KEAAU – As good a hitter as aspiring college softball player Kaylee Aiona may be, the junior’s statistics at Waiakea High read empty entering Saturday: 0 for the pandemic.
Aiona changed that in a hurry in a 21-2 victory against Keaau, playing pepper with the fence in left field in the Warriors’ BIIF opener.
Her updated stats: 4 for 5, three doubles, one home run, five RBIs.
“I was really excited,” Aiona said, “because I have no high school stats right now. I know colleges look at high school stats, and this was good for me to kick-start my high school season.”
And her career.
“Growing up I always looked forward to high school sports, just ripping and working hard,” said Aiona, an infielder who got the start at third base.
Athletes in the spring sports were dealt a double whammy by the pandemic. Only seniors have appreciable BIIF experience. Coach Melissa Pang was hired before the 2020 season, Aiona’s freshman year, but the Warriors played just one game before the coronavirus halted play for what turned out to be the next two seasons.
Waiakea had its string of four consecutive BIIF titles broken by Kealakehe in 2019.
“They’re putting in the work to be BIIF champs and to make a presence at states,” Pang said of the team’s goals.
She said Waiakea was prepared to be selective at the plate Saturday, and it feasted on free passes, particularly in the fourth inning. The Warriors sent 16 batters up and scored 10 times with the help of seven walks and two hit batters.
The Cougars (0-2) probably should have thrown wildly to Aiona, who got a pitch to hit in each at-bat and connected each time with a smooth, consistent swing. Her first at-bat was a loud out, a liner her left. After a double to the gap in the second, she led off the fourth with a solo home run.
“I just saw the ball and hit the ball,” said Aiona, who’s gained seasoning with a travel team on Oahu said. “(The home run) was just the pitch I look for when I don’t have any strikes on me. It was just my perfect pitch, and I teed off on it.”
Batting cleanup behind Aiona, first baseman Tehani Chinen reached base five times with three hits, driving in four runs. Darcy-Lyn Kaina had two hits.
Pang broke her team down into three categories:
• Five to six experienced players who have put in the work.
• Players who have a previous Little League experience, even if only for a season.
• Good athletes playing for the first time.
“We have a roster of about 20 girls that are fighting for playing time, so that’s the advantage of what I have,” Pang said.
She said the depth extends to her pitching staff.
Kaitlyn Miura started and struck out four in two hitless innings, allowing a run in the first when Karley Lucas-Medeiros coaxed a leadoff walk, stole a base and scored on a wild pitch. Brianne Felipe pitched the final three innings and worked around six walks, striking out two.
Keaau’s Kysha Carvalho led off the fourth with a triple and came all the way around to score after an error.
Alana Smith took the loss for the Cougars.
“I have a good group to work with and the luxury to pitch who I want,” Pang said. “Kaitlyn is a freshman … and this was her getting some game confidence.”
Honokaa 12, Ka’u 0: Malie Espejo struck out nine in a five-inning one-hitter, and Krysta-Lyn “Ulu” Lewis clubbed a two-run home run with a double as the Dragons evened their record at 1-1.
Tyra Wong-Yuen struck out five for the Trojans, who were playing their opener.