Pearl City's Darian Obara touches home plate to score a run against Waipahu. Obara was 3-for-4 from the plate with 3 runs scored. CJ Caraang | SL

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040315__MG_0249.jpg - CJ Caraang | SL

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WAIPIO — Any team that faces Pearl City at Patsy T. Mink/Central Oahu Regional Park has to be prepared for an offensive explosion.

The Chargers set a new season-high in runs scored in their 17-6 win over Waipahu in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I West contest Friday night. The last time Pearl City played in Waipio was in a 16-6 win over Kapolei three weeks ago.

Pearl City, ranked sixth in the ScoringLive/OC16 Softball Power Rankings, recorded 12 total hits and batted around the lineup in the second and fourth inning to improve to 5-2-1. Waipahu dropped to 1-6.

"They must like the back drop or something," laughed Pearl City coach Chad Obara. "Just real fortunate that they're taking good swings and things are working out."

Leading the offensive effort was Obara's daughter Darian, who recorded the first hit of the game. The sophomore shortstop was 3 for 4 at the plate with three runs scored.

"I was just keeping my eyes on the ball and making sure I stay calm with my palm down because I've been having some problems with that," she said.

Recording the win in the pitching circle for the Chargers was Kristin Frost, who came in relief of starter Tyann Kaaialii with the bases loaded in the first inning. 

"I just knew I had to bear down and focus," said Frost, who threw six strikeouts. "It was a rough start, but I knew my teammates had my back and we got through the inning,"

Waipahu led 5-4 after the first inning, but only had one run the rest of the way. Pearl City scored 11 unanswered runs in the next three innings to give itself a 15-5 lead in the middle of the fourth.

"Pearl City adjusted," said Waipahu coach Byron McCorriston. "They changed their pitcher and we wasn't able to adjust to what she was throwing. They're a good team, you can't let them get too ahead if you want to win."

Waipahu pitcher Rayna Abunag took the loss in her first start of the year. Abunag gave up four hits and 10 runs in two innings of work before Gracie Kaopua came in to relieve her.

A solo home run from Waipahu first basemen Shevan DeFreitas in the bottom of the fifth helped delay the 10-run mercy rule for another frame. Pearl City freshman Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi's 2 RBI single in the top of the sixth gave Pearl City the runs needed to end the game in six innings.

Other key hitters for Pearl City include: Noel Saunders, Tayly Kimura, and Taylor Shigeta. Saunders batted 2 for 3 with two runs scored, Kimura led the team in RBIs with four and Shigeta was 2 for 4 at the plate with three RBIs.

Centerfielder Ulalia Soa had two hits, two RBIs, one run and one stolen base to lead the Marauders in the loss.