KAILUA-KONA – Waiakea’s girls softball team is back on top.
KAILUA-KONA – Waiakea’s girls softball team is back on top.
The Warriors were in danger of being taken to a decisive third game Saturday afternoon, but they surged to beat Keaau 9-4 to claim their first BIIF Division I title since 2011.
“As usual we spotted a few runs early and struggled to come back,” Waiakea coach Bo Saiki said. “The girls like to come from behind I guess.”
Leadoff-hitter catcher Taylor Nishimura fueled a pair of Game 2 rallies with two-run doubles in sixth and seventh innings, and Kristi Hirata went the distance for Waiakea (11-3), which takes a 10-game winning streak to the state tournament.
Seeking its first BIIF title, the Cougars led 4-2 after four innings but their defense melt down behind Lohi Kamakea-Wong, committing five errors.
Waiakea went ahead for by scoring four runs in the sixth.
Alyssa Hara reached on an error by the shortstop and Brandee Chinen beat out an infield hit to shortstop. Jasmine Castro laid down a bunt but Hara was forced out at third. Chinen managed to take third on a throw down to first and scored when Ciera Kellett-Tavares put down a bunt and reached base safely when the first baseman dropped the throw. Nishimura scored two on a ground-rule double down the right field line, and she scoring when Tierra Teves reached on an error to give Waiakea a 7-4 lead.
Waiakea tacked on two more in the seventh. Skylar Thomas singled up the middle, moved to second on a bunt and stole third. Castro was walked and Kellett-Tavaras reached on an infield blooper up the middle. Nishimura followed with two-RBI double to left, finishing with three hits.
For the second consecutive day at Old Kona Airport Park, Keaau took an early lead, jumping ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning by taking advantage of control issues by Hirata. Rylann Hacoba led off with a single to center. With one out, Erleen Oguma also singled to center and Ranchell Berinobis walked to load the bases. Tiana Kapumau walked on four pitches to bring in the first run and Kiana Akana followed with a two-run single to right.
Hirata settled, and Waiakea got on the board in the fourth when Hara and Thomas reached on singles and scored on an error.
The Warriors returned the favor defensively in the bottom of the fourth when two errors led to a Keaau run. Hacoba singled to left and scored on Kamakea-Wong’s hit for a 4-2 advantage.
However, the miscues continued for the Cougar defense in the top of the fifth, leading to another Waiakea run. With one out, Tierra Teves doubled to left. She scored on a Castro grounder that was misplayed by the shortstop. The Keaau lead was down to one run for the second consecutive inning, and the Warriors were just getting started.
Waiakea 000 214 2 – 9 9 2
Keaau 300 100 0 – 4 7 5