Kapolei gets by Waianae to reach Red title game


Kapolei's Winona Pauline throws a pitch to the plate against Waianae. Joshua Lopez | Mililani HS
Kapolei fell behind early, surrendering two runs in the top first, but rallied to score seven unanswered runs in an 8-3 win to advance to tomorrow's Red division title game, where they will face Campbell, an 11-4 winner over Kailua.

The Hurricanes got things going offensively in the third inning, with a leadoff double by Elizabeth Tuason. On the next at-bat, Tuason would manage sneak back to second safely after being caught between second and third in a run down on a grounder to third, allowing both runners to reach base safely.

Next, Stacia Al-Mahoe would ground out to the pitcher, who would throw to second for the force, allowing Tuason to reach third.

Mikela Manewa's clutch triple to center field would bring both Tuason and Al-Mahoe home, tying the score at 2-all, and starter Winona Pauline would help her own cause with a sacrifice fly to left that brought home Manewa from third to give Kapolei the lead at 3-2.

Waianae would avoid further damage in the fourth, getting out of a bases-loaded jam, as Raelene Diorec, who would come on in relief of starter Piilani Smith-Keopuhiwa, would get Pauline to ground out to the third to end the inning.

But Kapolei would make the most of their chances in the fifth, starting the inning with back-to-back singles from Kacee Navarro and Ashalyn Umiamaka. A sacrifice bunt by Kanaiapuni Smith moved the runners up, and Rachel McKean would draw a walk to load the bases.

Then, Tuason would lace single to right field, but a great throw by Sanoe Hamilton would gun down the runner at the plate to prevent a run from scoring.

That would bring Aimee Aipa up to the plate with two outs and the bases juiced, and the Hurricanes' catcher would respond in a big way, dropping a ball just inside the right field line that would roll to the wall for a three-run triple.

Next, Mahoe would reach first on a fielding error, and courtesy runner Courtney Belford would come home on the play to extend the lead to 7-3.

In the top of the sixth, Waianae would get a run back on a Desirrei Sivia single to trim the Kapolei lead to 7-4, but the Hurricanes would score a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning on an Umiamaka single to push the margin back to four.

Then in the top of the seventh, Winona would put down the Seariders in order, inducing a trio of fly ball outs to end it. She would go the distance for the Hurricanes, allowing just 3 unearned runs on 7 hits, striking out five and walking none.

Kapolei first baseman Navarro would finish 4-for-4, all of her hits ground ball singles up the middle.

Sivia would lead Waianae with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a double and a RBI.


Reach Brien Ing at [email protected].