Kohala cleared the biggest remaining hurdle on its schedule Saturday as it seeks to lock down home-field advantage in the BIIF Division II softball semifinals, beating Hilo 8-6 in Kapaau.
“We were confident but not cocky,” coach Nate Kekoa said.
His team will maintain that mindset for the last week of the regular season.
Mikayla Kekoa struck out nine in a complete game and Deysha Yamasaki hit a home run for the Cowgirls (8-6), who on paper appear all but home free in their bid to get the No. 2 seed in the postseason. The Cowgirls finish with games against Hawaii Prep on Monday at Ka’u on Saturday.
Ka Makani and the Trojans have only combined for one victory this season, but Nate Kekoa knows games aren’t played on paper.
“We won’t take anybody lightly,” he said. “We know we’ll have to play hard.”
Yamasaki drove in three runs, and Jurnee Keawe, Ryah Manning and Kaila Amaral each drove in a run apiece.
Mikalya Kekoa yielded seven hits to the Vikings (5-6), who can lock down the No. 3 seed in Division I with a win Tuesday against Keaau.
Zoe Cabarloc went six innings, allowing 11 hits with four strikeouts.
Shalyn Guthier finished with two hits, including an RBI.
Waiakea 16, Konawaena 13: Shaily Moses hit a grand slam and the host Warriors used a huge first inning to overcome eight errors and remain a game behind Kealakehe in Division I.
Kristi Hirata earned the win, survived 5 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out one, and giving up a home run to Teizha Kaluna. Of the 12 runs Hirata allowed, only four were earned. Alyssa Hara got the final four outs.
Each team belted 14 hits.
Skylar Thomas collected two hits in the first to fuel an 11-run uprising for Waiakea (9-2), Jourdan Perreira was 3 for 5, and Taylor Ogawa and Moses each posted two hits.
Waiakea hosts the Waveriders on Tuesday.
For the Wildcats (7-7), Kaluna and Erin Bates each collected two hits and Magedlynn Anuntak and Daycee Lei McKee-Haalili’o had two apiece.
Tiani Lastimosa pitched all six innings, allowing nine walks with a strikeout.
Konawaena 131 350 0 – 13 14 3
Waiakea (11)01 400 – 16 14 8
Honokaa 15, Keaau 2: Destynee Carvalho went 4 for 4 and pitched two scoreless innings of relief as the host Dragons earned a TKO victory against the Cougars.
Carvalho scored three runs with an RBI for Honokaa (8-6) and Sarah Sedillo scored four times and doubled. Karly Requelman went 2 for 4, including a double, and three RBIs, and Tyrah Fernandez was 2 for 2 with two runs scored.
Caitlyn Calhoun took the loss for Keaau (3-8), working three innings and going 2 for 2 with an RBI at the plate. Taylor Hacoba 2 for 3 with a RBI.
Keaau 010 01 – 2 7 4
Honokaa 904 2 – 15 10 1
Kealakehe 16, Ka’u 1: Kesha Mori-Pucong picked up the victory in Pahala for the Waveriders (10-1), who have won nine in a row.
Sheri Freitas was the losing pitcher for the Trojans (0-14).
Kamehameha 22, Hawaii Prep 0: The Warriors ran their record to 14-0 with a win in Waimea, while Ka Makani fell to 1-11.
