HONOLULU — The first rounds of the HHSAA State Division I baseball, Division I softball and Division II softball kicked off on Tuesday.
Hilo High School’s baseball team won its outing, but its softball team lost. Kohala High School’s softball team also suffered a first round loss, while Honoka‘a High School’s softball team pulled away in extra innings for a victory.
Hilo baseball edges Moanalua in OT
The Vikings struggled back and forth with Na Menehune before plating a run in the top of the eighth inning to win 4-3.
Hilo will advance to the Division I quarterfinal where it will face No.4 seed Campbell HS at 10 a.m today.
Moanalua held a one-run lead from the bottom second inning until the top fourth, when the Vikings put up three runs.
The leadoff went down swinging, but two-spot Journey Leialoha singled, then three-spot Legend Lancaster walked after a full count. Zion Palea was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, then was subbed in for by pinch runner Cole Hatayama. Dylan Villanueva sacrifice bunted to bat in Leialoha, then Boston Kobayashi singled to right field — batting in Lancaster and Hatayama.
Na Menehune tied the score with two more runs in the bottom fifth.
With an out on the board in the top eighth, Lancaster showcased his plate discipline by walking after a full count — for the second time. A lineout put the play in jeopardy, so Lancaster stole second, then reached third on a wild pitch. Villanueva then gave the Vikings exactly what they needed, doubling on a line drive to center field — before getting stranded as the next batter flew out.
In the top eighth, Makenna Wakakuwa earned the win on the mound and helped affirm Hilo’s victory. Wakakuwa fanned the first batter, but the next reached after grounding into an infield error — and the following batter singled. With the game on the line, the Vikings recorded a groundout and a flyout without anymore errors.
Wakakuwa pitched the last two-and-two-thirds innings, surrendering no runs on two hits, striking out one. Koa Marzo pitched one-and-one-thirds innings, allowing an earned run on two hits and three walks — striking out one. Jaylon Geraci started off on the mound, giving up two hits and two walks in his four innings — striking out two.
With his double and sac bunt, Villanueva led Hilo in the box — going one-for-two with two RBI. Marzo went two-for-three.
Dragons win in the ninth
Honoka‘a defeated Waialua HS 15-13 in a nine-inning affair, plating two runs in the bottom ninth to untie the game.
The Dragons will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face No.2 seed Nanakuli HS at 4:30 p.m. today.
The winner will continue to the semifinals, and the loser will enter the fifth-place consolation bracket.
Trojans run-rule Vikings
Mililani HS knocked Hilo softball out of the Division I winning bracket, routing the Vikings 11-1 in a five-inning outing which began just before noon.
Hilo plated its sole run in the top of the first inning. After the leadoff flew out, Kiana Agpalza walked and Madison Waiki doubled on a fly ball to right field. Dahlia Gangano then singled on a center-field line drive to bat in Agpalza and put Waiki on third. A groundout and a swinging strikeout stranded two.
The Trojans then went on a roll, plating eight runs in the bottom frame — followed by two more in the bottom second and one in the third.
The Vikings were unable to put anymore runs on the board before the end of the top fifth, when the “ten after five” rule came into effect and concluded the outing.
Hilo was out-hit 11-6, and had two errors — compared to Mililani’s one error.
Waiki accounted for half of the Vikings’ hits, going three-for-three with a RBI to lead the team in the box.
Makayla Pagampao led the Trojans at bat, going two-for-three to bat in two runs and score two — hitting a two-run homer in the bottom second.
Hilo will move to the consolation bracket for one more chance to stay in the tournament. The Vikings will play at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday against the loser of Waianae HS and Leilehua HS’ round one game.
Kohala loses to Kapaa
In Division II action, Kohala also suffered a first-round run-rule loss — falling 12-1 to Kapaa HS.
The Warriors fielded a strong defense and got the bats going early — plating four runs in the top first, propelled by Wiggy Kupihea’s two-RBI triple.
Kapaa continued to shut out the Cowgirls while plating three runs in the second and two in the third.
Kohala put up its first run in the top fourth when Jayla Kekoa doubled on a center field fly ball and, soon after, scored on a catcher’s error. This was the Cowgirls’ only hit for the outing.
The Warriors responded with three more runs in the bottom frame, then shut Kohala out for the fourth time in the top fifth — ending the game.
If not for Kekoa’s double, Kapaa’s Sienna Yamashita would have pitched a perfect five innings — with seven strikeouts.
The Cowgirls will be back in action this morning for a consolation match against Waialua.
