-hitter against HPA on Monday — and concentrated on just making solid contact at the plate while playing second base.

“I’ve made personal goals,” she said of how she keeps things interesting this season.

“I’ve been working on being more consistent with my batting,” Sullivan said. “Last year, I had more home runs, but I would go 1 for 3. This year, I’m concentrating more on singles and doubles.”

Makena Wagner contributed a pair of run-scoring singles, and Jessica Cameros doubled and scored in the first and singled and scored in the four-run sixth inning.

Hilo slugger Moana Pinner touched Tokunaga for a double in the fourth and her single in the sixth scored Shalyn Guthier, who had been hit by a pitch.

Cabarloc struck out two but walked five.

Kamehameha’s TKO streak will be put to the test as it hosts Honokaa on Saturday before a meeting with fellow unbeaten Waiakea at home on Wednesday and a trip to Division II contender Kohala on March 26.

“We’ve talked about it,” Tokunaga said of the TKOs, “but we’re trying to keep it on the down-low.”

Waiakea 21, Ka’u 1: Jourdan Perreira finished 3 for 3 and pitched three innings as the host Warriors improved to 6-0.

Brandee Chinen (2 for 3) homered and drove in three runs, Tierra Teves was 3 for 3, Emma Fincher collected two hits with two RBIs and Taylor Nishimura was 2 for 2 with three RBIs.

Along with driving in two runs, Perreira struck out two in the circle, walking two and allowing two hits.

Sheri Freitas took the loss for the Trojans (0-7).

Kealakehe at Honokaa: The game was postponed by rain and rescheduled for 3 p.m. Friday.

Konawaena 21, Hawaii Prep 2: Despite some defensive miscues Konawaena defeated Hawaii Preparatory Academy for the second time 21-2 in a four-inning game at Gabby Inaba Field on Thursday.

Ka Makani had something to cheer about early on, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as the Konawaena defense faltered early. With one out, Sara Heymann walked and moved to second when Kiai Lindsey reached on an error by the first baseman. Tina Wu made it to first on an error by the third baseman, allowing Heymann to score. Lindsey scored the second run on a wild pitch.

However, Konawaena answered back with 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning, and followed that up with one run in the second and 10 more runs in the third.

Daycee Lei McKee-Haalili’o led the Wildcat offense. She went 3-for-3 with a triple, four RBIs and two runs.

Kaimana Joy Manzano, Precious Transfiguracion, Erin Kaimuloa Bates and Andi Uemura had two hits apiece. Uenmura was 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBIs. Manzano had two doubles, two runs and three RBIs. Transfiguracion had a double, three runs scored and one RBI. Bates scored once and knocked in two.

Uemura picked up the win inside the circle. She threw the compete game and allowed no earned runs and three hits. Uemura struck out four and walked one.

Emily Fong took the loss for Hawaii Prep. She struggled in the first inning and exited after only one out, having allowed nine runs, eight earned, off four hits and four walks.

Lindsey threw the final 2-1/3 innings. She allowed 12 runs off 12 hits, while striking out one and walking four.

Hawaii Prep 200 0–2 3 1

Konawaena 10 1 10 x– 21 16 4

Baseball

Keaau 10, Pahoa 0: The bats exploded for Keaau in the fourth inning for six runs as the Cougars defeated the Daggers on Thursday.

Keaau spread out 10 hits to nine different batters. Keian Kanetani led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and one RBI. Anson Kauwe went 1-for-1 with a double, two runs and two RBIs.

Julian Biemler, Jacob Krakuaer and Lava Benn picked up a hit each for Pahoa.

Keaau’s Kauwe earned the win from the mound, allowing three hits and no runs, while striking out eight.

Benn started for the Daggers and allowed one earned run off three walks before exiting without recording an out. Zackary Knoll threw the next 3-2/3 innings. He allowed seven runs, six earned, off five hits, while walking six and striking out three.

Kelton Conortan threw the final innings, allowing two unearned runs and no hits. He struck out out three.

Pahoa 000 000–0 3 3

Keaau 101 602–10 5 0