Ashlyn Van Zandt and Denae Rivera looked like HHSAA softball tournament veterans, while Symphony Kauanoe handled her first assignment with relative ease.
Kohala had busted out at states before, but these Cowgirls – a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen – made a first impression to remember.
Van Zandt, Rivera and Setsuko Kimura each drove in four runs Tuesday at McKinley High on Oahu, and Kohala routed Kalaheo 18-2 to reach the Division II quarterfinals.
Kauanoe, a freshman, went the distance in the five-inning TKO and struck out four for the Cowgirls, who are playing in their BIIF-best sixth consecutive state tournament. League runner-up Kohala (9-6) improved to 2-4 in the first round during that span and will face second-seeded Waimea (11-2) at 1 p.m. Wednesday at McKinley.
“This was our most productive game of the season,” coach Joby Amaral said. “I was real impressed.
“Hopefully, we can keep it up.”
The key, Amaral said, was that Kohala played more relaxed than it had been many times during the BIIF season.
“This is where they wanted to be,” he said.
The Cowgirls amassed 15 hits and scored multiple runs in each inning.
Kohala set the tone by scoring six times in the top of the first against the Mustangs (9-7), the OIA’s No. 4 team. Kimura belted a two-run triple and Rivera brought in three with a bases-clearing triple from the No. 9 spot in the order.
Batters Nos. 2-4, Van Zandt, Kimura (3 for 5) and Tomiko Coito (3 for 5), a senior, combined to go 10 for 15 with 10 RBIs. Van Zandt was 4 for 5 with four runs scored, hitting an RBI double in the third and a two-run single in the fifth.
“She was hitting it hard today,” Amaral. “They were all on the ball.”
Kauanoe allowed Tiffani Beach’s two-run double in the second, scattering five hits and three walks. At the plate, she had an RBI single.
Kimura, Rivera and Jurnee Keawe, a sophomore, scored three runs apiece.
Kohala 633 24 – 18 15 1
Kalaheo 020 00 – 2 5 3
Nanakuli 16, Konawaena 6: The two-time defending state champion Hawks banged out 21 hits to send the Wildcats to consolation play.
Senior Bethany Batangan went the distance in the 4 1/3-inning TKO loss. She walked two and 10 of her runs allowed were earned.
Kiersen Kawehi Kahele hit an RBI triple and scored two runs for Konawaena, the BIIF’s No. 3 team. The Wildcats (6-8) will play Waialua (7-8) at 1 p.m. Thursday at McKinley for the right to advance to Friday’s seventh-place game.
There were 15 errors in the game, eight by Konawaena, which scored four runs in the third with the help of five Nanakuli miscues.
Autumn McCoy homered and struck out seven in a complete game for Nanakuli (13-1), the OIA runner-up.
Konawaena 204 00 – 6 5 8
Nanakuli 263 05 – 16 21 7
Lanai 14, Waialua 8: Claire Vila pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and hit a two-run home run to lift the MIL champ Pinelases.
Lanai (10-2) advances to face BIIF champion Kamehameha (14-0) at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the quarterfinals.
Division I
Kaiser 9, Keaau 1: Two Kaiser pitchers relegated BIIF runner-up Keaau to one hit in a first-round game at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium in Honolulu.
Kayla Russell touched Keaau starter Lohi Kamakea-Wong for a three-run home run, and Seli Aholelei hit a solo blast for Kaiser (15-1), the OIA’s No. 3 team. Aholelei struck out 10 in four innings to get the victory.
In six innings, Kamakea-Wong allowed 12 hits, nine runs – four earned – with a strikeout. Rylann Hacoba managed the only hit for Keaau (9-6), which will play Leilehua at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium in consolation play. Erleen Oguma scored Keaau’s run in the fifth when she walked and later scored on an error.
Keaau 000 100 0 – 1 1 3
Kaiser 105 012 x – 9 12 1
Maryknoll 8, Pearl City 3: The second of Shearyna Labasan’s two hits in the first inning brought home two runs to cap a six-run outburst, and Labasan delivered a complete game as the Spartans advanced.
BIIF champion Waiakea (11-3) awaits Maryknoll (15-2-1), the ILH runner-up at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the quarterfinals.
