Iolani players celebrate after Robi Kodama crosses home plate to score the winning run for the Raiders. Evan Asato | SL

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Iolani's Taylor Garcia-Perreira throws a pitch to the plate against Punaohu. Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou's Amber Popovich makes a diving catch in right field for the Buffanblu. Evan Asato | SL

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Iolani's Cassie Ho hits a walk-off double to win the game for the Raiders Evan Asato | SL

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Iolani players celebrate after Robi Kodama crosses home plate to score the winning run for the Raiders. Evan Asato | SL

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ALA WAI – There will be a new state champion in Division I softball this season.

Cassie Ho’s walk-off double lifted ‘Iolani over defending state champion Punahou, 5-4, in a Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I postseason tournament game at Ala Wai Field Wednesday afternoon. The Raiders advances to face No. 4 Maryknoll tomorrow for the third and final ILH berth into the 12-team state tournament. 

“Very relieved; it means we get to play one more game,” said ‘Iolani coach Corey Okamura after the game. “I’m happy for the seniors. This senior class has worked really hard. This at least gives them an opportunity to qualify for states. I think Punahou ended our season the last two years so it’s nice to finally get the monkey off our back.”

With the win the Raiders improve their record to 10-5. Punahou’s season concludes with a 7-8 record.

“Tough loss, but based on our season and the ups and downs that we had, I was really proud of our girls,” said Punahou coach Bob Makahilahila. “I keep trying to tell people that this team is a young team. They’re still trying to learn how to clutch up and how to play the game. I’m happy for the future from the standpoint of the opportunities. I’m sorry for the seniors as they leave, but it was a big season overall.” 

Although ‘Iolani had Punahou’s number in the last game between the two teams – 7-1 victory on April 16 – this meeting wouldn’t be as clean as it could have been. The Raiders did themselves no favors in the match, committing five errors to leave the door open for Punahou.

“Credit to Punahou for putting the ball in play, but we prolonged the innings too many times. When you do that something is going to give,” lamented Okamura. “We feel fortunate that we were able to pull it out. We made too many errors today. We were lucky to clutch up in the last inning to pull it off.”

The Raiders’ defensive breakdowns overshadowed a decent game from starting pitcher Taylor Garcia-Perreira in 6 2/3 innings of work. The senior ace picked up her sixth win of the season with three strikeouts. Garcia-Perreira also was responsible for giving ‘Iolani an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. 

“(Even though) we had a couple errors in the beginning, we did a good job of not letting it defeat us and we found a way to come back even though it took us all the way to the last inning.”

‘Iolani was able to push their opening lead to three in the bottom of the second thanks to a fielding error on Punahou shortstop Krystin Wong. This allowed Lindsay Teruya to come home safely and let Brielle Asato reach first base.

The third inning saw both teams’ early fortunes reversed. Punahou’s Paige Kawai was able to get the Buffanblu on the scoreboard thanks to two ‘Iolani errors. Kawai was able to get on first after the ball popped out of Teruya’s glove, and would come in to score after the ball came out of Alyssa Espiritu’s glove on her attempt to tag Kawai at home. 

Punahou added another run in the third with Elyse Nakamoto bringing Zoe Hernandez home to make trim the lead to one, 3-2. 

‘Iolani added a run on a Buffanblu error in the fourth, but the defending state champs came right back, scoring a run in each of the next two innings to make it a 4-all tie game.

The Raiders finally were able to pull out the victory in walk-off fashion thanks to back-to-back hits from the Raiders’ batterymates.  After Garcia-Perreira doubled to left, Ho, the Raiders’ sophomore catcher, sealed the game on her hopper down the left foul line. 

“The thing that made me the most proud was that my team had my back,” said Ho. “That really helped me to push myself to have the confidence to step up on the plate, and for that I’m truly grateful. 

“My heart was racing when it got really close, but I knew deep down inside that we had it. I knew that our team had it in us because of our confidence in one another.”

‘Iolani will face Maryknoll tomorrow, 4:00 p.m. at Sand Island Field. The winner of that game will join Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific as the three teams representing the ILH in the 2014 DateHouse Division I Softball Championships.