A little first-inning adversity wasn’t about to stop Chyanne Koko.
Instead, the senior ace rebounded from a leadoff home run by Aiea’s Raisa Strom-Okimoto as Nanakuli rallied past Aiea 10-5 to capture the OIA White Conference softball championship on a wet, windy night at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.
The Golden Hawks (15-0) won their third White crown in a row under coach Ricky Gusman. A seven-run fifth inning broke open a close game. Ashley Van Gieson rocketed a two-run homer to open the lead to 5-2, and not long after that, Alexis Paulo-Meyers blasted a three-run shot to center as the Golden Hawks blew the game wide open.
The infield conferred with their ace after that homer by Strom-Okimoto.
"We told (Koko) we’ll just get it back. We were all pretty positive about it. There was plenty of time," Van Gieson said after socking her third homer of the season. "We’ve been in many situations like this and we seem to pull through."
Koko was resilient.
"My team told me they would back me up. Alexis told me she would hit a home run for me," said Koko, who had her curveball working well despite the wet conditions.
Aiea got a gritty performance on the mound from Strom-Okimoto, who did a solid job of keeping Nanakuli’s power hitters under wraps until the fifth. Na Alii, coached by Tracie Koide, had won 13 in a row since a league-opening loss to Nanakuli on April 8.
Aiea (13-2) had just one loss coming in, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Nanakuli nearly three weeks ago. After Strom-Okimoto’s home run, Aiea added another run on a three-base fielding error in right field by Charallen Mahoe, allowing Kaylie Matsunami to score from first.
Nanakuli got a single run in the bottom of the first on a run-scoring triple by Precious Paulo-Meyers, then scored twice in the third to take the lead. Koko’s double to center brought in Emma Kawaiaea and Paulo-Meyers, but the rain and close battle kept both teams’ fans on edge until the pivotal fifth inning.
Na Alii made one last effort in the top of the seventh. After two Nanakuli errors, Kailie Alama’s single brought in two runs. But Koko retired the next three hitters in a row to end the threat.
Koko scattered eight hits, struck out three and walked one for the victory.
| At CORP |
| Aiea (13-2) |
200 |
001 |
2 |
— |
5 |
8 |
0 |
| Nanakuli (15-0) |
102 |
070 |
x |
— |
10 |
10 |
5 |
Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Kayla Higuchi (5) and Chantelle Shimabukuro. Chyanne Koko and Kaila Burnett.
W–Koko. L–Strom-Okimoto.
Leading hitters–Aiea: Strom-Okimoto 2-4, 2 runs. Nan: Alexis Paulo-Meyers 2-4, HR, 3 RBIs, run; Burnett 2-4, 2 runs; Precious Paulo-Meyers 2-3, triple, double, RBI; Charallen Mahoe 2-3, run.
THIRD PLACE
McKinley 21, Waialua 2, 5 inn.
Jillian Cristobal pitched a no-hitter as the Tigers routed the Bulldogs in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.
| At Waialua |
| McKinley (6-8) |
02(10) |
63 |
— |
21 |
18 |
1 |
| Waialua (11-4) |
100 |
01 |
— |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Jillian Cristobal and Rachel Amor. Keahi Pang and Jeania Deuz.
W–Cristobal. L–Pang.
Leading hitters–McK: Tiare Sugui 2-2, 3 runs, 3b, RBI; Jaclyn Galinato 3-4, run, 2b, 5 RBIs; Grace Kapesi 2-2, 3 runs, HR, 4 RBIs; Amor 2-5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Kay Tehotu 4-5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Precious Cabanlet 2-5, run, 2 RBIs; Ekalani Sigrah 2-3, 2 runs, RBI.
