Thalen Masada slides in home ahead of Maryknoll catcher Carolann Toyama for a run in the fifth. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 1 of 4

Punahou teammates celebrate with pitcher Jaci Young (right) after defeating Maryknoll, 5-3, for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's second state tournament berth. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 2 of 4

Maryknoll's Tamia Hirano slides into third as Punahou's Thalen Masada attempts a tag. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 3 of 4

Jaci Young winds up to make a pitch against Maryknoll's Carolann Toyama at the plate. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 4 of 4

Punahou clinched the final ILH berth to the DataHouse Division I Softball Tournament, rallying to score 5 runs in the bottom of the fifth to defeat neighboring Maryknoll, 5-3.

The teams split the regular season series 1-1, as Punahou won at Sand Island, 3-2, while Maryknoll defeated Punahou on their own field, 4-0.

"This team has done this all season long. They played together and that's the thing I like about this team and they are a special group of kids. They always help one another out. We can be down 2 or 3 runs and they will fight to come back," said Punahou interim head coach Clyde Freitas, who is filling in for Coach Bob Makahilahila while he is on the Mainland.

The first four innings featured strong pitching and defense from both teams. Punahou's Jaci Young had 7 strikeouts and no hits while Shearyna Labasan and her defense yielded 2 Punahou hits. Young finished the game with 10 strikeouts.

"The change up was working well, but I was had to find my groove. My defense played great today, it was a good team win and they had my back," said Jaci Young.

In the top of the fifth, Maryknoll got on the scoreboard first. Tamia Hirano got onto first after Sarah Sumida mishandled the ball. Hirano managed to steal third base, but was initially called out by the third base umpire. Maryknoll argued that the third baseman did not have possession of the ball as Hirano was tagged out. After a discussion, the head umpire ruled her safe. Hirano would then score a run off an RBI from Bree Soma and Daryane Domen, a pinch runner for Mylee Enos, moved to third. Domen then scored, giving the Lady Spartans a 2-0 lead.

"Bree Soma had that hit and that was critical to start. The bobble was something that I didn't notice, but one of our coaches picked it up and it started our rally," said Maryknoll Coach John Uekawa. "All it takes is a little bit. You have to give Punahou a lot of credit, for us to score 2 runs and for them to come back with 5 is something."

Punahou found a spark in the bottom of the fifth to score 5 runs of their own. To start it off, Heaven Wong hit a single to the center. Thalen Masada then brought Wong home with an RBI.

Masada and Sarah Buck added two more runs off of Maryknoll errors. Arianna Hashimoto hit a 2RBI double that brought in Astra Kidani and Paige Kawai (courtesy runner for Young).

"It was great and it showed how much this team wanted it. Maryknoll kept fighting back and we had to keep fighting back along with them," said Young.

"Just a few errors that we created and it built a lot of momentum for Punahou and they did a great job," said Uekawa.

Maryknoll scored another run to make it 5-3 in the sixth inning as Kasey Magdadaro hit an RBI double to bring in Erica Inagaki, who collided with Punahou catcher Kylie Popovich. The home plate umpire counted the run because it was an obstruction by the catcher. However, the Lady Spartans could not get any closer as the Buffanblu closed them out in the top of the seventh inning.

With the victory, Punahou makes a return to the state tournament for the fourth straight year.

"It's great, it was our goal but the journey is not over yet. It's junk that it came down to this game because Maryknoll is a great team," said Young.

"It means a lot, especially since it's our fourth year in a row and for me I've been here a while and we haven't had a team that goes to states four years in a row," said Freitas.

Maryknoll ends their season at 13-5, but Coach John Uekawa was proud of his team.

"The most games we ever won before in a season was 9 and this season we won 13, the most ever. It establishes a foundation for us to overachieve. We worked so hard to win all these games and over a period of time it built confidence that they could win games," said Uekawa.

"Maryknoll is a tough team to play because of the fact that they are well coached. John (Uekawa) has done a fantastic job and they are fortunate to have him as their coach," said Freitas.