Hitting wasn’t the problem for Hilo’s softball team. Stopping Leilehua from doing the same was the issue, and the struggles continued for Big Island Interscholastic Federation teams at the state tournament. ADVERTISING Hitting wasn’t the problem for Hilo’s softball team.
Hitting wasn’t the problem for Hilo’s softball team. Stopping Leilehua from doing the same was the issue, and the struggles continued for Big Island Interscholastic Federation teams at the state tournament.
The Mules connected for 18 hits, including 17 singles, in dealing the Vikings their first loss, 12-3 in the quarterfinals of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament in Honolulu.
Three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division champion Hilo (14-1) lost its state opener for the third consecutive year, despite 12 hits at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Freshman Moana Pinner was 3 for 4 with two runs scored.
A BIIF champion hasn’t won in the state quarterfinals since Waiakea in 2008.
Leilehua (10-9), the sixth-place team from the Oahu Interscholastic Association, reached the state tournament by defeating Waiakea 7-2 in Hilo on April 29 in a play-in game.
The Vikings stranded 11 runners, leaving the bases loaded in the second and third innings, when the game was still in doubt.
The Mules had a hit in each inning but the seventh against Hilo ace Aliesa Kaneshiro, the two-time BIIF Division I Player of the Year. In a complete game, the senior allowed eight earned runs and a walk with no strikeouts.
Leilehua’s Taezha Ann Cordero also went the distance, walking one and striking out two.
Trailing 5-0, Caitlyn Price (2 for 3) and Jordyn Breitbarth (2 for 4) produced run-scoring singles in the third for Hilo. Kaneshiro also finished with two hits.
Hilo will face Campbell at 9 a.m. today in a consolation game.
The Mules, who will play top-seeded Kamehameha-Kapalama in a 5 p.m. semifinal today, broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning. Tiana Cantero-Kawelo brought in two runs with a single and finished with three RBIs.
Leadoff batter Chenoa Au posted four hits and scored three runs, and Cordero was 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Leilehua 121 206 0 — 12 18 1
Hilo 002 010 0— 3 12 2
Division II
Nanakuli 9, Konawaena 0: Alexis Paulo-Meyers, Precious Paulo-Meyers and Charallen Mahoe each ripped home runs as the Golden Hawks knocked off Konawaena 9-0 in the quarterfinals at Central Oahu Regional Park.
One day after the Wildcats (9-6-1) played their first errorless game of the season in a first-round victory, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation runner-up made five, leading to five unearned runs off Teizha Kaluna.
Kaluna went the distance, allowing 12 hits and two walks in six innings.
Chyanne Koko worked five innings to pick up the win for Nanakuli (16-0), the top-seeded champion of the Oahu Interscholastic Association. Koko struck out seven, yielding three hits and two walks.
Dorian Anu Binney finished 2 for 4 for Konawaena, which will play either Molokai in a 5 p.m. consolation game today.
Of the Golden Hawks’ 12 hits, five went for extra bases.
Alexis Paulo-Meyers went 3 for 4, including a two-run home run to give her team the lead in the second inning.
At 1 p.m. today in the semifinals, Nanakuli plays St. Francis.
Konawaena 000 000 0 — 0 5 5
Nanakuli 023 022 x — 9 12 3
Aiea 10, Kamehameha-Hawaii 5: Raisa Strom-Okimoto pitched a complete game and finished with two hits and an RBI for Na Alii, who erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to down the BIIF champion Warriors.
Kekai Wong-Yuen and Gayla Ha-Cabebe compiled two hits each for Kamehameha (12-3), which will play McKinley at 5 p.m. today in a consolation game.
The Warriors had as many errors (five) as hits. Mykala Tokunaga took the loss in a complete game.
Kamehameha 102 100 1 — 5 5 5
Aiea 120 007 x — 10 12 0
Lanai 11, Kohala 0: In a consolation game, Claire Vila threw a no-hitter to eliminate the Cowgirls.
Tomiko Coito was the losing pitcher for Kohala (5-10), the BIIF’s third-place team.
Kohala 000 00 — 0 0 3
Lanai 134 3x — 11 11 0
