The dimensions at the RBI World Series were just deep enough to contain Skylar Thomas. But with the way the Waiakea junior is maturing, Hawaii coach Tracy Miyashiro doesn’t think the fences will be able to keep her in the yard for long.
Thomas and Kayla Requelman each tripled and drove in three runs Friday as Hawaii thumped St. Louis 13-5, and the softball All-Stars almost made it a clean sweep in Grapevine, Texas. Thomas tripled again to drive in a run as Hawaii jumped out against Hoboken, N.J., but it settled for a 5-5 tie and a measure of momentum heading to elimination play.
“Saturday it counts,” Miyashiro said.
Hawaii, third in its bracket, faces No. 2 seed Alabama. If it wins, it will play again Saturday to reach the championship of the 19-and-under, eight-team tournament.
“We’ll throw everything out there, and see what happens,” Miyashiro said.
After scoring only one run in two games Thursday, Thomas, a first baseman, led a resurgence at the plate on Friday.
The Waiakea junior hit a blast in the third that one-hopped the fence to score two runners. Requelman followed with a triple of her own and Makena Wagner singled in a run to cap a seven-run rally.
Miyashiro said the 5-foot-11 Thomas’ time in the hitting cage is paying off.
“That’s helped her become a complete player, and she’s finally starting to catch up to her body,” Miyashiro said. “We’re working with her so she can collect a scholarship in college. Somebody is going to get her.
“The fences here are marked 250. If they were 200 like a lot of fields, it’s gone.”
Hawaii represents Nobu Yamauchi of Hilo, but Miyashiro’s 12-player roster carries ample westside representation.
Requelman finished with three of Hawaii’s seven hits. The Honokaa graduate singled in runs in the first and second innings, and Kealakehe’s Tavian Taketa added a run-scoring single.
Waiakea freshman Phoebe Furuli pitched three innings and allowed two runs, and Kohala sophomore Symphony Kauanoe allowed only one hit in two innings.
Because of the scorching heat, tournament officials have trimmed a half an hour off the original time limit of 2 hours, 15 minutes.
That hurt Hawaii in its second game as Hoboken scored four runs in the sixth to force a tie.
Thomas’ triple in the fourth scored Kealakehe graduate Leisha Nakagawa to give Hawaii a 2-0 lead, and Nakagawa doubled home Konawaena graduate Bethany Batangan in the fifth. Requelman doubled and drove in a run.
Kamehameha’s Wagner worked all six innings, walking a batter and allowing nine hits. She drove in two runs in the first game.
