Two costly errors led to a big inning and a deep hole, and Kamehameha-Hawaii’s softball team tried to erase it all with some late-inning heroics. But the Warriors’ bid for a 16th consecutive victory came up one base hit short at Maui’s Patsy Mink Field.
Kauai’s Karlyee Malapit highlighted a five-run third inning with a two-run single, and the Red Raiders held on for an 8-7 win Wednesday in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state quarterfinals.
The victory landed Kauai (9-5) in today’s state semifinals, where it will take on Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Nanakuli (13-1) at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, Kamehameha (16-2) will face Big Island Interscholastic Federation No. 3 seed Kohala (8-11) at 3 p.m. today in the fifth-place bracket semifinals.
The BIIF champion Warriors whittled down a four-run deficit to one and had the tying run on base in the seventh. Janell Cameros’ single moved Jaylen Shiroma to third base with two outs, but Kauai reliever Courtney Laamea retired Namele Naipo-Arsiga on a groundout to second base to end the game.
Laamea pitched five innings in relief of Kailee Nii to get the win. She allowed three runs on four hits, striking out one and walking three.
The Red Raiders established enough of a cushion to sustain the Warriors’ rally with their big third inning. A throwing error allowed Kauai to tie the game, and a fielding error gave the Red Raiders a 5-4 lead. An RBI single by Aleigh Scovel and Malapit’s two-run single made it 8-4.
Malapit and Kyana Hirokane drove in two runs apiece for Kauai while Kirra Jaquias went 2-for-4.
Kamehameha pulled within one in the bottom of the fifth on three consecutive hits: doubles from Gayla Ha-Cabebe and Mykala Tokunaga and a single by Shiroma, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Ha-Cabebe, who drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to cap the scoring, was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
In the circle, Tokunaga went the distance, giving up eight runs on nine hits. She struck out three and walked four.
Kauai 125 000 — 8 9 2
KS-Hawaii 220 021 — 7 9 2
c Nanakuli 13, Kohala 2: Chyanne Koko pitched five no-hit innings in the circle, and she was one of five different batters who drove in two runs for the Golden Hawks, who piled up 14 hits.
Koko struck out four and walked two before giving way to Emma Kawaiaea, who gave up two runs on two hits in two innings. She struck out four.
Kawaiaea led OIA champion Nanakuli at the plate, going 3-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBIs. Raynette Kahalehoe-Meyers, Precious Paulo-Meyers and Amy Vitale also drove in two runs.
Alexis Paulo-Meyers, Precious Paulo-Meyers and Koko each had two hits.
Ashlyn Van Zandt went the distance in the circle for Kohala. She gave up 13 runs on 14 hits, striking out one and walking one.
At the plate, Van Zandt had an RBI single in the seventh inning, and Kyrah Sol had a run-scoring single in the sixth.
Nanakuli 303 004 3 — 13 14 5
Kohala 000 001 1 — 2 2 5
c Kaiser 17, Konawaena 6:Rainelle Matsuoka went 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and five RBIs, and Kyra Hoohuli-Enanoria finished 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs for the Cougars, who collected 18 hits in ending the Wildcats’ season.
The contest ended after six innings because of the HHSAA’s 10-run mercy rule.
OIA runner-up Kaiser (14-2) advanced to Friday’s noon seventh-place game, where they will play the winner of today’s 11 a.m. consolation bracket game between Maui Interscholastic League runner-up Hana (6-5) and OIA No. 4 seed McKinley (9-7).
The Cougars jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first behind Matsuoka’s two-run homer and a two-run single by Lesieli Aholelei.
BIIF runner-up Konawaena (9-9) stayed in contention, getting a two-run single by Chrysa Dacalio that made it 10-4 in the bottom of the fourth.
But Kaiser pulled away in the top of the fifth as Hoohuli-Enanoria blasted a three-run homer that capped a four-run fifth inning.
Ahead of Matsuoka in the lineup, leadoff hitter Chelsea Soong went 3-for-4, and Kai Hasegawa was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Both players scored three runs.
Kaiser starting pitcher Crystal Ching-Lake lasted 4 2/3 innings to get the win. She allowed six runs on 11 hits, striking out two and walking none.
Konawaena’s Shyla Victor went the distance in taking the loss. She gave up 17 runs on 18 hits, striking out one and walking three.
Dacalio led the Wildcats (9-9) at the plate, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs. She also had a two-run single in the fifth inning.
Victor and Bethany Batangan both went 2-for-4 for Konawaena, which had 13 hits in the contest.
Kaiser 610 343 — 17 18 6 Konawaena 002 220 — 6 13 3
