KEALAKEKUA — It took an extra inning, but Konawaena outlasted crosstown rival Kealakehe 9-8 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation interdivisional softball game at Gabby Inaba Field Friday.
The Wildcats (3-2) tallied 23 hits, led by Kaila Kaupe Deleon, who was 5-for-5, with a double and a triple.
Bethany Batangan recorded the win, going seven innings and striking out three. Kelina Palmer-Kahananui took the complete game loss for the Waveriders (2-3).
“It was pretty intense,” Konawaena senior captain Teryn Pua Ubando said. “It was up and up the whole time and both teams brought it.”
After starting the season on a two-game winning streak — including a hard fought win against defending BIIF Division II champion Kamehameha on March 11 — the Wildcats had dropped two straight. In a tight Division II race, the team was in need of a boost.
“We were coming off a loss in our previous game, so we wanted this one real bad,” Ubando said. “We needed to pick ourselves back up, and I think we did.”
With the loss, Kealakehe now sits at the back of the stacked Division I standings.
“The girls know each other well, so this rivalry is always fun, but today we had too many errors. You cannot win like that,” Kealakehe skipper Wesley Takimoto said. “After today’s loss we know we are going to be working and jostling for playoff position.”
The Waveriders earned an early lead with timely hitting and by capitalizing on Konawaena fielding gaffs. After two consecutive walks to start the game, the runners stole their way into scoring position. The scoring concluded with Breanna McLeod stealing home to give the Waveriders a 2-0 advantage.
McLeod was a beast on the base paths all game. The freshman outfielder finished the game with seven stolen bases and four runs on just one hit.
“We have played five games and she is easily hitting over .400,” Takimoto said. “She is a good one, and real quick out there.”
After the first inning, Konawaena head coach Shellie Grace decided to pull starting pitcher Jayssa Grace. Jayssa Grace could not shake a slow start, hitting the strike zone on just six of 21 of her pitches.
“We had to make a pitching change early,” Shellie Grace said. “We just had to try something different to see if it would work.”
The Wildcats woke up in the second inning. A single by Lavinia Vete got Konawaena rolling, and then back-to-back doubles by Teizha Kaluna and Dorian Anu Binney brought the Wildcats to within one.
Konawaena rallied again in the third inning to take the lead for the first time in the game. The string of hits was highlighted by a triple from Vete.
Kealakehe rebounded in the fourth inning to tie the game on an RBI single by Tavian Taketa, but shaky defense haunted the ’Riders. In the bottom of the inning, Konawaena retook the lead on a bouncing infield RBI single from Deleon that evaded two Kealakehe fielders to make it 6-6.
“Our pitcher did good out there and her off-speed was working well, but the defense did not hold up today,” Takimoto said. “As a coach, you work on defense every day, but we just have to go back and keep working.”
The teams traded runs, and entering the final inning the scoreboard read all 7’s — something reserved only for lucky gamblers in Las Vegas.
Kealakehe got a fortunate roll with two outs, after a third strike was dropped by the Wildcats’ catcher. The batter was called out at first base, but the speedy McLeod made her way from second to home to give the Waveriders the go-ahead run.
After two quick outs to start the bottom of the seventh, it looked like the Waveriders were going to escape the rivalry with bragging rights and a valuable win, but the Wildcats didn’t panic. Kaluna dropped a ball into left field, and then a double by Dorian Anu Binney put both runners in scoring position. During the next at-bat, a pitch got away from Palmer and Kaluna stole home to tie the game up.
Kealakehe went three and out in the top of the eight, opening the door for Konawaena.
Deleon nearly ended the game with her fifth hit of the game — a rocket that threatened the outfield wall. However, the ball bounced in front of the fence for a ground-rule double. Kealakehe averted the threat of Deleon by throwing her out at third, but a line drive to center field by Kiersen Kawehi Kahele brought in the winning run.
“Her bat seems to come alive when we need the big hit,” Shellie Grace said.
After the game, the teams gathered for the ceremonial handshake. Despite a fierce battle, the line featured more hugs than handshakes.
“For us, our thing was game first, friends after,” Ubando said. “We are crosstown rivals so that will always be there, but this is always a fun game.”