No. 2 Maryknoll rallies past No. 5 Punahou, 7-2


SAND ISLAND— No. 2 Maryknoll trailed early before scoring seven unanswered runs to upend No. 5 Punahou, 7-2 to improve to 10-1-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu standings on Wednesday afternoon at Sand Island Park.

The Lady Spartans keep pace with Kamehameha, who also improved to 10-1-1 on Wednesday after overwhelming Saint Francis, 14-0. Punahou falls to 9-3 on the season. The Buffanblu beat Maryknoll, 5-4 on Mar. 12.

Shearyna Labasan's 3RBI double helped put the Lady Spartans ahead and never looked back. Tamia Hirano went 2-for-3 and scored a run and Nohea Hee's 2 RBI single helped put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth.

Punahou pounced on Maryknoll early in the top of the second as Kawai Mielke hit a single to centerfield. Krystin Wong's homerun over the left field fence gave the Buffanblu an early 2-0 lead. The Buffanblu would get another hit in the top of the fourth—a single from Nishizawa, but the Maryknoll defense would hold on.

"Ryna wasn't really flustered so I was trying to keep her calm and she stayed calm and our team picked us up when we came back in to bat," said Hee.

"It's one of those things that happen but my team was there to pick me up," said Labasan.

"We jumped on them early to go up, but Maryknoll is a great team and credit them for coming back," said Punahou coach Bobby Makahilahila.

Maryknoll answered back in the bottom of the second to score five unanswered runs. Kanoe Tanigawa hit a single and later advanced to second. Tamia Hirano was hit by a pitch and Nicole Nishizawa walked Kamalei Labasan to load the bases. Tanigawa scored off of a fielder's choice as Nishizawa tried tossing the ball to Sara Buck at home, but could not connect. Nishizawa walked Shayna Ige, allowing Hirano to score to tie the game at 2. Shearyna Labasan's double drove in three more runs to give the Lady Spartans a 5-2 lead.

"I wasn't looking to hit something big, I just wanted to drive in those runs and make contact. I think the count was 3-2 and I knew she was going to come with an upper pitch, I swung and made contact," said Labasan.

Labasan finished the game with five strikeouts and allowed one walk. Nishizawa pitched five innings and recorded three strikeouts and allowed three walks.

Punahou went with a pitching change in the top of the sixth, inserting Bailey Akimseu. Kasey Magdadaro hit a single and Ige was hit by a pitch. Hee brought both runners in with a single to give Maryknoll a 7-2 and never looked back.

"I was frustrated but my team kept picking me up so I put it all together in my head and thought of the team," said Hee, on the hit.

Maryknoll will close out the next two games at Sand Island against Sacred Hearts (1-11) on Apr. 17 and Saint Francis (4-8) on Apr. 22. Punahou will play the Saints on Apr. 20 at Ala Wai Field and will travel to Mid-Pacific (6-6) to close out the season on Apr. 22.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].