Kamehameha pitcher Kamalani Dung winds up for a pitch against Mid-Pacific. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kamehameha head coach Aloha Yamaguchi congratulates Kamalani Dung after a base hit against Mid-Pacific. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kamehameha's Christine Hipa paces home after sending a homerun over left field in the third. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kamehameha move one step closer to clinching the regular season title in Interscholatic League of Honolulu Division I play, defeating Mid-Pacific by an 11-1 count in a game shortened to six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

"Every game is going to be an important game from here on out, and with Mid-Pac being one that you never know what could happen, we wanted to come out big, and the girls did that." said Kamehameha head coach Aloha Yamaguchi.

And in the early going, it was the home team Owls looked to be thinking upset, as Jenna Kumabe stroked a leadoff double and was moved over to third on a sacrifice fly by Nicole Lopez. But Warriors were able to get out of the inning without any damage on the scoreboard, as starter Kamalani Dung got Sarah Onishi to strike out to end the threat.

Kayla Au was sharp early, striiking out the first batter she faced and surrendering just one walk through two innings of work.

Mid-Pacific found more success at the plate in the second, with singles by Matoi and Au followed up by a Kiley Oeda walk to move courtesy runner Taylor Takushi into scoring position. The next batter, Samantha Sakiguchi delivered with a single to right field that score Takushi, giving the Owls the early 1-0 lead.

Undeterred, the Warriors responded with some offense of their own, as Rachel Ogasawara led off the inning with an infield single and moved over to second on an fielding error on the next batter. Maelia Zablan pushed the runners over to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and Ogasawara came home a few pitches later on an errant throw to second.

That set the stage for Christine Hipa, and the number three hitter in the Warriors' order delivered in a big way, connecting with a Au offering and planting well over the fence in left field for a two-run shot, giving the visiting squad a 3-1 lead.

"The first pitch it was inside, I was like its my pitch I'll swing, and it was a foul ball. I hoped it would come again, it did and I hit it good." said Hipa.

Hipa would deliver once again in the fifth, driving home both Zablan and Glackin with a line shot that found its way to the fence for a double. The very next batter, Kaya Naiwi, roped another double to the very same spot of the field bringing home Hipa, and the run parade was on for thee Warriors, who would go on to plate seven runs in a huge inning.

"We try to feed off each other, if someone hits good, we try to hit better." said Hipa, who finished the afternoon 3-for-3 from the dish, with two runs scored and four RBIs.

The nine run lead was more than enough support for Dung, who settled down considerably after a rough start, allowing just 2 hits through the final 4 innings, while striking out 5 and walking just one.

"I just do what's called, and I just pitch my game." said Dung.

"She did a great job keeping her mind strong and not letting things get to her." said Yamaguchi of Dung. "Starting off, Mid-Pac came on strong, but there's so much game left that she can't let things get to her knowing there's a lot more game to play. We knew she was going to come back (strong)."

Kamehameha added another run in the top of the sixth off of a Naiwi single to invoke the mercy rule, and Dung issued a leadoff walk before retiring the final three Owl batters in succession to end it.

The Warriors have three more games left on their regular season schedule, West Pac, Pac-Five and Saint Francis, all to be played on the Kapalama campus. Wins over West Pac on April 21 and Pac-Five on April 23 would clinch the regular season title and an automatic berth to the Division I state tournament.

"We definitely see that end goal, but we gotta take it one at a time." said Yamaguchi. "We went into a little bit of a downfall, todays game we all felt it. Hopefully this is our turnaround, and we're going to peak after this."