Waipahu pounces on Aiea early to pull even in OIA D2 standings

Brian Bautista | SL

Logan Chun batted 2 for 2 with a triple and drove in three runs to help Waipahu beat visiting Aiea 7-2 in a Division II softball game Thursday afternoon.

The result pulled the Marauders (4-1) into a tie for second place with Na Alii (4-1) in the Oahu Interscholastic Association D2 standings. Both teams are one game behind first-place Nanakuli (5-0).

Waipahu posted three runs in the bottom of the first inning and extended its lead to 6-0 after three complete innings. Both of Aiea's runs were scored in the top of the fifth, before the hosts added an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth.

Kristy Kitabayashi (2 for 3, walk, three stolen bases) also paired hits for the Marauders, who worked six walks off of Aiea pitching. Syan Yamamoto (1 for 2, RBI, three stolen bases) and Taylor Fukunaga each walked twice and scored as many times.

Fukunaga, who batted fifth in the Waipahu lineup, went the distance in the circle. She struck out nine Na Alii and walked three. Fukunaga surrendered four hits over her seven innings of work; both Aiea runs were unearned.

Kiersten Chong led Aiea at the plate with her 2-for-4 day. The leadoff batter's double was her team's lone extra-base hit; she also scored one of their two runs. Alina Faufata was responsible for the other run driven in for Na Alii.

Cayleigh Naito was the charged with the loss after she gave up six runs (five earned) in three innings pitched, before Taja Souza allowed one run over three innings of relief.

The teams will meet again on Apr. 15, at Aiea.

Waipahu will visit Waialua and Aiea will host Kalaheo Saturday. Both games are scheduled to start at 10 a.m.