Single, double, walk … grand slam. Just four batters into the game, the BIIF champion once again ran into a buzz saw at the HHSAA Division I softball tournament.
Maryknoll’s Mylee Enos homered in the first and drove in seven runs Wednesday, and Waiakea was held to one hit in a 13-0 loss at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium in Honolulu as the BIIF failed to produce a semifinalist for the seventh consecutive year.
To put Enos’ big game in perspective, the junior first baseman drove in as many runs in the first three innings Wednesday as the BIIF has produced in its last 10 state contests in the winners bracket.
Including Keaau’s consolation loss earlier in the day, the BIIF has lost 19 in a row at states – that doesn’t include defeats in play-in games. No league team has won an HHSAA game since Waiakea won in consolation play in 2009. The Warriors last reached the semifinals in the 2008.
Waiakea (11-4), which ended the BIIF season on a 10-game winning streak, will have another chance to end the drought against either Mililani or Kapolei at 9 a.m. Thursday in a consolation game.
To put Enos’ big game in perspective, the junior first baseman drove in as many runs in one game as the BIIF has produced in its last 10 state contests in the winners bracket.
Alyssa Hara pitched two innings in defeat, allowing seven runs and seven hits with three walks.
Shearyna Labasan struck out eight for the ILH runner-up Spartans (16-2-1) in three innings. Sophomore Skylar Thomas connected off Labasan for the Warriors’ only hit.
Maryknoll 434 02 – 13 13 1
Waiakea 000 00 – 0 1 2
Leilehua 15, Keaau 3
The Mules poured it on during a 10-run fourth inning in which the Cougars committed three of their six errors in a consolation game at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Lohi Kamakea-Wong struck out two and didn’t walk a batter for BIIF runner-up Keaau (9-7), allowing seven hits and nine runs – seven earned – in 3 1/3 innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, Chelsea Lobitos doubled and singled for Leilehua (7-11), the OIA’s No. 6 team, finishing 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Lobitos struck out five in a complete game.
Makana Aiona hit a two-run single for the Cougars in the top of the first. Erleen Oguma produced an RBI single and Rylann Hacoba had a hit for the second consecutive day, but Keaau amassed just four hits in two games at states.
Keaau 300 0 0 – 3 3 6
Leilehua 401 (10)x – 15 13 0