Team Armada poses for a team picture after defeating Team Leaf to win the 9th annual New City Nissan Goodwill Classic title. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Erica Inagaki makes contact with the ball in the 2013 New City Nissan Softball Classic. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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WAIPIO --Team Armada won the 9th annual New City Nissan Goodwill Softball Classic after routing Team Leaf, 13-4 at Patsy T. Mink Central O’ahu Regional Park on Sunday night. The four teams were comprised of players from the O’ahu Interscholastic Association Red and White and the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I and II and most of the O’ahu schools had at least one representative. Regardless of the outcomes from both games, everyone from coaches to players had a great time and it was a great opportunity to meet new people. 

“This is an awesome opportunity and I’m really appreciative I could be a part of this and being the only one from Castle is super awesome. It was really great to meet the people on my team especially and we jelled really well and the first day we were a little shy and after that we came together and it felt like we were practicing with each other year-round,” said Team Armada’s Chelsie Kam-Aweau, who hasn’t decided on a school but wants to study sports medicine. 

Armada pounded out 17 hits and scored 10 of their 14 runs in the first two innings. Chenoa Au (Leilehua) went 4 for 5, a double, three runs and Rachel Dumlao (Kamehameha) went 2 for 2, two runs and 4 RBI. 

“I wish there were more teams so every senior could get this opportunity to meet new people and to go all-out for your last time,” said Au, who plans on going to the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and hopes to play softball for the Warriors. 

In the top of the first, Leaf scored first after Chrissi Omalza (Moanalua) hit an RBI single to bring in Stacia Al-Mahoe (Kapolei). 

“It was really fun and enjoyed myself and made a lot of new friends and being able to relax after a stressful season. I think the whole ILH side, I made a lot of friends from the the ILH,” said Omalza, who signed with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. 

In the bottom of the first Armada responded with four runs. Erica Inagaki (Maryknoll) brought in Brielle Asato (‘Iolani). Rachel Dumlao (Kamehameha) had a 2 RBI single to score Chenoa Au and Inagaki and Paige Salave’a hit a RBI single to score Dumlao. 

In the top of the third, Omalza drove in her second RBI of the game to bring in Sarah Onishi. Onishi went 3 for 4, a double, 3 RBI and a run. 

The bats came alive for Armada as they scored six runs on nine hits. Jadeen Sakauye hit a double to get on base and came in on Asato’s RBI single. Alyana Aipia (Kahuku) scored off a walk and Dumlao had a 2 RBI single to add two more runs to make it, 10-1. 

“I don’t even know, I saw the ball coming and I just went for it, it was a awesome catch,” said Kam-Aweau, on her diving catch at short stop in the top of the fifth. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Seplynn Aikau (Kaimuki) reached on an error and came in to score on Inagaki’s ground out to third. 

Onishi drove in a 2 RBI single to centerfield for Leaf to score Anuhea Silva (Anuenue) and Jayna Wakatake (Kalani) to make it 12-4. Armada added another run after Aiyana Aipia (Kahuku) brought in Chyanne Koko (Nanakuli) after she hit an RBI single. 

Team Titan takes down Team Rogue, 10-5, for third

Team Titan took third-place after knocking off Team Rogue, 10-5. Titan scored four runs in the third and fourth inning and churned out 12 hits for the game. Lauren Tauanu’u of Waianae and Leisha Yamauchi of Moanalua each had home runs. 

Tauanu’u went 1 for 2, a home run and three runs and Yamauchi went 2 for 5, a home run and 4 RBI. 

“It feels good to be selected and I like to play for my community and school and it’s such an honor. I honestly didn’t think I would be this close with them and I’m glad this Nissan tournament brought us close and I’m glad they’re on my team,” said Tauanu’u, who plans to play at Eastern Arizona for two years and plans on transferring to Arizona State. 

In the top of the third, Titan scored four runs and Lauren Taunanu’u (Wai’anae) hit a home run over the left field fence. Makana Kekaulike (Pearl City) added her second run. 

“This is a really amazing opportunity to meet girls you’re competing against and girls you never would’ve thought you’d be friends with,” said Amber Popovich (Punahou), who plans on playing softball at the University of Puget Sound. When asked who she got to know better as people, Popovich replied, “Kawehi Kahana (Campbell), Lauren Tauanu’u, Lindsey Matoi (Mid-Pacific) and this tournament really let us get to know each other better to make friends from different schools.” 

In the bottom of the third, Rogue’s Cynne Fernandez (Moanalua) drove in an RBI single to bring in Robi Kami (Pearl City). Lynnelle Nakata hit an RBI single to score Fernandez. 

In the top of the fourth, Titan added four more runs to make it, 9-2 after Leisha Yamauchi (Moanalua) hit a home run over the left field fence. 

“A lot of the private school girls like Amber (Popovich). Also Leisha Yamauchi, I would see her around but never got close to her until this tournament and I’m thankful for this and made new friends,” said Tauanu’u, when asked about teammates she befriended. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Yamauchi had an RBI single to bring in Tauanu’u to make it 10-2 and in the bottom of the fifth, Karly Macadangdang (Mililani) scored off of Fernandez’s sacrifice fly. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Kulia Kaowili (Kahuku) had a 2 RBI double to bring in two runs for Team Rogue. 

“It was amazing to play with everyone from all over the island, even the ILH and it was a blessing to have an opportunity the coaches gave me and I had a great time. Before we were all about competition and to find out we can play and work together and become close friends, it was amazing,” said Kaowili, who plans on attending a junior college.