KAILUA-KONA — The fourth time proved to be the charm for Hilo. And it came just at the right time. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — The fourth time proved to be the charm for Hilo. And it came just at the right
KAILUA-KONA — The fourth time proved to be the charm for Hilo. And it came just at the right time.
After three tight losses to Kealakehe this season, the Vikings rose up for a 12-10 victory at Old Kona Airport Park on Saturday, keeping their season alive and evening the BIIF Division I best-of-three semifinal series with the Waveriders at 1-1.
“We just stressed to the girls to believe,” Hilo head coach Kelly Galdones said. “We felt we were one inning away every game we had played Kealakehe this season, we just had too many errors. The girls played a complete game today and believed in themselves. That was really the difference.”
The rubber match — with the winner advancing to the BIIF championship to take on top-seeded and defending champ Waiakea — is scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m.
In their four matchups this season, the margin of victory for the winning team has been a combined 10 runs.
“It’s really a coin flip — anyone’s game,” Galdones said. “Kealakehe is a great team and it will come down to who makes the lease amount of mistakes.”
The Lady Viks got a gutsy effort from their ace Zoe Cabarloc, who tossed 84 pitches and walked just two batters in a complete game win.
“She’s our battler,” Galdones said.
Hilo pulled off a three-peat before seeing Waiakea take the BIIF crown last year. One more win, and the Viks will get a chance to reclaim their throne.
“We just stayed calm and everyone did their part and played their hearts out,” Hilo senior player Shalyn Guthier said. “We all really want to get to the BIIF championship game and I have faith we can get there.”
The Waveriders have never won a BIIF softball title, and are seeking their first championship berth since 2011. Injuries have not helped their cause.
Kealakehe has been dinged up late in the year, the most prevalent injury to ace Kiara Cantiberos. Her sister, Kitara Cantiberos, took over in the circle and got the win in Game 1, but exited Saturday’s game with an injury. Cantiberos took the loss, allowing 10 hits and striking out four in five-plus innings of work.
“It’s tough. We have been fighting the injury bug,” Mercado said. “But all we can do is keep battling.”
The Waveriders’ stellar shortstop Tavian Taketa closed out the game. According to Mercado, it was her season-debut in the circle.
“She really solidifies the gap over at short, so it’s not an easy decision to bring her in to pitch,“ Mercado said. “Kitara was really our second, third and fourth pitcher.”
Both teams took advantage of errors in the first inning to score three runs apiece. Kealakehe wrestled back a 4-3 lead in the second thanks to single by Taketa that brought in Leina’ala Pertubol.
Hilo responded in the third when Moana Pinner crushed a two-run homer over the left field fence to give the Viks a 5-4 edge. The home run was the highlight of Pinner’s nearly perfect day at the plate. The junior finished 3 for 4 with five RBIs.
Kealakehe fired off a big five-run stanza in the fourth, sparked by a three-run double from Brei McLeod and an inside the park home run by Annabelle Dela Cruz. But Hilo was game for the challenge, and answered again with a five run inning of their own to retake a 10-9 lead.
The Waveriders managed to tie things up at 10-10 in the fifth, and looked like they would get an early momentum boost in the sixth on a deep lead-off shot by McLeod. However, the speedy third baseman got a little greedy and tried for an inside the park home run, getting caught after rounding third. Two consecutive outs followed, welcoming the bottom of the sixth.
Hilo loaded the bases with no outs, and Cantiberos looked to be slowing down. Mercado opted to bring in Taketa in the jam. She kept the damage to a minimum, but the Viks pushed two across, making it 12-10 and putting the pressure on the ‘Riders in the seventh.
Jami Tan led off with an infield single, but Kealakehe just couldn’t must enough late offense to keep up with Hilo.
Kealakehe 3 1 0 5 1 0 0 – 10 12 4
Hilo 3 0 2 5 0 2 – 12 10 7
Waiakea 16, Keaau 3: Tierra Teves batted 3 for 5, inlcuding a two-run homer, and Claire Kaneshiro cracked a solo homer also in the sixth inning for the Warriors (13-2), who clinched a spot in the BIIF championship.
The Warriors will host Game 1 of the best-of-three series at 3 p.m. Friday against the Hilo-Kealakehe winner (to be determined Monday).
Caitlyn Calhoun went the distance in the loss, and the season is over for the Cougars (3-12), who hurt themselves with five errors.
Taylor Nishimura batted 4 for 5, including a two-run homer in the fifth, Brandee Chinen went 3 for 4 with an RBI and Taylor Ogawa was 2 for 4 with two RBIs for the Warriors, who piled up 16 hits.
“It was sluggish. Our bats were not working. We only hit in the last two innings,” Waiakea coach Bo Saiki said. “At least, we got to play everybody. Apparently, our bench got hits and scored runs.”
Jourdan Perreira pitched five innings of one-run ball for the win. The sophomore allowed three hits and two walks. Alyssa Hara gave up two runs on two hits in the final frame.
Waiakea 211 237 — 16 16 1
Keaau 000 012 — 3 5 5
