Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Campbell didn’t bother to throw its ace but still beat Kealakehe anyway and sent a message that the Sabers are a sleeping giant and no ordinary OIA team at the state tournament.
The Sabers finished third in the league and were runner-up last year. But they’re the two-time defending Division I champions and don’t appear to have suffered a drop-off from the previous editions.
Campbell defeated the Waveriders 8-0 in a first-round game at the HHSAA tournament Wednesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Oahu, gearing up for a three-peat title march.
In seven innings, Jade Behic, a 5-foot sophomore and the smallest Saber, fired a three-hitter, walked none and whiffed seven. She started in place of senior ace Danielle Cervantes, who threw a three-hitter in a 12-3 win over Kapolei for the state title last year.
Chloe Domingo batted 2 for 3 with three RBIS and Jocelyn Alo hit a solo homer to spark Campbell (13-4), which scored eight runs in the first three innings then couldn’t score again for a TKO win.
Kiara Cantiberos went the distance in the loss for Kealakehe (10-8), the BIIF runner-up, which plays a consolation game on Friday. She gave up eight runs (three unearned) on nine hits and four walks and struck out one.
Jamiana Tan, Brittney Keaunui, and Dezarae Garcia had the only hits for the Waveriders, who committed three errors, the same amount as Campbell.
It was a first-round rematch from a year ago when Campbell walloped Kealakehe 15-0 in a five-inning TKO runaway. Elisa Favela threw a two-hitter, and Cervantes pitched the final three games at states for a title repeat.
The last two years the Sabers failed to win the OIA championship but have picked up steam at the right time during their state tournament run.
Division II
Kohala 12, Lanai 0: Mikayla Kekua fired a four-hitter, walked one and whiffed six and batted 2 for 4, including a three-run homer, with five RBIs in a dominant two-way performance.
Even better, the Cowgirls (13-6), the BIIF’s No. 3 team, played flawless defense against the Pinelasses (5-4), the MIL runner-up.
Symphony Kauanoe batted 2 for 3, and Patricia Yamura went 2 for 5 for Kohala, which pounded out nine hits, drew 12 walks and struck out five times. Kauanoe scored three runs while Deysha Yamasaki and Setsuko Kimura each scored two runs.
Sadie Schilling pitched 1 1/3 innings in the loss. She gave up four runs on a hit and four walks.
Kohala next plays OIA champion Aiea (12-0) at 7 p.m. Thursday at McKinley High.
Radford 10, Konawaena 7: The Wildcats committed four errors, which led to three unearned runs, and couldn’t stop the heart of a hard-hitting Rams’ lineup.
The OIA No. 4 team’s No. 3 hitter Ciera Faris, cleanup batter Selina Tavarez, and No. 5 hitter Baileigh Susak went a combined 8 for 14 with four RBIs and four runs scored.
Abigail Wilson went the distance for the Rams (9-5), who pounded out 14 hits and committed two errors, which led to one unearned run.
In 5 1/3 innings, freshman Shaylann Grace took the loss. She allowed 10 runs (three unearned) on 14 hits and no walks and whiffed one. Andi Uemura pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Erin Kaimuloa-Bates batted 3 for 4, including a homer, with three RBIs and Kaimana-Joy Manzano was 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Wildcats (16-6), the BIIF runner-up, who play Lanai in consolation at 10 a.m. Thursday at McKinley High.
Waipahu 3, Honokaa 2: The Marauders scored three unearned runs in the fourth and held the Dragons, who scored two unearned runs in the first, to just two hits.
Keesha Matsuoka went four innings in the loss. She allowed three unearned runs on six hits and one walk and whiffed one. Alexis Martinez threw three scoreless innings.
Honokaa had its chances with free passes against Donna Samuelu, who went six frames for the win. She walked nine and struck out three. Grace Kaopua pitched a shutout inning for the save.
Matsuoka and Sarah Sedillo reached base twice with a pair of walks each. Xyan Ancheta and Aulii Meyer had the only hits for Honokaa (7-12).
Kaopua batted 2 for 3 with an RBI for Waipahu (6-8), the OIA’s No. 3 team.
The Dragons play a consolation game at 10 a.m. Friday at McKinley High.