Andrea Scali’s heat was untouchable. North Texas’ was unplayable.
Hawaii was no-hit by Scali in an 8-0 loss Thursday to open the RBI World Series, and just when it showed signs of coming around, temperatures that touched triple digits in Grapevine cut short a 2-1 loss.
The Nobu Yamauchi girls softball team of Hilo can find relief in the forgiving pool-play format at the 19-and-under, eight-team tournament.
Scali wasn’t as kind as she pitched beyond her years, striking out nine for Cleveland with a fastball that Hawaii coach Tracy Miyashiro estimated reached the low-60s,
“She threw what you’d expect from a Division II (college) pitcher,” Miyashiro said of the high school junior. “We tried to adjust our swing and play small ball, but she was throwing hard with a lot of movement.
“I don’t really think they’ve faced that hard a thrower.”
Hawaii also isn’t used to playing in the sweltering heat that is commonplace in the Dallas area in August. The high was 102 according to the National Weather Service.
Hitless through the first eight innings of the tournament, Konawaena graduate Bethany Batangan singled to lead off the fourth against Harrisburg, Pa., and scored on Waiakea junior Skylar Thomas’ hit to cut the deficit to 2-1. Kamehameha’s Jessica Cameros followed with a hit, but Hawaii stranded two runners on base.
The game was called after Hawaii went down in order in the top of the fifth.
Miyashiro said a handful of Harrisburg players went to a hospital and were treated for dehydration.
“They ran out of ice,” Miyashiro said.
Kohala sophomore Symphony Kauanoe kept her team in the game, allowing four hits and two walks with a strikeout in four innings.
Of the eight runs allowed by Kamehameha’s Makena Wagner and Cameros against Cleveland, only one was earned.
“Like I told the girls, it’s pool play, it doesn’t really matter if we win or lose,” Miyashiro said.
Hawaii faces St. Louis (0-2), the other team from its side of the bracket, and then the West Regional champion is re-seeded for a cross-bracket game Friday. Elimination play begins Saturday.
Hawaii is playing at the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities World Series for the seventh time in nine seasons and last won the title in 2009. Miyashiro returns seven players from last season’s World Series participant.
“When you’re playing in the World Series it’s always tough,” Miyashiro said. “For us to advance we need to play clean ball and put pressure on the defense.”
