HILO 10, KOHALA 9
Hilo High’s softball team outlasted Kohala High to win a nail-biter, plating two runs with two outs on the board in the bottom seventh to secure the win, 10-9 on Wednesday at Walter Victor Baseball Complex in Hilo.
The Vikings struggled both in the circle and the field during the top first inning, committing two fielding errors and surrendering six free trips to first base and two hits for seven runs.
As the game progressed, Hilo managed to add to its score while preventing the Cowgirls from growing their lead too much. The Vikings plated their first run in the bottom first as Mackenzie Valentin singled to bat in Lei Soller, who led off with a single.
Hilo gave up another unearned run in the top second, as Kohala’s Kailani Valenzuela reached on an error then made her way around the diamond on passed balls. The Vikings responded with one more run — Zaydee Amar singling to bat in Kawehi Agustin.
Hilo managed to keep the Cowgirls at bay until the top seventh inning. In the meantime, the Vikings plated six runs to tie the score.
Kaneesha Santiago walked to first, then was batted in by Mahea Pang’s line drive to center field. In the bottom frame, some fielding errors allowed Hilo’s Dashley Arurang and Jacobi Alba-Kuwahara to score runs and end the game.
Hilo moved to 3-0, but has so far only played BIIF Division II opponents. Next week, the Vikings will host Kea‘au High (1-1) for their first DI test.
Kohala dropped to 1-2. The Cowgirls will look to get back to .500 this Saturday, when they return to the isle’s east side to face KS-Hawai‘i.
KSH 22, KEA‘AU 2
After a rough start to the season, the KS-Hawai‘i softball team got back on the saddle and into the win column with a three-inning, 22-2 TKO of Kea‘au High on the Cougars’ home field.
After sitting out during the Warriors’ first two games, 2023 All-Hawai‘i Second Team pitcher Emily Hora returned to the circle and pitched the whole game — notching seven strikeouts.
Kea‘au squeezed in its two runs in the bottom first inning after KSH plated six runs in the top frame. After that, the Cougars never touched base again — and KSH ran through its batting order twice to dump 16 runs on the Cougars in the third inning.
Now 1-2, the Warriors will look to beat Kohala and climb to .500 on Saturday in Puna.
At 1-1, the Cougars haven’t yet played a Division I matchup. Their next matchup will also be their DI opener, a road match next Wednesday (March 20) against Hilo.
Baseball
HILO, KOHALA
The Tribune-Herald was unable to obtain the final score from the baseball game between Hilo and Kohala. Results will be published Friday.
KSH 16, KEA‘AU 0
The Warriors continued their strong start to the season, crushing the Cougars across town in a four-inning run-ruled rout.
Kekama Robello earned the win on the mound, surrendering no hits in his two innings while giving up four HBPs. Kea‘au did not manage any hits against KSH.
Kaohu Kawelu tripled twice while going two-for-three — and also reached third after grounding into a first-base error, then stole home. Liwai Correa went one-for-two with three RBIs. Teammate Braden Gomes boasted KSH’s best on-base percentage — getting on in all four of his at-bats on three walks and a hit-by-pitch.
KSH is now 4-0 and the only BIIF DII school without a loss — leading the standings ahead of Pahoa High and Ka‘u High, which are tied for second place at 2-1. The Warriors will look to keep their hot streak going as the mid-season approaches — with their next matchup slated for Saturday afternoon at home against Kohala.
Kea‘au dropped to 0-2 and is the only BIIF DI team without a win. The Cougars’ next opportunity to make a change is next week’s road test against Hilo.