KAILUA-KONA – As pitchers April Kina’u Grace and Emily Hora put up goose eggs on the scoreboard inning after inning, the number zero lingered in the air a little thicker for Hawaii Prep, considering its softball history. Or lack there of.
How to handle those nerves, HPA?
“The whole game, there was a lot of pressure, and they just told me to relax,” Kaila Kaahu said. “I just kind of released it on that hit.”
Looking back, a first playoff appearance and a first HHSAA berth were mere appetizers for Ka Makani this season. They captured their first BIIF Division II championship with pizzazz. Kaahu homered to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday, and HPA beat Kamehameha 1-0 at Kealakehe, dethroning the eight-time champion with a title of its own.
“It’s amazing, when I took over this program, the first thing I told these girls was I’m here to turn this program around,” coach Travis Bondallian said. “I never expected to do it in my first official year.”
The year before he arrived, Grace didn’t get a chance to play as a freshman in 2019. HPA didn’t field a team, and the past two years were altered by the pandemic. Previous to 2019, there were a string of losing seasons.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Grace said, “but once (Travis) came out I knew it was possible.”
She struck out six in a five-hitter and walked four, but she was matched in the circle by Hora. Featuring a wicked changeup, Hora reduced HPA hitters to comically bad swings at times.
The Warriors (5-2) put two runners on in the eighth on a walk and an error to get the go-ahead run to third, but Grace induced a ground ball to short to end the inning.
Up stepped Kaahu, a senior transfer from Kahuku on Oahu’s North Shore.
“They were telling me to level off my swing and I was just thinking base hit,” she said. “Right off the bat, I watched it and saw it go over the fence (in center). Unreal.
“I have to thank my coaches and my teammates. Coming here and winning the BIIF title for HPA, it means a lot.”
As she rounded the bases and her teammates gathered at the plate to greet her, Warriors players went to console Hora, who struck out five in an eight-hitter and didn’t issue a free pass.
“She pitched a hell of a game,” Kamehameha coach Akea Kiyuna said. “I told (the team) this is probably the best game that we’ve played, and HPA played a hell of a game. They earned it.”
Kamehameha advanced a runner on third in five different innings, but Grace never wavered. Jeyla Bettis-Shigeishi led of the fourth with a hit but was caught stealing. That proved costly when Keanu Huihui tripled to right but was stranded.
“I just looked at my teammates and my family,” Grace said of her penchant for getting big outs.
There were six errors in the game but also fine defensive plays on each side.
With two on and two out in the top of the sixth, HPA second baseman Brooke Samura ranged to her left to catch a popup. Catcher Kyana Brucelas made two diving catches on short popups.
“Defense wins games,” Grace said.
Brucelas and Kawela Takushi each had two hits for HPA (7-0). Takushi’s flare single in the seventh put runners on first and second, but Hora induced a comebacker to send the game to extra innings.
“The girls knew what to do,” Bondallian said. “I think they deal with pressure better than me.”
Huihui collected two hits for Kamehameha.
HPA earned a bye into the state quarterfinals, May 12 on Maui. The Warriors get a first round game a day earlier.
Kiyuna has taken more seasoned teams to the state tournament, but this group makes her proud because of its “fighting spirit.”
