The Konawaena softball team saw its lead disappear late in Monday’s game against visiting Honokaa, but the Wildcats kept their composer, scoring three runs in their final at bat, with a little aid from the Dragons, to come away with a 5-4 walk-off victory at Gabby Inaba Field.
After the Dragons scored a combined four runs in the top of the sixth and seventh inning, Konawaena found itself in a two-run hole with only three outs to go. Rachel Sato led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left and Shaylann Marie Grace followed with a solid hit up the middle. Kaimana Manzano then put the ball in play, and error by the Honokaa shortstop allowed her to reach safely, loading the bases with no outs.
Sato scored on a wild pitch and the bases were loaded again when Teizha Kaluna was hit by a pitch. After a pitching change, Erin Kaimuloa Bates was also hit by a pitch, bringing in Grace, the tying run.
Sierra Amor stepped to the plate next and played the hero, singling on a line drive to left, bringing in Manzano to end the game.
Grace led the Wildcat offense, going 3-for-3 with two runs and a pair of RBIs. She hit a home run to center in the bottom of the second inning after Sato reached on a single to put Konawaena up 2-0, a lead the team would hold until the fifth.
Andi Uemura, Kaylyn Villanueva, Sato and Amor all finished the game with two hits apiece.
Grace also picked up the victory inside the circle. She allowed four runs, three earned, while spreading out nine hits over seven innings. She walked two and struck out three.
Destynee Carvalho took the loss for the Dragons. She allowed four earned, five total off 12 hits in six innings of work, striking out two and walking three. Carvalho also led the Honokaa offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Teammate Taylor Tabucboc was 2-for-3 with two doubles. She scored twice.