HONOKAA – Banners hang in both dugouts at Honokaa Parks and Recreation softball field to honor one of Hamakua’s favorite sons, Coach La, with one of his favorite sayings.
“No I’m sorry. FIX IT.”
With that problem-solving theme as a backdrop Monday, it was Konawaena’s Shaylynn Grace who provided the no-nonsense solutions.
None of the previous issues the Wildcats suffered three weeks ago against the Dragons were beyond repair for Grace, who fired a three-hit shutout with six strikeouts to lead Konawaena to an 8-0 victory in a matchup of BIIF Division II playoff contenders.
The sophomore right-hander’s gem was comparable, first-year coach Monica Montijo said, to her one-hitter March 15 against Kohala, a nine-strikeout performance.
“Shaylynn’s got many pitches,” Montijo said. “Both games she threw really well and was really strong.”
With the Wildcats (4-2) rallying for four runs in the second inning – Magedlynn Anuntak ripped an RBI double – the game was delayed for a 30-minute lightning watch after thunder roared in the distance.
The interruption hardly bothered Grace, who didn’t play in Honokaa’s surprise 14-2, TKO win March 5 at Kealakekua.
“She does make a difference, but we trust all three of our pitchers to get the job done,” said Montijo, who threw herself under the bus regarding the first meeting.
“First-year coach, I had them come out of school a bit late,” she said. “Our warmups were all messed up, I had a thing. We were discombobulated that game, and it showed up in the defense.”
Grace scuffled a bit with two walks and a hit batter in the first two innings before taking control. She struck out the side in the third and needed only seven pitches to retire the side in the fourth, facing the minimum 12 batters the last four innings.
Grace also finished with two of Konawaena’s six hits and scored twice.
Coach Virgil Agustin said the Dragons (7-2) knew they would be a facing game changer. They simply couldn’t adjust.
“We actually tried to prepare for her, “he said, “but she’s someone you have to face instead of imagine facing them.
“Really, speed is not the thing, it’s more with timing.”
Dragons pitchers combined to hit six batters and issue four walks. Destynee-Skye Carvalho worked two innings in defeat, allowing five hits and five runs (three earned) with two strikeouts. After Taylor Tabucbuc pitched an inning and gave up a run, Alexis Martinez struck out six over the last four innings, allowing a hit and two runs.
Tehani Epenesa collected two hits for Honokaa.
Her father, Lala Epenesa Jr., is the inspiration for the dugout banners. In addition to being a county parks supervisor, Epenesa was a youth coach who was set to join the coaching staff this season when he passed away in January at the age of 50.
“Coach La was the one who brought up most of the girls,” Agustin said.
If Montijo put a banner up, it would read something along the lines of her coaching philosophy: “Be present and have fun, and remember what the point of this game is.”
This is her first season of BIIF softball, but she previously was an assistant at Claremont McKenna College, a Division III program in Southern California, and she coached at her alma mater, Rincon High School in Tuscon, Ariz.
Nanea Wall, Grace, Kaimana Joy Monzano and Jayla Medeiros had hits to fuel the rally in the second inning.
“I learned that we’re tough-mined,” Montijo said. “We got beat 14-2 in our house, and there was no sense of panic. They were able to get into the performance zone. That’s something we talk about all the time. Not being too high, not being too low.”
Now it’s time for Honokaa to find the fixes – and quick, though Grace should give them a good preview of the pitchers to come. Thanks to rainouts, the Dragons face D-II contender Kohala on Wednesday and three-time Division I champion Waiakea on Thursday.
“We just have to look to hit the pitches,” Agustin said, “our experience can take us around the bags, but we can’t get anything going if nobody is on the bags.”
Waiakea 19, Hawaii Prep 1: Johnacy Mackwelung hit two home runs and finished with six RBIs as the Warriors won in Waimea to remain unbeaten.
Mackwelung finished with three hits, including a three-run homer in the first and a two-run shot in the fourth.
Waiakea (8-0) scored 13 runs in the third in back of Halee Sweat, who went the distance in the four-inning TKO, striking out seven and allowing a hit with four walks.
Brandee Chinen was 2 for 4 with a double, four runs scored and two RBIs, and Lyndsey Carvalho collected two hits, two RBIs and scored twice.
Kiai Lindsey started and pitched 3 2/3 innings for Ka Makani (3-4).
Baseball
Konawaena 17, Honokaa 3: A four-hit game by Kolu Alani and a grand slam by Kanai Rivera gave Konawaena a 17-3 victory over host Honokaa.
The bats exploded for the Wildcats late in the game. Konawaena scored all by two of its runs in the final four innings, including nine total in the sixth and seventh.
Alani went 4 for 6 with three runs and two RBIs. Rivera’s bases clearing home run came in the sixth inning after Alani reached on a double for the second time in the game. Jake Basque followed by getting hit by a pitch and Stevie Texeira walked. Rivera then stepped to the plate and sent the second pitch he saw over the left field fence.
Alani also performed well on the hill, going the distance for the victory. He allowed three earned runs off three hits, while striking out seven and walking three.
Six Konawaena players finished with two or more hits.