By JOE FERRARO
Stephens Media
WAIMEA — During recent practices, Shellie Grace deflected her players’ questions about qualifying for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation tournament like a batter fouling off a series of pitches while facing a two-strike count.
Whenever someone mentioned the BIIF playoffs, the Konawaena softball coach responded with the most-used cliché in sports: Let’s take it one game at a time.
Grace figured the Wildcats would get the BIIF tournament spot they wanted if they focused solely on their performance on the field instead of worrying about playoff scenarios.
With Konawaena and Hawaii Prep competing for West Hawaii’s third and final berth in the BIIF Division II tournament Tuesday, Grace’s approach worked as the Wildcats defeated Ka Makani 12-4.
“We wanted to take the pressure off and make them focus — just keep them on the game in front of us,’’ Grace said.
After pitching a complete-game three-hitter, Alexis Fujikawa had no idea the Wildcats (4-7) were in a do-or-die situation.
But Fujikawa has played for Konawaena teams that have accomplished much more, with the Wildcats having won the past two Division II BIIF titles. So when she found out team had locked up a playoff berth with its victory, Fujikawa was rather reserved.
“(I feel) pretty good, but I know we have more work to do,’’ said Fujikawa, who struck out six batters and walked seven while allowing no earned runs against HPA (3-9).
Konawaena gave Fujikawa all the run support she needed in the second inning, scoring five unearned runs with two outs to take a 5-0 lead.
Pualani Ubando reached on a two-out error with the bases loaded to plate the first two runs, opening the door for a big inning that also included freshman Bethany Batangan’s RBI single and Fujikawa’s two-run single.
Batangan finished 2-for-4 with a double with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Fujikawa was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
“We got some hitting, and they did really good today,’’ Grace said. “We’re really proud of them.’’
Junior Kaua Mitchell essentially iced the game for Konawaena in the top of the sixth, drilling a three-run homer over the left-field fence off Kawena Lim-Samura to give the Wildcats an 11-4 lead.
Grace said Mitchell had been struggling at the plate recently.
“She needed that hit,’’ Grace said. “She was in a hole.’’
Lim-Samura, who pitched 6 2/3 innings for HPA, took the loss. She gave up 12 runs — five earned — on eight hits, striking out two batters and walking eight.
Before Mitchell’s home run, Ka Makani stayed within striking distance, scoring four runs by taking advantage of five Konawaena errors from the second through fifth innings.
Leahi Lindsey made it 8-4 by racing home on a wild pitch in the fifth inning.
Junior Camille Kiyota went 2-for-4, and Chancis Fernandez had HPA’s other hit — an infield single in the fourth.
After the contest, HPA’s regular-season finale, Ka Makani honored its four graduating seniors: Stacie Doi, Nani Lum, Alex Disney and Lindsey.
HPA was seeking its first-ever BIIF playoff berth.
“It’s not the outcome we wanted, but we did the best we could,’’ Ka Makani’s coach, Betsy Tranquilli, said. “Kona did well — (Fujikawa) threw well.”
A sprained ankle sidelined Fujikawa for the first week and a half of the regular season, and the junior slowly worked her way back into top form.
“It took her a while to get going, but now she looks strong than ever,’’ Grace said.
Konawaena will host Kohala in the regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday.
Then the Wildcats will turn their attention to the BIIF Division II tournament, which begins April 25 with two first-round games.
Konawaena, which will travel to face East Hawaii No. 2 seed Pahoa (3-10) in the first round, won the past two titles despite finishing under .500 in the regular season.
Can the Wildcats pull off the feat again?
“I definitely think we can,’’ Fujikawa said. “We have so much talent, it’s not even funny.’’
Konawaena 051 203 1 — 12 8 5
Hawaii Prep 020 110 0 — 4 3 5
• Kohala 8, Honokaa 1: Chyler Imai pitched a complete game, giving up one run on on two hits and seven walks while striking out five, as Kohala topped Honokaa at Kamehameha Park.
Imai also went 2-for-3 at the plate to help the Cowgirls (8-3) take control of the West Hawaii standings in BIIF Division II. Ashlyn van Zandt went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Kayla Requelman started for the Dragons (6-5) and lasted 1 1/3 innings. She gave up two hits and six walks and struck out one. Kayla Kalauli finished the game in relief, giving up six hits and four walks while striking out two.
Honokaa 010 000 0 — 1 2 1
Kohala 060 011 x — 8 8 2
• Hilo 7, Pahoa 6: At Victor Stadium, Aliesa Kaneshiro and Tracee Fukunaga each had two hits to lead the Vikings (11-3) past the D-II Daggers (3-10).
Viking ace Ashlyn Kaneshiro went the distance to pick up the win. She struck out five and walked two. Beautiful Wilson also pitched seven innings and took the loss.
Wilson and Ranchell and Randi Berinobis each had two hits for Pahoa, which outhit the hosts 9-6.
Pahoa 000 001 5 — 6 9 6
Hilo 211 003 x — 7 6 5
• Waiakea sweeps: At Pahala, senior pitcher Chelsea Camello won both games as the Warriors swept the Trojans 14-2 and 10-0 in a twinbill.
In Game 1, Camello struck out 10. Shaylin Navarro took the loss.
Skyler Agrigado and Brandi Maximo both went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
In Game 2, Camello also led the way with a shutout. Tiana Pascubillo took the loss.
