KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena was down, but never out. ADVERTISING KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena was down, but never out. In a must-win Game 2, the Wildcats (16-4) responded with a 10-5 victory at Gabby Inaba field, forcing Kamehameha into a rubber match
KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena was down, but never out.
In a must-win Game 2, the Wildcats (16-4) responded with a 10-5 victory at Gabby Inaba field, forcing Kamehameha into a rubber match in the best-of-three BIIF Division II championship series.
“We told them today is a brand new game,” Konawaena head coach Kellye Krug said. “They regrouped and executed exactly how we needed to.”
Behind 14 hits, the Wildcats erased two early one-run deficits and rode a pair of four-run innings to the victory.
“When our girls are on fire, our lineup is tough,” Krug said. “They feed off each other and back up their friends. That works in our favor a lot.”
The decisive game is 3 p.m. Monday at Kealakekua.
Sierra Amor was the sparkplug for the Wildcats, getting the scoring going with an RBI double in the second inning that tied the game at 1-1. She also had a big single in the top of the seventh inning that helped aid a two-out, four-run rally for Konawaena that gave the team some late-game insurance.
“We didn’t want it to end here,” Amor said. “We had a talk yesterday after the game and I think that helped our confidence. We just went out there and had fun.”
Erin Kaimuloa Bates, Kaimana Manzano, Teizha Kaluna and Magedlyne Anuntak also had multi-hit days at the plate for the Wildcats.
Konawaena is seeking its first title since 2011, but will have to knock off Kamehameha, which is looking to make it six in a row.
“It’s been a while,” Amor said of the team’s title drought. “All of us seniors want to go out with a bang, and I think we can do it. It would be really big.”
Shaylann Marie Grace bounced back from an off game, picking up the complete game victory. She struck out three and didn’t issue a walk.
“To pitch multiple days and bounce back from yesterday took a lot of character and strength,” Krug said of her ace. “We are thankful to have someone like her on our team.”
Despite the stronger outing from Grace, Kamehameha (15-5) still managed 16 hits. Hiwa Helenihi and Kiarra Lincoln each had three apiece to lead the way for the Warriors, while Leiloa Bustamante drove in three runs, two coming on a final-inning homer. Helenihi now has three hits in both championship series games.
After Bustamante’s bomb, Kamehameha didn’t go quietly, loading the bases with a trio of singles before the game ended on a high fly-ball to the outfield.
Jessica Cameros took the loss for the Warriors, allowing six runs on 10 hits. Game 1 winner Brooke Baptiste came in to pitch 2 2/3 innings, but couldn’t turn the tide, allowing four earned runs.
The Wildcats edged the Warriors for the No. 1 seed and home field in the playoffs. Now that it has come down to a winner-take-all Game 3, it’s a welcome advantage.
“It will be nice to have the game on our campus, especially on a school day,” Krug said. “But when it comes down to it, softball is softball. If there’s dirt and grass, we will play.”
