The BIIF softball playoff pairings in Division II bare a striking resemblance to last season.
The BIIF softball playoff pairings in Division II bare a striking resemblance to last season.
Mikayla Kekoa cracked a home run and Kryah Sol finished 3 for 3, including a double, triple and three RBIs, on Saturday as Kohala clipped Ka’u 19-4 in Kapaau, clinching home-field advantage in the semifinals.
Ryah Manning (triple, single), Kaila Amaral (single, double, two RBIs), Jurnee Keawee (two singles, two RBIs), Briana Harrison and Kekoa (double, three RBIs) each finished with two hits for the second-seeded Cowgirls (11-5), who will host Honokaa (7-6) in a best-of-three series that starts Thursday. Last season, Kohala swept the Dragons at home to reach the final.
Symphony Kauanoe and Kiana Cazimero each pitched two innings for the Cowgirls.
Analei Emmsley collected two hits for the Trojans (0-16), and Sheri Freitas took the loss.
The other semifinal matches top-seeded Kamehameha (16-0) and Konawaena (7-8), with their series starting Thursday in Keaau.
Kamehameha 11, Konawaena 1: Mykala Tokunaga struck out seven in a five-inning TKO and hit a home run as the host Warriors wrapped up their second consecutive undefeated season.
Gabrielle Victor doubled and drove in two runs for four-time defending BIIF champion Kamehameha.
Andi Uemura took the loss for the Wildcats.
Kealakehe 8, Keaau 4: The Waveriders won on the road, forcing a tie for first in Division I with Waiakea, which was denied an automatic berth to the HHSAA tournament.
Both state berths will be up for grabs in the semifinals. As the top seed, the Warriors (11-2) host the Cougars (3-10) in a best-of-three series starting Thursday, and on that same day the second-seeded Waveriders (11-2) start a series with Hilo (6-7) at Old Kona Airport Park.
Pahoa 16, Hawaii Prep 14, first game
Pahoa 14, Hawaii Prep 10, first game
Jane Aiona earned a victory in the first game and ripped a three-run triple in the second game as the host Daggers finished their season with a sweep.
In the opener, Kamalani Noll finished with three hits for Pahoa (5-16), and Tiana Kapumau and Faith Manuel-Kamakeeaina each had two.
Vanessa Gary had two hits for Ka Makani (2-14), and Kiai Lindsey took the loss.
Kameron Baldonado, Manuel-Kamakeeaina and Aiona each finished with two hits for Pahoa in the second game to back Kapumau in the circle.
Taimane Kamaka led HPA with for hits, and Emily Fong, Sara Heymann and Lindsey each added two. Fong took the loss.