KEAAU – Nathan Kekoa sent his Kohala Cowgirls on a bat-swinging mission Friday afternoon at Kamehameha in an attempt to turn around his club’s fortunes against the four-time defending BIIF champions.
Nothing wrong with the concept, but the results weren’t there.
The Warriors, in search of their second consecutive undefeated season, bunched together nine runs in the first two innings, thanks in no small measure to three Kohala errors in a five inning, mercy rule 10-0 victory that put the Cowgirls on the edge of elimination in the best-of-three BIIF Division II championship series.
“Our bats weren’t hot today, we couldn’t get our swings down,” Kekoa said, “that was our downfall. This is a tough team to play and I think our confidence probably wasn’t where we need it to be, but we’ll work on it tonight and see what we can do tomorrow.”
It was the third time the teams have played this season, Kamehameha (19-0) having won the first two at Kohala (13-6) by scores of 8-4 and 11-1. One more win in the 11 a.m. Saturday game and the bats will be put away for another season.
“They came to play today,” said Kamehameha pitcher Mykala Tokunaga, who allowed just two base hits in the game — both singles — and struck out eight while not allowing a walk. “We caught some breaks it seemed because they had a few errors, and once we got started we kept it going.”
Tokunaga opened the game with two strikeouts to the first two batters, then she recorded two more in the third, before striking out the side in the fourth, notching five consecutive strikeouts in the process.
“My catcher (Kekai Wong-Yuen), really worked hard for me and did a great job, “ Tokunaga said. “I missed her. She’s been in Japan and just got back so this is the first time I’ve had to work with her. She made every right call.”
Shortstop Kiarra Lincoln got things started for the Warriors when she reached on an infield error, stole second and went to third on a single by Nevaeh Fukui-Stoos, and Wong-Yuen then drove them both in with a single. Tokunaga reached on another error, scored on a long triple to right by second baseman Taylor Sullivan and eventually scored on an infield out.
The Warriors did more damage in the second when Lincoln led off with a home run, then Fukui-Stoos, Wong-Yuen and Tokunaga each touched Kohala’s Mikayla Kekoa for doubles, back-to-back-to back.
“I admit I was nervous,” said Kekoa, the coach’s daughter, a freshman pitching in her biggest game. “It was not my day today, I feel bad about that because I felt ready but I kind of lost it when I got out there.”
Nathan Kekoa said he will bring a different game plan Saturday.
“We’re going to turn around, bat from the left side and slap the ball around,” he said. “Will it work? I can’t answer that, but we’re gonna try to make it work.”
Kekoa said he will start senior Kiana Cazimero in Saturday’s game.
Kamehameha coach Gary Ahu declined a postgame interview request, but he almost certainly will hand the ball to Tokunaga as she seeks the fourth clincher of her career.
Kohala 000 00 – 0 2 3
Kamehameha 541 0x – 10 8 2
