Campbell outlasts Punahou to advance, 4-2


Campbell punched the final ticket of the evening into the DataHouse Division I State Softball Championship semifinals, holding a potent Punahou offense to just four hits en route to a 4-2 victory.

The Buffanblu took control early on, capitalizing on back-to-back walks of Reina Furuya and Mysha Sataraka via a Kylie Popovich single that brought home Furuya for the game's first run. Sataraka would be tagged out at the plate trying to score to end the inning.

Punahou starter Jaci Young would hold the Sabers scoreless for three complete, but Campbell would rally in the fourth. Daylene Antonio would reach first safely on a bunt attempt when the throw to first sailed high, allowing Taylor Ho'ohuli to score the tying run.

"The bunt (by Antonio) was a turning point for us, when she threw the ball away, and the momentum changed to our side." said Campbell head coach Shag Hermosura.

Later in the inning, Abbygayle Doldolea would take ball four on a wild pitch, allowing Antonio to score, and Doldolea to move over to second. She would later come home to score the third run of the inning on a clutch two-out single by Jessica Arata just out of the reach of the shortstop.

Not out of the game by any means, Punahou would respond in a big way in the top of the fifth, as Reina Furuya would mash a shot well over the fence in left center for a mammoth home run, trimming the Campbell lead to just one.

Young would hold Campbell scoreless in the fifth, as would Konohia to the Puns in the sixth.

But in the bottom of the sixth, it would be Antonio once again providing a spark, adding a much-needed insurance run with a solo shot to nearly straight away center, giving the Sabers' a 4-2 advantage heading into the top of the seventh.

"He told me just to look down and keep my head in, so I just focused, and the ball hit the bat and it was good feeling." said Antonio.

Punahou would load the bases to  make things very interesting in the seventh, but the Campbell defense would make a number of key stops, including a force out at home plate to prevent a Buffanblu run, to preserve the win.

"They (the Campbell defense) backed me up... all I was thinking was how bad I wanted it (to win), and also our team, that we've come this far to let it go like this." added Konohia.

Campbell will play Kamehameha, a runaway winner over Lahainaluna in earlier quarterfinal action, in a 5:00 p.m. game tomorrow back at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

SL intern Brandon Ching contributed to this story.


Reach Brien Ing at [email protected].