With Cleveland’s ace out of the way, Tuesday was bound to be a better day for Hilo-based Nobu Yamauchi at the RBI Softball World Series in Cincinnati. ADVERTISING With Cleveland’s ace out of the way, Tuesday was bound to be
With Cleveland’s ace out of the way, Tuesday was bound to be a better day for Hilo-based Nobu Yamauchi at the RBI Softball World Series in Cincinnati.
It almost was a perfect day until Houston rallied for three runs in a 5-4 victory and a split of Day 2 of pool play at the 19-under tournament. Nobu Yamauchi finishes pool play Wednesday morning then turns around to start the quarterfinals in the afternoon.
So far, Nobu Yamauchi has received solid pitching but has managed eight runs in three games.
“They’re hanging tough, but we have to play ball and hit the ball,” coach Tracy Miyashiro said. “Put the ball in play and put pressure on the defense. That’s when you create breaks for yourself.”
Breaks were hard to come by Monday against Andrea Scali, who no-hit Hawaii for the second time in three years at the World Series, fueling Cleveland’s 9-0 victory in the opener.
“She throws hard,” Miyashiro said. “We clocked her at 64 MPH. I don’t think the girls have ever faced that before. Even when they go to Oahu for states, they don’t see that speed.”
Nobu Yamauchi bounced back Tuesday morning to beat Philadelphia 4-2 behind Jessica Cameros, who pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning before turning the ball over to Kamehameha teammate Brooke Baptiste for the save.
Makena Wagner hit a home run in the win, and Miyashiro said the 2016 Kamehameha graduate came to the plate against Houston with two runners on in the sixth and game on the line and hit into a hard out.
Waiakea senior Shaily Moses doubled in both games.
Miyashiro hadn’t decided who was going to start in the circle in the playoffs, but one option is Kohala senior Symphony Kauanoe, who pitched well in defeat against Cleveland.
“She did her job and kept them off-balance,” Miyashiro said. “We made some errors, and we can’t win that way.”
