HONOLULU — Hilo came a day early to scout and get a feel of the different level of competition, but the butterflies still showed up and translated into costly errors and a lopsided mercy-rule loss.
The Vikings committed nine errors, giving up unearned runs in bunches and falling to Kapolei 14-0 in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I state quarterfinals Thursday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
It was Hilo’s first state tournament game since 2009, and a level of comfort never entered the neighborhood for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion.
“It’s the first time we’ve made nine errors,” Hilo coach Leo Sing Chow said. “Our team didn’t show up and didn’t have the right mindset. We couldn’t find a way to get that back. The hardest part is our team is good at coming back. I’m pretty sure most of the girls were nervous.
“We came here a day earlier to watch games and saw that it’s a different level of play. But we felt we’re just as good, but the nerves got to them.”
The Vikings (13-5) will play Mid-Pacific/Waianae at 9 a.m. today in the fifth-place bracket semifinals. The winner will advance to Saturday’s 11 a.m. fifth-place game.
Kapolei (14-3), the Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up, scored three unearned runs on two hits in the first inning, taking advantage of three errors. Then the self-induced mistakes hung around all game long like a pesky virus.
It took a toll on senior right-hander Ashlyn Kaneshiro’s pitching line. She allowed 14 runs — seven earned — on 13 hits. She walked three and struck out none.
Kapolei also hit the ball hard, pounding eight extra-base hits. Aimee Aipa had the biggest highlight, cranking a two-run homer over the center-field fence. The No. 9 batter was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
The Hurricanes’ Kacee Navarro fired a two-hitter, walking one and striking out eight. She stranded two on base and finished strong, retiring the final three batters — the last two on strikeouts.
The Vikings’ Aliesa Kaneshiro was 1-for-1, with a walk, and Shyanne Higa-Gonsalves went 1-for-2, a small measure of success for Hilo’s offense.
“We didn’t come out hard like we usually do,” Kaneshiro said. “We were nervous. I think we could have done better.”
Hilo’s loss continues a trend of BIIF teams falling at states. The league is 0-for-9 at the Division I state tournament since 2010. On Saturday, Moanalua, the OIA’s No. 6 team, pummeled Keaau 13-0 in a state play-in game.
Kapolei 301 55 — 14 13 0
Hilo 000 00 — 0 2 9
Division II
c Kohala 6, Honokaa 2: Freshman Ashlyn Van Zandt went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored at Central Oahu Regional Park as the BIIF runner-up Cowgirls advanced to the HHSAA Division II tournament’s seventh-place game.
Senior Jordelle Antonio also drove in two runs, and senior Chyler Imai picked up the win for Kohala (11-5), which will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Saint Francis (8-10) at 7 p.m. today.
Sophomore Hailey Paglinawan suffered the loss for BIIF No. 3 seed Honokaa, which ended its season (8-9).
The contest ended after six innings because of time restraints.
No further information was available at press time.
Honokaa 002 000 — 2 4 4
Kohala 120 201 — 6 7 1
cKauai 12, Kamehameha-Hawaii 2: Senior Daeja Cummings went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs at CORP, leading Kauai Interscholastic Federation runner-up Kauai into the Division II state semifinals.
Junior Kyana Hirokane was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and junior Kaa Laamea earned the victory for the Red Raiders (8-6), who will play OIA champion Nanakuli (10-5) at 1 p.m. today at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Freshman Karlyee Malapit was 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
Senior Kiani Wong suffered the loss the BIIF champions Warriors (8-10), who will face OIA No. 4 seed Waialua in a 5 p.m. fifth-place bracket semifinal at CORP.
The contest ended after six innings because of the state’s 10-run mercy rule.
KS-Hawaii 000 110 — 2 4 0
Kauai 302 142 — 12 12 0
