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The timing was just perfect for Kamryn Kamakaiwi.
The senior pitcher came through at the plate, socking a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth as Leilehua routed Baldwin 12-1 in a game shortened by the 10-run rule on Tuesday.
The Lady Mules (12-4) advance to the quarterfinal round of the DataHouse Softball Championships and will meet ILH champion Maryknoll today at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The teams met more than two months ago in preseason play, a game determined by tiebreaker.
“The best thing is getting the first game out of the way,” Leilehua coach Wendell Au said. “Baldwin is no joke. They were 13-0 until they lost to Lahainaluna. They’re a good team through history.”
Kamakaiwi hurled a three-hitter with six strikeouts and one walk in five innings. The home run, though, was a rocket.
“I was telling myself to look down and hit a line drive,” she said.
As far as her pitching, Kamakaiwi said, “Most of my screws and change-ups were working. It’s nice to win this first game. Last year, we lost the first game.”
The Mules scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Kayla Hale beat out a grounder for a single and scored on Gianna Araki’s triple to right-center. Kaena Nistal followed with a single to right, scoring Araki.
The Bears got their lone run in the top of the second frame. Jessica Ai smacked a two-out triple and scored on a double to left by Jordyn Vierra.
Leilehua tacked on three runs in the bottom of the second. Shea Tammarine walked, Brandi Leong doubled and Hale singled, scoring Tammarine. After Araki walked to load the bases, Nistal singled to left, bringing Leong and Hale home for a 5-1 lead.
In the fourth, four runs came across the plate for Leilehua. Araki walked and later scored on a throwing error, and the big hit was a three-run triple by Alyssa Ascunsion that gave the Mules a 10-1 lead.
In the fifth, Nistal was on base with two outs after reaching on a fielder’s choice. Kamakaiwi’s homer to straightaway center ended the game.
“It’s not over with,” Baldwin coach Sanoe Kekahuna said, referring to her team’s opportunity to play one or two more games in the consolation bracket. “Leilehua is a great program with a great coaching staff and great players. We’ve got to keep our heads down and keep grinding, keep pushing forward. What I want our team to know is we as coaches are still here. We will keep fighting for them.”
Mililani 6, Roosevelt 1
Cheyenne Ardona scattered five hits, struck out seven and walked just one as the Trojans upset the OIA runner-up Rough Riders.
Mililani broke a 1-all tie in the top of the sixth inning with four unearned runs, thanks to two Roosevelt errors to take a 5-1 lead. The Rough Riders committed five errors in the game.
An RBI double by Tracie Okamura, an RBI single by Beth Winchester and a two-run double by Kayla Bello broke the game open for the Trojans. They tacked on an insurance run in the seventh on doubles by Katie Carlos and Okamura, the only earned run off Roosevelt ace Jaeda Cabunoc.
“I’m very happy. It was a great team effort,” longtime Mililani coach Rose Antonio said. “The whole team contributed.”
The composure and accuracy of Ardona, a two-sport standout, was clutch. She painted the corners from start to finish.
“That was her best game. She had the same demeanor as usual. Relaxed,” Antonio said. “She was hitting her spots really well today. Roosevelt puts the ball in play, so we had to play good defense.”
Mililani had just one error.
“And we finally got timely hitting,” Antonio added. “The team’s been working really hard.”
Mililani will meet BIIF champion Waiakea in the quarterfinal round.
“I have no idea what they’re about. They played in my (preseason) tourney,” Antonio said. “But we didn’t see them.”
Pearl City 19, Kealakehe 4 (5 innings)
Braelynn Kaulu-Choy Foo belted a grand slam in the top of the fourth as the Lady Chargers scored 15 unanswered runs against the BIIF runner-up Waveriders.
Pearl City (11-6) will meet three-time defending state champion and No. 1 seed Campbell in today’s 7 p.m. quarterfinal matchup.
Noel Saunders went 3-for-4 with four RBIs for Pearl City, which entered the fourth inning in a 4-all tie. Saunders drew a bases-loaded walk to give her team the lead, and Kaulu-Choy Foo followed with her big hit, bringing home Cheyne Obara, Taryn Fujioka and Saunders.
Pearl City added 10 runs in the fifth as the Waveriders committed five errors. For the game, Kealakehe (11-6) committed eight errors.
Pearl City’s third pitcher of the game, Alexas Presto-Ahsing, went 31⁄3 innings in relief for the win.
Kaylynn Villanueva went the distance on the mound for Kealakehe.
Punahou 10, Kapolei 2
ILH runner-up Punahou (10-5) will meet No. 4 seed and MIL champion Lahainaluna in the quarterfinal round after a decisive win over the Hurricanes.
Kapolei got on the scoreboard first. Lili Kaimi Montira socked a double to left, advanced to third on a groundout by Ciena Kauhi and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tatum Guzman.
Punahou responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Kennedy Ishii was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to third on D’Asha Saiki’s double to left. Both scored on a double down the left-field line by Bailey Akimseu. Akimseu advanced to third on a fly ball to right by Janell Sato. Akimseu then scored on a 2-2 wild pitch with Kawai Mielke at the plate.
After Kapolei cut the deficit to 3-2, Punahou plated three runs in the bottom half. Sato and Mielke walked with one out, and Ashanti Martinez launched a three-run homer to dead center.
The Buffanblu added a single run in the fourth. Saiki led off with an infield single, Akimseu walked and Sato singled to center, scoring Saiki.
Akimseu sealed the deal with a monster three-run homer to left in the fifth.
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