You wouldn’t know it from looking at the lopsided final score, but Kamehameha’s 17-5 TKO victory against Hilo came down to which team was better in the clutch.
You wouldn’t know it from looking at the lopsided final score, but Kamehameha’s 17-5 TKO victory against Hilo came down to which team was better in the clutch.
On one side Tuesday at Walter Victor complex was Warriors sophomore pitcher Brooke Baptiste, who would walk a few batters, allow a hit here, make an error on a combacker there, all the while not showing a hint of concern. No, the right-hander had the Vikings right where she wanted them, stranding 12 base runners in a six-inning complete game.
“The pressure helps me focus,” she said, “when I know I need to strike.”
Baptiste fits in perfectly with the new-look Warriors (3-0), who have been thriving in tough situations for five years running in carving out a BIIF Division II dynasty.
Tied 4-4 after four innings, Kamehameha looked in danger of dropping its first league game since 2014, but the Warriors started leveling their swings against Vikings sophomore Chalisse Kela and put up two crooked numbers, a three-spot in the fifth and a 10-run onslaught in the sixth.
Baptiste and Taylor Sullivan each hammered two-run home runs.
“(Kela) was hitting her spots and her natural drop was killing us with pop flys,” first-year Warriors coach Akea Kiyuna said. “We just had to make the small adjustment on our part.”
While Baptiste made the pitches she needed to get out of jams – she induced a forceout in the second with the bases loaded and stranded three more runners in the third with a groundout – the Warriors did all their damage in the fifth and sixth with two outs.
“When Brooke focuses on what she has to do,” Kiyuna said, “I think she feels she gives herself more confidence, and it also gives the defense our more confidence.”
It spread to the offense as well.
Elexis Emmsley (2 for 4, one RBI) had a key hit to extend the top of the fifth, and the Warriors took the lead on a throwing error before Baptiste slammed a ball beyond the fence in dead center to make it 7-4.
Hilo (2-2) turned a double play in the sixth, but an error kept the Vikings from getting out of the inning unscathed, allowing the Warriors to pour it on. Kuulei Ili (3 for 4) hit a two-run single, Jessica Cameros (2 for 5) clubbed a double to right-center to bring home three more runs and Sullivan (2 for 5) homered to center as Kamehameha sent 14 hitters to the plate.
Freshman Kawai Kauahi-Raquel fueled a 15-hit attack by going 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Leiloa Bustamante was 2 for 3 with and RBI and two runs scored.
“I just tried to cheer them on so we could be more aggressive and more hyped and watch the ball better,” said Baptiste, who struck out four and allowed only two earned runs and seven hits.
Moana Pinner collected three hits for Hilo. Catcher Gaylynn Ha tied the score 4-4 with a run-scoring single in the fourth, but Baptiste stranded two runners with strikeout.
Popping the glove of Ha, Kela showed promise, though she did walk nine batters in six innings with two strikeouts. All 10 runs in the sixth were unearned.
Waiakea 17, Ka’u 7
Freshman Johnacy Mackwelung doubled and drove in two runs in Pahala, and freshman Halee Sweat earned the victory for the Warriors (4-0).
Tierra Teves, Jourdan Perreira, Shaily Moses and Jolene Hirata each finished with two hits for Waiakea (4-0).
Sheri Freitas and Shailei Penera collected hits for the Trojans (2-2), and Lei Chun Galban Kin In took the loss. Ka’u committed seven errors.
Keaau 20, Pahoa
Mahea Respicio hit a grand slam as the Cougars won at home to even their record at 2-2.
The Daggers fell to 0-5.