The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) softball playoffs began Tuesday with semifinal matchups on opposite ends of the isle. Series will be played in a best-of-three format; see the paper all week for updates.
Hilo 12, Kea‘au 0
First-seeded Hilo softball scored 10 runs in the third inning of Game 1 of the BIIF semifinals en route to a 12-0 victory over No. 4 Kea‘au at home. The unbeaten Vik Queens moved to 9-0 overall and took the 1-0 series lead, while the Lady Cougars dropped to 2-7.
Hilo smacked 12 base hits to Kea‘au’s zero, and committed zero errors to the Lady Cougars’ five. Molly Davi, Vaiqueen Porter and Kaylie Caceres each posted two hits, while teammates Madison Waiki, Jeyla Bettis-Shigeishi, Mackenzie Valentin, Kylie Kaniaupio, Zaydee Amar and Maluhia Hamada secured one hit apiece.
Valentin leads the winners in hits (17), RBI (14) and doubles (three). Waiki leads in runs (16) and home runs (three).
Davi was the Vik Queens’ only pitcher in the circle, continuing her dominant season. She allowed no hits and no runs while striking out 13. It was Davi’s third no-hitter this season. She has not allowed a single run this season while striking out an astounding 132 batters across nine games. Davi has struck out double-digit batters in every appearance in the circle, leading her team in innings pitched (56.0), wins (nine) and strikeouts.
Lilila Kaupu pitched for the Lady Cougars, giving up 12 hits and 12 runs while striking out two.
Game 2 will be held this afternoon.
KSH 18, Honoka‘a 3
Second-seeded Kamehameha-Hawaii softball jumped out to a 1-0 lead in its DII semifinal series against No. 3 Honoka‘a in Kea‘au, routing the Lady Dragons 18-3 in four innings. The Lady Warriors took the 1-0 lead in the series, improving to 6-3 on the season. Honoka‘a dropped to 3-5 after winning its previous two matchups.
Logging eight hits to the Lady Dragons’ one, KSH was led by Kealohi Ili with two hits and three BRI, including a homer. Ili has been the Lady Warriors’ top batter all season, leading the group in hits (13), runs (16), RBI (15), triples (three) and home runs (four).
Ili’s teammates — Layla Masaoka, Alaula Awong, Kaohinani Christensen, Mya Domingo-Bautista, Naiya Avenue and Kae-Lee Rapozo — had one base hit apiece.
Olaa Brown was KSH’s lone pitcher in the circle, allowing one hit and three runs while walking four and striking out one. She was named the game’s winning pitcher. Brown leads the Lady Warriors in innings pitched at 13.6.
Honoka‘a’s only player that recorded a base hit was Kanai Tolentino, who also chipped in two RBI. Tolentino leads the Lady Dragons in hits (11) and RBI (11).
Kayliah Kauahi was the sole pitcher for Honoka‘a, allowing 18 runs while striking out four.
Game 2 will be held this afternoon.
Other games
No. 4 Pahoa vs. No. 1 Kohala’s Game 1 of their BIIF DII semifinal series was called after three innings Tuesday in Kapa‘au due to inclement weather. Game 1 will resume at 1 p.m. this afternoon, and Game 2 will follow immediately afterward. The Lady Daggers currently lead 7-0.
Game 2 will also serve as the Cowgirls’ senior game.
The BIIF DI semifinal opener of No. 3 Kealakehe at No. 2 Waiakea was also postponed. Game 1 will be held at 3 p.m. this afternoon in Hilo town, while Game 2 will take place 10 a.m. Saturday at Waiakea High.
