Mid-Pacific rallies past Punahou in extra innings, 3-2


Mid-Pacific's Keiki Carlos hits the game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth inning against Punahou. Brien Ing | SL
Keiki Carlos hit a walk-off single in the eighth inning to help Mid-Pacific complete a late-inning comeback, rallying the Owls past Punahou in eight innings, 3-2.

"She (Carlos) was hitting the ball hard all night... and (Punahou shortstop Mysha Sataraka) stopped that line drive the at-bat before, so she was hitting the ball well and it was fortunate that we had her in that situation." said Mid-Pacific head coach Willie Quinn.

Punahou would open up the scoring in the first inning on Sataraka's two-out home run to give the Buffablu a 1-0 advantage, but the Owls would respond in the bottom of the inning, tying the score at 1-all on Nicole Lopez's single up the middle that scored Tasi Docktor.

The game would remain tied through four innings, as both teams would display some great pitching, as well as some excellent defense, behind each of the teams' starters, Carlos for the Owls and Jaci Young for the Buffanblu.

"She (Jaci Young) can place her ball and she's got good movement on it and just kept our batters off-balance." added Quinn.

In the top of the fifth inning, Punahou would open up with a runner on first follwing a beaned batter, and a bunt single by Sara Sumida would advance Reina Furuya into scoring position. Young would then draw a walk to load the bases.

Vanessa Va'a would then hit a shot up the middle that was mishandled, allowing Furuya to come in to score the go-ahead run.

Punahou would continue to hold Mid-Pac to a 2-1 advantage until the last of the seventh, and got the first out when Kaylin Okuma reached out to grab a deep fly ball hit by Mid-Pacific's Lopez.

Jordan Joy would bat next for the Owls, and would beat out a throw to first for an infield single, but would injure her left ankle on the play.

"I give credit to Jordan who ran out the ball, and beat the throw at first and that's what started it, so I call her my MVP today." said Quinn.

Kayla Au would come in to pinch run for Joy, and would score the tying run on a shot down the third base line by Kylie Oeda that would ricochet off of the third baseman and fall between third base and the shortshop.

The Owls would hold Punahou in the top of the eighth, and would open the bottom of the inning with a big hit from Lindsey Matoi, who would double to right center to get things going. Docktor would then follow with a bunt single to move Matoi to third with no outs and Carlos up.

After taking a few pitches early in the count, Carlos would turn on a Young offering, ripping a shot down the third base line for the game winner.

"I just thought about seeing it, and that it was just like practice, so just to drive it... I just relaxed and once I got a hold of it, I saw it go past the third baseman." said Carlos of her game winning hit.


Reach Brien Ing at [email protected].