Kamehameha’s lastest BIIF softball title came with a first.
Kamehameha’s lastest BIIF softball title came with a first.
The Warriors defeated Kohala 11-1 on Saturday morning at Old Kona Airport Park, capturing their their fourth consecutive Division II crown with a sweep to punctuate the program’s first unbeaten league season.
“Our girls really matured over the season and learned how to pick themselves up and play like a team,” Kamehameha assistant coach Akea Kiyuna said. “It was a tough series and Kohala came to play. It showcased the best out of both teams but unfortunately someone had to win.”
Kamehameha got two dominating pitching performances from their ace Mykala Tokunaga in the championship series victory, and she also got the job done at the plate in Game 2, leading the offense with four hits.
“She pushed herself really hard and did it for herself and the seniors,” Kiyuna said. “It was one of her best series and I am looking forward to what she can do at states.”
In both games – Kamehameha won 7-1 in Friday’s game 1 – the Warriors put up most of their runs late. Already ahead 4-0, Kamehameha scored seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings in Game 2.
Kiarra Lincoln led off the fifth with with a double and stole third. She scored on a Kekai Wong Yuen’s single to left. Wong Yuen then moved to second when the left fielder could not field the ball cleanly.
Jessica Cameros popped up a bunt but it landed in front of the diving Kohala pitcher for a single and Tokunaga followed with a single to center to plate Wong Yuen. With the bases loaded, Taylor Sullivan singled to left, scoring Cameros and Tokunaga. Kamehameha led 8-0.
The Cowgirls finally pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the fifth by taking advantage of two Warrior errors and an Antonette Fernandez single.
The Warriors stretched their lead in the top of the sixth. Kamehameha loaded the bases when Jaysha Alonzo-Estrada was hit by a pitch, Lincoln reached on a two base error by the left fielder, and Wong Yuen walked. Tokunaga’s singled to right scored Lincoln and Wong Yuen, and Cameros scored on a groundout.
The Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Lincoln led off with a walk and stole both second and third. She scored on a grounder to third by Kekai Wong Yuen. A throwing error allowed Wong Yuen to move all the way around to third and she scored on a Tokunaga infield hit. Tokunaga stole second and scored when Makena Wagner ripped a single into center.
The Warriors took a 4-0 lead in the top of the second when Elexis Emmsley beat out an infield grounder and scored when Samantha Simmons reached on a throwing error by the third baseman.
Kohala’s Symphony Kauanoe went the distance for Kohala, taking the loss.
Kamehameha 310 043 – 11 12 2
Kohala 000 010 – 1 4 3