There was never a dull moment between Hilo and Waiakea in the BIIF softball semifinals.
The Vikings scored four runs in the seventh inning to prevail over the Warriors 10-9 on Thursday at Walter Victor complex, securing a Division I state tournament berth, their first since 2014.
“We’re really happy, the girls stuck together, our motto is family, play with the eye of the tiger, play with your heart,” Hilo assistant Noelani Kalipi said. “We had some mistakes, but when it counted we executed the plays when we needed to.”
In the other semifinal, Keaau forfeited to Kealakehe.
Hilo (5-2) plays Kealakehe (7-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Waveriders field for the BIIF championship.
The Vikings last won a BIIF title in 2014 while the Waveriders won their first BIIF championship in 2019.
The season is over for Waiakea (2-5) and Keaau (0-7).
In the bottom of the seventh, Hilo loaded the bases with one out, and Quinn Waiki was intentionally walked to force in a run. Waiakea’s lead was cut to 9-7 with cleanup hitter Kira Alameda up next.
Alameda belted the first pitch she saw from Kaylee Aiona for a two-run double to tie the game. With runners on second and third, Perseis Rosas-Suenishi bunted the first pitch to drive in Waiki for the game-winning RBI.
“It’s all about execution. They practice this. They were focused and had strong minds to do what they needed to do,” Kalipi said.
Hilo senior starter Hauoli Kalipi pitched a 13-hit roller-coaster for the complete game victory. She walked five and three scored, struck out five and threw three wild pitches. Hauoli stranded eight on base, including the bases loaded in the fifth.
“She just needed to get it across the plate, let her defense work and just move forward,” Kalipi said of her daughter’s survival pitching performance.
Waiki was intentionally walked twice with the bases loaded and finished 1 for 3 with three RBIs. Alameda went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, and Kiana Agpalza batted 2 for 5 with an RBI. Leadoff hitter Kawehi Augustin was 1 for 1 with four walks.
Brianne Felipe started for Waiakea and pitched two innings of four-run ball. Aiona went 6 1/3 innings in the loss. Aiona walked seven and two scored. Aiona left seven on base, including the bases full in the third.
Aiona batted 3 for 5 with three RBIs, Tehani Chinen went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, while Teiya Mateo Santiago was 3 for 3 with an RBI, and Felipe batted 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Aiona hammered a bases-loaded double in the second inning to push Waiakea ahead 5-1.
Waiki slammed a two-run triple in the fourth to cut Waiakea’s lead to 7-6.
But the Warriors added a run in the sixth on Jhayda Rose Turner’s RBI single and another in the seventh on Kayla Kodani’s RBI sacrifice fly for a 9-6 cushion.
“We didn’t let the score rattle us, and we worked hard to come back,” Hauoli Kalipi said. “I looked at my dugout and knew who I was playing for. It was exciting. It had my heart racing. I’m really proud of my team. We’re looking forward to Saturday and going to states.”
Then the magical ride began in the bottom of the seventh when Hope Barclay, Augustin and Agpalza all singled. Waiki was intentionally walked again, and Alameda delivered the game-tying two-run double. And Rosas-Suenishi put down the perfect bunt.