ILH Softball
No. 4 Punahou prevails past No. 6 Maryknoll, 13-9


  



Sat, Mar 25, 2017 @ [ 10:00 am ]


FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Punahou 3 00043313143
Maryknoll 2 0 10204973

W: Bailey Akimseu    L: Kahilu McNicoll

MS: Logan Carlos 1-2 3 runs 2 rbi HR; Kahilu McNicoll 6.0 IP 8 ER 8 K
PUN: D'Asha Saiki 3-5 3 runs 6 rbi dbl 2 HR; Bailey Akimseu 7.0 IP 6 ER


SAND ISLAND — Punahou (4-3) pounded the ball and finished strong to prevail past Maryknoll (4-4), 13-9 in Saturday's Interscholastic League of Hawaii Division I softball matchup at Sand Island field.

The Buffanblu combined for 14 hits led by D'Asha Saiki's 3-for-5 day with six runs batted in on a two-run double, a solo home run and a three-run jacked shot.

Starting pitcher Bailey Akimseu helped her own cause by also contributing with a 3-for-5 day on three RBIs from two doubles. On the rubber, she let up seven hits, nine runs and eight walks with only one strikeout.

The game was tied at three run after four innings, but that's when team depth began to become the ultimate factor.

Maryknoll pitcher Kahilu McNicoll again got the nod on the mound after having pitched two complete games in the previous three days. Already short-handed, the Spartans' bullpen took a big hit in the first inning when third baseman Sydney Kamakaiwi ate a hard shot to the head off of Janell Sato's line drive to the hot corner.

Kamakaiwi was the only pitcher other than McNicoll to have any innings of work in the regular season thus far for the Spartans. She was taken to the hospital where it was determined no concussion or bone fractures were sustained.

McNicoll started the game by allowing three Punahou batters to reach home, but then re-grouped and recorded the next five outs on three strikes. She was virtually lights out until the top of the fifth inning when a lead-off walk followed by a pair of back-to-back doubles and back-to-back singles brought four runs in for the Buffanblu.

The Spartans battled back, bringing in two runs off of Nohea Hee's double to left centerfield.

Punahou teammates celebrate with sophomore third baseman D'Asha Saiki after she launched one of two home runs on the day. Steve Erler | SL    Purchase image

Leading off the top of the sixth inning, Saiki took a 2-0 count and launched the next pitch to deep centerfield for a solo shot to put Punahou up 8-5, and to cause Maryknoll to bring in Kaylah Santos to the mound.

Santos gave up three singles for two more runs in the inning, and then a three-run home run in the seventh inning before McNicoll was brought back onto the rubber.

"[McNicoll] throws at least 110–120 pitches a game and it takes a toll on her. We were prepared to platoon, and [Kamakaiwi's injury] took us out of a little complex," Maryknoll coach John Uekawa said of the pitching change. "We just wanted to get a change in pace. I think Kaylah did the best she could, given the conditions."

On the other side, Punahou's depth allowed the Buffanblu to pull through and remain relatively fresh.

Earlier in the week, they were without Akimseu so they relied on pitchers No. 2–4 in Briahni Alejo, Kennedy Ishii and Jolie Fujita. For today's game, Alejo and Ishii were unavailable, but they did have a well-rested No. 1 pitcher in Akimseu.

Going into the final frame, the Buffanblu had an eight-run cushion to work with, but the Spartans came out firing. Logan Carlos started with a lead-off shot over the left centerfield fence, followed by a pair of singles, a few walks and some wild pitches, it was suddenly a four-run game with only one out.

But Akimseu held strong and in between walks, she was able to get early swings in the count to end the game with a fly out and a groundout.

"The one thing that's been really great is her maturity and her wanting," Punahou coach Bob Makahilahila said of his starting pitcher. "She said, ‘I want to finish the game.' We had no thoughts of taking her out because she wanted to do it. The more she's successful, the more we're going to be successful."

For the Spartans, it was a good battle late in the game, but it was just a little too late.

"The key to it all is we have to understand how to play without fear," Uekawa said. "When we're down 8–10 runs, there's no fear. We come out with no ambitions like, ‘I'm just going to swing as hard as I can.' We did that the first four games."

Both teams will have at least a full week of rest until their next games. Punahou plays Kamehameha on April 1, and Maryknoll plays Pac-Five on April 5.



Reach Spencer Honda at [email protected].




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