The Hilo High School varsity softball team suffered a late-game, 12-11 loss to Kealakehe High School on Monday afternoon.
In the top of the first inning, the Waveriders quickly downed the Vikings. Hilo’s leadoff flew out to second basemen Makayla Johnson, starting junior pitcher Caitlyn Nakamura notched a strikeout and the third batter was tagged out ahead of second after reaching first on an error.
Kealakehe gained a one-point lead in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff batter Freeda Tosie was hit by a pitch, but the Waveriders’ next two batters flew out to Lei Soller and Hope Barclay in the outfield. Mailia Polimino kept the inning alive with a single , followed by a RBI single by Tylanna Abraham. The inning ended with a strikeout by Hilo starting pitcher Kuuipo Kalipi.
The Vikings scored four runs to take the lead in the top second. Dahlia Gangano led off with a single, then Soller walked — with each of them advancing on steals and a passed ball before a batter flew out to catcher Rihanna Joaquin. After Nakamura struck out the following batter, Zaydee Amar singled to bat in Gangano. Next, Kalipi stepped into the box and hit a two-RBI home run to center field. Kawehi Augustin singled, then the inning turned over with a flyout to Johnson at first base.
Kealakehe was held scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Kelsi Clarke led off with a walk, then advanced to second when Johnson also walked. A flyout to Hilo catcher Kiana Agpalza notched the first out, then Johnson was tagged out in between first and second by a pass from Agpalza to Kira Alameda at first base. The inning closed with a flyout to Barclay in the outfield.
Hilo boosted its lead to 6-1 with two more runs in the top third. First at-bat Mackenzie Valentin reached first on error, then Gangano followed up with a single to right outfield. The following batter flew out, then a second base error allowed Alameda to reach second — batting in Valentin and Gangano. A flyout to Clarke at first and a putout from Nakamura to Clarke ended the Vikings’ turn at bat.
The Waveriders shrank their deficit to 6-2 in the bottom of the inning. After a strikeout by Kalipi and a flyout to Barclay, Polimino got on base via walk. Abraham was hit by a pitch, then freshman Kayleigh Nakamura reached first on an error. Clarke walked to send Polimino to the plate, then Kalipi notched her third strikeout to end the inning.
Kealakehe upped their defense to shut Hilo out in the top fourth. The first batter flew out to Abraham, then Augustin and Agpalza got on base via walk and single, respectively — advancing on steals. Both were left on base when a flyout to Johnson and a putout at first from Johnson to Sage Telles turned over possession.
Despite their defensive success, the Waveriders were also shut out in the bottom of the inning. After Nakamura walked, a flyout to Barclay put the first out on the board. Nakamura stole second and reached third on a single by Polimino, but was tagged out by Agpalza while running home after the younger Nakamura singled. A fielder’s choice to put out a batter at first ended the inning with three on base.
In the top fifth, Hilo increased its lead to 7-2. Soller singled, then stole two bases as a batter was put out at first by an assist from Polimino at shortstop, and another batter flew out to Nakamura in the outfield. Soller scored by reaching home during an error. Zaydee Amar singled, then Kalipi and Augustin walked. All three were left on base when the following batter flew out to Johnson.
Kealakehe nearly caught up in the bottom fifth, scoring four runs to bring the score to 7-6. The first batter flew out to Gangano, then after Telles walked — Kalipi struck out the next. The older Nakamura was hit by pitch to load first and second, then a single by Tosie allowed Telles to cross third and reach home. Chesney Palos walked, then Joaquin hit a bases-clearing triple. the inning concluded with a flyout to Amar in the outfield.
The Vikings regained their lead with four runs in the top sixth. Hilo ran through its entire batting order, with runs scored by Valentin, Gangano, Soller and Barclay. Gangano singled, Soller singled with a RBI, Alameda notched a sacrifice fly and Barclay hit a RBI triple. A putout at first assisted by Abraham on the mound and a flyout to Polimino put Kealakehe back in the box.
The Waveriders caught up 11-8 with two runs in the bottom sixth. Madison Hurst and the older Nakamura scored runs after reaching base on walks.
Kealakehe shut Hilo out in the top seventh, then took the win with four runs in the bottom of the inning. The Waveriders’ plate discipline won the game, with the first six batters all touching base on walks and hit-by-pitch. A sacrifice fly by Tosie gave Kealakehe the go-ahead fourth run of the inning.
Kayleigh Nakamura earned the win on the mound for the Waveriders. Polimino went two-for-two with two walks, a hit-by-pitch and a run to lead Kealekehe in the box.
Gangano went three-for-five with three runs to lead the Vikings.
Hilo will host Ka‘u High School for its next contest, which will take place at 1 p.m. Friday at Walter Victor Baseball Complex.
Kealakehe will travel to Konawaena High School for its next outing, also at 1 p.m. on Friday.