Kapolei uses long ball to storm past Mililani in OIA opener

Brian Bautista | SL

Led by a pair of home runs by Puakea Milbourne, Kapolei opened their 2022 league campaign with a come-from-behind victory over Mililani.

Milbourne opened the game's scoring with a two-run shot in the top of the first, and gave the Hurricanes the lead back with another two-run homer in the top of the sixth.

"I had an 0 and 2 count and we have a two-strike approach I just told myself I gotta hit this ball, anything close, you gotta hit it," explained Milbourne. "So I just made contact and I was running base like yeah let's go!"

Through four complete, it looked like the Trojans were poised for the win, tying the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, then three runs in the second and third.

During that stretch, the Trojans rapped out eight hits, three of them doubles. Two of those two-base hits came off the bat of Taryn Hirano, who finished the afternoon 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, but the hot bats for the Trojans eventually cooled.

All the while, the Hurricanes kept both composure and more importantly positivity, a mindset that paid dividends in the back third of the game, where Kapolei scored the final eight runs, while Mililani was held to just a pair of singles and walk in the final three innings.

"Its all starts with the team, they hype me up, they keep the energy up and they all have my back like I have theirs," said Milbourne.

Lead in hand heading into the top of the seventh, it was only fitting that the icing on the cake for the Hurricanes come in the form of yet another long ball, this one a shot to center by Alewa Ena, to make the count 10-8 in favor of the visitors.

Mililani was down to its final out in the bottom of the seventh when Makalya Pagampao laced a single down the left field line, her third base hit of the afternoon, getting a run on and a potential tying run at the plate.

But Jerzie Liana, who came on in relief with two outs in the first, got the final out on a ball hit weakly down the first base line to end it.

Liana went 6 2/3 innings to earn the win, allowing six runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking two. She also helped her own cause at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a double and three runs scored.