Honokaa has been on the short end of the BIIF Division II softball playoff race in recent years, but it’s remaining patient. ADVERTISING Honokaa has been on the short end of the BIIF Division II softball playoff race in recent
Honokaa has been on the short end of the BIIF Division II softball playoff race in recent years, but it’s remaining patient.
The Dragons’ first five batters told the story Thursday against Konawaena: walk, walk, hit by pitch, hit by pitch, hit by pitch.
The opportunistic Dragons didn’t even need to lift the bat off their shoulders to grab a quick two-run lead, and they went on a to a 15-5 victory in a meeting between contenders in Kealakekua.
Keesha Matsuako struck out six in complete game and was a control artist, issuing no free passes and allowing only two earned runs, as Honokaa (3-2) handed error-prone Konawaena (4-1) its first loss.
The Dragons were issued 11 walks by three different Wildcats pitchers and took advantage of eight errors. Puili Hanohano was the only Honokaa player to finish with two hits, but four different Dragons drew at least two walks.
It was an energizing victory for Honokaa, which has lost in the BIIF third-place game the past three seasons and hasn’t been to states since 2012. In 2014, the Dragons were ousted by Konawaena in the BIIF semifinals, and the Wildcats beat Honokaa in the third-place game last year.
Karly Requelman had Honokaa’s only hit, an RBI single, during a four-run first inning, and the Dragons tacked on five more runs in the second with two outs. Hanohano doubled and came around to score on an error, another Konawaena error allowed two runs to score, and Sarah Sedillo brought home a run with single.
Hanohano also singled in a run in the seventh, and Tyrah Fernandea hit a two-run double in the fifth.
Destynee Carvalho did not have a hit, but she walked three times, scoring three runs with an RBI. Shawnacee Lucero also scored three times, and knocked in two runs, despite not picking up a hit.
Freshman Andi Uemura started for the Wildcats but was relieved after three batters.
Tiani Lastimosta (2 for 3) hit a two-run home run for Konawaena, and Siera Amor was 3 for 3 with an RBI single.
Matsuako allowed eight hits and five runs.
