Konawaena trailed by a run heading into the last inning against Aiea at the HHSAA Division II tournament, where errors opened the door for a nice comeback on Tuesday at McKinley High on Oahu.
The Wildcats capitalized on two errors with five unearned runs in the top of the seventh and beat defending state softball champion Aiea 7-3 in the first round, advancing to the quarterfinals against No. 1 seed Kapaa.
Na Alii graduated its ace from last year, but Arke Kehaunani was a fine replacement. She tossed four shutout innings after giving up two runs in the second. Then the BIIF runner-up Wildcats (14-8) exploded in the seventh.
Erin Kaimuola-Bates batted 2 for 4 with three RBIs, Jayla Medeiros was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Kaimana Joy Manzano went 3 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Wildcats, who finished with nine hits.
Konawaena sophomore ace Shaylann Grace scattered 10 hits in the win. She allowed three runs, walked one and struck out none, often depending on her defense, which committed one harmless error.
Honokaa prevailed over Kaimuki 11-8, scoring another comeback win for the BIIF, which batted .500 on the day.
Saint Francis trounced Kohala 10-5 in a five-inning TKO game, and in Division I, Pearl City hammered Kealakehe 19-4 in a five-inning TKO rout.
• Honokaa 11, Kaimuki 8: Tehani Espensa pitched a game of perseverance with a 12-hitter for the complete-game win. She allowed eight runs (two unearned), walked two and struck out eight.
She gave up all eight runs through the first four innings. Then Espensa locked the door on the Bulldogs’ bats. That gave the Dragons a chance for a comeback.
Honokaa scored six runs in the first, one in the third and one in the fifth to tie it 8-8. Then the BIIF’s No. 4 team scored three in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-8 lead.
Ceelyn Gail Lucero batted 1 for 2 with three RBIs, Taylor Tabucbuc 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Natasha Molina and Xyan Ancheta added two hits each for the Dragons (10-9), who had nine hits.
Leilani Maurico went six innings in relief for the loss.
Honokaa meets seven-time BIIF champion and No. 2 seed Kamehameha in the quarterfinals at 2:15 p.m. at McKinley.
• Saint Francis 10, Kohala 0: The ILH Saints scored in every inning, pounded out 10 hits and were led by Sammie Ofoia, who went 3 for 3 with three RBIs, including a two-run homer.
Mikayla Kekoa went the distance in the loss for the Cowgirls (11-7), who were held to two hits.
• Pearl City 19, Kealakehe 0: It was tied 4-4 after three innings, then the Chargers scored five runs in the fourth and 10 in the fifth.
Freshman ace Telsea Taketa went the distance in the loss for the Waveriders (11-6), who committed eight errors, which led to 12 unearned runs.
Lisa Mudong batted 1 for 2 with two RBIs to lead Kealakehe, the BIIF runner-up.
Golf
Iolani senior Kamie Hamada was the only one to shoot a par 72 in the first round of the state golf tournament Tuesday at Turtle Bay Resort.
Defending state champion and Punahou senior Claire Choi is a shot behind at 1-over 73, along with three others.
The highest BIIF placer is Waiakea freshman Kailey Oki at 78, and one stroke behind is her senior teammate, Kaley Saludares at 79.
Other BIIF golfers were Hilo’s Chanelle Hwang, 81; Waiakea’s Lacey Uchida, 81; Waiakea’s Kaelyn Uchida, 81; Waiakea’s Mari Ebersole, 83; Waiakea’s Tia Kualii, 84; Waiakea’s Jillian Mitsuda, 84; and Christian Liberty’s Jaeda Yamasaki, 92.
Iolani held the team lead with a 224 total, defending state champion Punahou was second at 229, and Waiakea seventh at 242.