Buffanblu recover from weekend loss to whitewash Owls

Punahou softball coach Bob Makahilahila was leery of a letdown in the wake of a shutout loss last Saturday.

His fears were allayed once he watched the Buffanblu warm up for Wednesday’s meeting with Mid-Pacific.

"You can tell when they come for business," Makahilahila said. "The way they look and the way they warm up, it’s like ‘they’re good.’  … But until you get on the field you don’t know."

The fifth-ranked Buffanblu confirmed their coach’s pregame hunch by pulling away from No. 6 Mid-Pacific 11-0 in six innings to claim sole possession of second place in the ILH Division I standings.

On an otherwise dreary afternoon weather-wise, Punahou senior right-hander Nicole Nishizawa put together a brilliant performance in throwing a one-hit shutout, contributing two singles to an 11-hit Buffanblu attack and driving in two runs as Punahou improved to 5-1.

Nishizawa credited a pregame meeting for setting the tone coming off of a 5-0 loss to league-leader Kamehameha on Saturday.

"We talked about how much we wanted it this season and how much we can do," Nishizawa said. "We knew what we had to do and got it done today."

Nishizawa struck out eight and walked three while working through intermittent showers blowing through the Punahou campus. She noted the return of pitching coach Guy Shinsato from a recent trip and the pitch calling of catcher Sara Buck as keys in containing an MPI offense that had scored in double figures in four of its first five ILH games.

"Mid-Pac’s definitely known for their awesome bats and that really challenged us today," Nishizawa said. "Bucky called an amazing game, she definitely kept us in there and I think our team defense, knowing they’re there to back me up really helped."

So did an offense that struck early to give Nishizawa a comfortable lead. 

Shortstop Krystin Wong opened the scoring with a two-run double to deep center with two out in the bottom of the first and Nishizawa’s fly ball to shallow right fell in to drive in two more runs in the second.

Makahilahila sent six pinch hitters to the plate in the fifth and Sarah Yamada drilled a two-run double to left center. Lauren Tachino, who delivered a single off the bench earlier in the fifth, ended the game in the sixth with a two-run triple to bring the 10-run rule into effect.

"That’s what they do in practice," Makahilahila said of the Punahou reserves. "They hit very well in practice so to watch them do it in the game was very gratifying as a coach."

While Nishizawa was quick to share the praise after the game, MPI coach Alan Inaba made sure to send some her way as well.

"Nicole threw a hell of game kept us off balance and it seemed she was hitting her spots. She pretty much owned us today," Inaba said.

Just as Punahou bounced back from a tough loss on Wednesday, the Owls (4-2) will try to follow a similar script when they face No. 3 Kamehameha (5-0-1) on Saturday.

"Even though we got 10-run ruled it still only counts as one loss," Inaba said. "Just move on and prepare for the next game."

Kaili Akimseu and Lia Nakamoto. Nicole Nishizawa and Sara Buck. W–Nishizawa. L–Akimseu.

Leading hitters–Punahou: Sarah Sumida, 2B, RBI; Sarah Yamada, 2B, 2 RBIs; Nishizawa, 2-2, 2 RBIs; Bailey Akimseu, 2 RBIs; Krystin Wong, 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Lauren Tachino, 2-2, 3B, 2 RBIs.

No. 3 Kamehameha 9, ‘Iolani 3

Chris Hipa swung a hot bat, slugging a triple and home run as the Warriors downed the Raiders.

Chris Hipa, Kama Dung (3) and Rachel Ogasawara. Kennedi Lopes, Alyssa Espiritu (5) and Cassie Ho. 

W–Dung. L–Lopes.

Leading hitters–Kamehameha: Dallas Millwood 3-3, 2 2bs, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Hipa 3-3, 3b, HR, run, 3 RBIs; Kalei Kaneshiro HR, run, 3 RBIs. ‘Iolani: Macie Uyehara 2-4, 3b, run, RBI; Espiritu 2b, RBI.

No. 4 Maryknoll 10, St. Francis 0, 6 inn.

Shearyna Labasan posted eight strikeouts on the mound and collected two hits at the dish as the Spartans routed the Saints.

Tiare Guerrero, Caryn Chinen (6) and Jessica Hudson, Taiana Creekmur (6) Shearyna Labasan and Nohea Hee. 

W–Labasan. L–Guerrero.

Leading hitters–Maryknoll: Labasan 2-3, 2b, 2 runs; Bree Soma 2-3, 2b, 2run; Mylee Enos 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, Kasey Magdadaro HR, 2 RBIs.

Pac-Five 9, Sacred Hearts 6

Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chun went 3-for-4 at the plate as the Wolfpack defeated the Lancers.

Megan Yoshioka and Alisha Candelario. K. Ozaki and D. Victorino.

W–Yoshioka. L–Ozaki.

Leading hitters–Pac-Five: Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chun 3-4. Sacred Hearts: A. Nono 3-3; N. Chang 2-4.