---

WAIPIO-It might be the middle of spring, but it was summer fun for the defending state champion Campbell Sabers.

Sophomore right-hander Summer Palipti pitched back-to-back complete games and drove in eight runs in a doubleheader sweep of Pearl City, 6-1 and 7-1, Saturday night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West softball at Patsy Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

The Sabers (5-1) share first place in the West with Wai'anae (5-1).

Palipti pitched a two-hitter in the opener and a three-hitter before an OC 16 state-wide telecast. She batted 6 for 8 in the two games, going 3 for 4 in each. She hit a grand slam in the nightcap and lined a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the opener.

"The thing about Summer is that she's a game player," Campbell coach David Perreira said. "Game time, she's focused, she's ready, she plays hard, she plays with an attitude. She has that swag in her. She wants to be better than the next person. She's going to give her all."

As a freshman, Palipti was on the other end of the battery as catcher for 2010 state player of the year Katie Manuma, a freshman pitcher at Brigham Young. Palipti couldn't get any closer to learning from the best.

"I learned a lot from her," Palipti said of Manuma.

"They jelled pretty well last year," Perreira added. "She learned a lot from Katie and her intensity on the mound, the focus. Summer is bringing the same thing. She struggled at the beginning, hitting her spots, but she did a heck of a job today."

Walks were the only issue for Palipti. In the opener, she retired the first nine batters she faced before allowing two walks in the fourth and paid for it on Sierra Tadiarca's RBI single.

In the nightcap, Palipti allowed a lead-off walk to Joe-Ann Rapoza, who stole second, went to third on Tiari Walker's single to short and scored on Sella Rodriguez's squeeze.

"She pitched well," Pearl City coach Keoke Behic said of Palipti. "She got us out when she had to."

In the opener, the visiting Sabers jumped on Pearl City starting pitcher Sella Rodriguez for three runs in the first inning. Sharae Esprecion reached on a two-base error, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Palipti's infield single. An out later, Nicole Arata followed with an RBI triple to left-center and scored on Daylene Antonio's single to left.

Palipti's RBI single in the second increased Campbell's lead to 4-0 before the Chargers scored in the fourth.

Palipti cushioned her lead in the sixth with her two-out, two-run inside the park homer.

In the second game, an error again paved the way for the Sabers to score first.

Antonio reached on a two-base error, went to third on Desiree Dayton's bunt single. Collete Black ripped what appeared to be a line single to center, but her hit was so hard that center fielder Sierra Mendiola was able to force Dayton out at second, as pinch runner Jessica Arata scored. Another error later in the inning scored Black to make it 2-0.

The Sabers added a run in the third. Palipti led off with a single and her courtesy runner Jaycelyn Kim eventually scored on Antonio's infield single.

Pearl City got a run in the top of the fifth to cut its deficit to 3-1. But Palipti's grand slam in the bottom of the sixth sealed it for the Sabers.

Antonio was 4 for 6 with two RBI in the doubleheader for the Sabers. Black was 3 for 6, while Tiana Rosario was 2 for 4 with two walks. Esprecion was 2 for 6 with a walk, steal and sacrifice.