KAPOLEI — The second-ranked Kapolei softball team rolled to its third consecutive win with an impressive display of power Thursday.

Cira Bartolotti belted two of her team's four two-run home runs to back her own complete-game pitching effort as the host Hurricanes pulled away from fourth-ranked Pearl City in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I West game, 11-6.

Kapolei captured its fifth win in its last six games to improve to 7-3 on the season, while Pearl City fell to 5-3.

The Chargers took their first loss since March 13 to end a three-game win streak.

Five of the ‘Canes 12 base hits went for extra bases, including four home runs from three different players. In addition to Bartolotti's pair of homers, Kayli Nakoa and Lili Kaimi-Montira also cranked two-run shots over the fence.

It was the third time Kapolei scored double-digit runs this season — the last time coming in an 11-3 win over then-No. 1 Campbell last Thursday.

"We worked on our offensive approach really, really hard and just like the game against Campbell, we had a very specific plan coming into the game and we executed that plan to the 'T' actually. I was really happy about our approach today," Hurricanes' coach Keoke Behic said.

Bartolotti, Nakoa and Ciena Kauhi each went 3 for 4 at the plate.

The game served as revenge for Kapolei, which dropped the first-round meeting against Pearl City back on March 10 by a score of 12-7.

"The first time that we played them — obviously the left side of their infield is their best and the shortstop, (Cheyne) Obara, is probably one of the better shortstops in the league — so their plan was to pitch so that we hit to her and so our approach (today) was to back up in the dish, make the inside pitch down the middle and work up the middle (and the) opposite way, so that was our approach," Behic said.

In addition to their hot hitting Thursday, the Hurricanes also played much better defensively than the first time around against the Chargers when they committed three errors. Eight of the 12 runs allowed by Bartolotti in that loss were unearned.

"This was a lot better than the last game," Bartolotti said. "I think it was just a rough game for the whole team the last game, but this time, we came together as one and just wanted to win."

However, Bartolotti and the ‘Canes got off to a shaky start Thursday.

Pearl City took an early 3-0 lead on a solo home run by Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi and a two-run homer by Alexas Presto-Ahsing in the top of the first inning.

"The first inning I was just struggling hitting spots, so when the second inning came I was just more focused in on hitting spots and trying to get the ball where it needed to go," said Bartolotti, who set the visitors down in order in the top of the second.

Kapolei pulled ahead on a pair of swings in the bottom of the frame. Lisa Takenaka drew a leadoff walk before the right handed Bartolotti helped her own cause by taking a 3-1 pitch to the opposite field and over the fence.
Four batters later, Kiley Ozaki plated Kawena Hussey and Ciena Kauhi with her two-out single to right field to give her team a one run lead.

The Chargers pulled even at 4 on Presto-Ahsing's RBI-sacrifice fly in the top of the third to score Alyssa Okada, but the ‘Canes struck for four more runs in the next half-inning to reclaim the lead.

After Takenaka reached on a fielder's choice, Bartolotti crushed a 2-2 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field to break the tie.

"It was middle-inside pitch and it was just a good pitch to hit," Bartolotti said.

Two batters later, Kaimi-Montira pummeled the first pitch from Pearl City pitcher Maiyah Faleafine-Lesu over the center field fence and Kapolei held an 8-4 advantage after three complete innings.