It took an extended effort and a moment of Joy for the defending state softball champions to stay unbeaten Saturday.
Jordan Joy’s hustle play for an infield single sparked a rally for No. 2 Mid-Pacific, which came from behind to edge No. 1 Punahou 3-2 in eight innings.
That helped Owls ace Keiki Carlos, who later drilled a game-winning single to left in the eighth to score Lindsey Matoi. MPI improved to 4-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
Punahou slipped to 3-1 despite a homer by Mysha Sataraka and another solid pitching performance by Jaci Young.
"Mid-Pacific is the (defending) state champs and ILH champs, kudos to them," Buffanblu coach Bob Makahilahila said. "We’ve got a big game Monday against St. Francis."
Both teams have established offensive weapons — Carlos and Aliitasi Docktor of MPI, and Sataraka and Reina Furuya of Punahou — but it came down to key plays by emerging underclassmen. It also started with a gritty effort by Joy.
In the bottom of the seventh, with MPI down 2-1, the two-sport athlete suffered an ankle sprain despite stepping squarely in the middle of the "double (safety) base" on a close play, beating out the throw from Punahou shortstop Sataraka on a tough grounder.
"I was, yes, the umpire said ‘safe!’ Then it was oww," Joy said of her injury.
Courtesy runner Kayla Au later scored from second on a two-out, infield single by sophomore Kiley Oeda, whose line drive ricocheted off third baseman Kylie Popovich. Au’s run tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Matoi doubled to the gap in right-center to start the bottom of the eighth. Later, Carlos lined a shot inside third base for the winning run.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
Punahou (3-1) |
100 |
010 |
00 |
— |
2 |
3 |
0 |
MID-Pac (4-0) |
100 |
000 |
11 |
— |
3 |
5 |
1 |
Jaci Young and Reina Furuya. Keiki Carlos and Nicole Lopez. W–Carlos. L–Young.
Leading hitter–Punahou: Mysha Sataraka HR.
ILH
Sacred Hearts 4, Maryknoll 1
Jordyn Waracka pitched a four-hitter to lead the Lancers.
At Mid-Pacific
MRYK (0-3) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
— |
1 |
4 |
0 |
SHA (2-4) |
200 |
020 |
x |
— |
4 |
9 |
3 |
Shearyna Labasan and Carolann Toyama. Jordyn Waracka and Raven Sapla. W–Waracka. L–Labasan.
Leading hitters–Mryk: Toyama 2-3. SHA: Jamie Tang 2-3, 2 runs; Nichelle Chang 2-3; Jamie Toler 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs.
‘Iolani 17, West Pac 0
Nani Taniguchi hurled a two-hitter for the Raiders.
At Ala Wai Community Park
West PAC (0-3) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
2 |
5 |
‘Iolani (2-2) |
870 |
2X |
— |
17 |
11 |
3 |
Chloe Lontayao and Shelby Poole. Nani Taniguchi and Kirstyn Namba.
W–Taniguchi. L–Lontayao.
Leading hitters–‘Iolani: Ula Reis-Moniz 2-3, 2 2bs, 3 RBIs; Alyssa Liilii 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Namba 3-5, 3b.
No. 5 Kamehameha 8, St. Francis 3
Nohea Keaunui-Gould went 2-for-4 with five RBIs to power the Warriors over the Saints.
At Kamehameha
St. F. (3-2) |
002 |
000 |
1 |
— |
3 |
6 |
0 |
KS (3-1) |
040 |
022 |
x |
— |
8 |
9 |
0 |
Rasela Vili and Kelsie Hee. Kamalani Dung and Chris Hipa. W–Dung. L–Vili.
Leading hitters–St. Francis: Danielle Antolin HR; Ashley Kahapea-Wagner HR, 2 RBIs; Kenedee Passos 2-3. Kamehameha: Nohea Keaunui-Gould 2-4, 5 RBIs; Karine Shaver 2-3, 2 RBIs; Dung 2-3.
OIA RED EAST
Kaiser 12, Kalani 4
Kalani 12, Kaiser 7
Kai Hasegawa went 4-for-5 with a homer for the Cougars in the first game.
At Aina Haina Park
KAISER (3-2) |
410 |
052 |
0 |
— |
12 |
13 |
2 |
KALANI (1-3) |
101 |
200 |
0 |
— |
4 |
11 |
4 |
Rainelle Matsuoka and Sadie Karratti-Abordo. Jade Teruya and Kelli Muramaru. W–Matsuoka. L–Teruya.
Leading hitters–Kaiser: Shawna Kuroiwa 3-5; Kai Hasegawa 4-5, HR; Karratti-Abordo 3b; Bailey Gongob 3b. Kalani: Ashlyn Toyama 2b; Rayme Awaya 3-4; Teruya 3b.
KALANI (2-3) |
340 |
320 |
0 |
— |
12 |
13 |
1 |
KAISER (3-3) |
100 |
600 |
0 |
— |
7 |
6 |
6 |
Ashlyn Toyama, Jade Teruya (3) and Kelli Muramaru. Shawna Kuroiwa, Rainelle Matsuokaz (3), Kim Dilda (6) and Ulu Sordillia. W–Toyama. L–Kuroiwa.
Leading hitters–Kalani: Muramaru 2-4, 2b; Rayme Awaya 2-4.
Kailua 4, Kaimuki 3
Kailua 8, Kaimuki 0
Destinee Chang pitched a two-hitter in the second for the Surfriders.
At Kaimuki
Kailua (3-2) |
000 |
210 |
1 |
— |
4 |
9 |
2 |
Kaimuki (3-2) |
000 |
100 |
2 |
— |
3 |
6 |
1 |
Destinee Chang and Hi’ilani Wong. Ehlen Awaya and Seplynn Aikau.
W–Chang. L–Awaya.
Leading hitters–Kailua: Shealee Koki 2-2, 2 RBIs; Lindsey Farley 3-4. Kaimuki: Krysta Yasui 3-3.
Kaimuki (3-3) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
2 |
2 |
Kailua (4-2) |
021 |
032 |
X |
— |
8 |
10 |
1 |
Ehlen Awaya and Seplynn Aikau. Destiny Chang and Sharla Kumai-Farrell.
W–Chang. L–Awaya.
Leading hitters–Kailua: Kumai-Farrell 2-4; Leilani Lastimosa 3-4, 2b, HR; Chang 2-4.
OIA RED WEST
Kapolei 7, Leilehua 2
Kapolei 6, Leilehua 5
Kacee Navarro tossed two complete games for the Hurricanes.
At Kaala Elementary School field
KAPOLEI (1-2) |
012 |
301 |
0 |
— |
7 |
6 |
2 |
LEILEHUA (2-1) |
000 |
200 |
0 |
— |
2 |
3 |
6 |
Kacee Navarro and Aimee Aipa. Maegan Tupinio and Kelina Nakai, Jasmine Villegas (4). W–Navarro. L–Tupinio.
Leading hitters–Kapolei: Mikela Manewa 2-3, 3b, 3 RBIs; Navarro double. Leilehua: Villegas 2-2.
LEILEHUA (2-2) |
200 |
201 |
0 |
— |
5 |
11 |
2 |
KAPOLEI (2-2) |
103 |
002 |
0 |
— |
6 |
8 |
1 |
Tihani Palomares and Kelina Nakai. Kacee Navarro and Aimee Aipa.
W–Navarro. L–Palomares.
Leading hitters–Leilehua: Jazmyn Dangaran 3-4; Tupinio 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Villegas 2b; Nakai 2-4; Tiana Cantero-Kawelo 2b, 2 runs. Kapolei: Manewa 2-3, 2 runs; Kanaiaupuni Smith 2-3, 2b, 3b; Courtney Belford 2b.
No. 7 Mililani 11, Pearl City 1
Joen Baker pitched a four-hitter for the Trojans.
At Mililani
Pearl City (1-3) |
000 |
10 |
— |
1 |
4 |
3 |
MILilani (3-1) |
500 |
6x |
— |
11 |
14 |
2 |
Sella Rodrigues and Taylor Kawakami. Joen Baker and Ariel Beaudoin. W–Baker. L–Rodrigues.
Leading hitters–Mililani: Jade Yadao-Valdez 2b; Justine Fabella 3-4, 2 runs; Chesarey Silva 2-3, 2b, 2 runs; Baker 2-3, 2b, 2 runs; Alysia Maddison 2-2, 2b, 2 runs; Kacie Oshiro 2b, 3 RBIs.
OIA WHITE
Waipahu 15, Radford 0
Waipahu 7, Radford 1
Tali Viliamu pitched a no-hitter in the first game for the Marauders.
At Radford
WAIPAHU (3-1) |
202 |
308 |
— |
15 |
8 |
0 |
RADFORD (1-3) |
000 |
000 |
— |
0 |
0 |
6 |
Tali Viliamu and Shandell Palencia. Wynona Sugiyama and Ilona Peterson.
W–Viliama. L–Sugiyama.
Leading hitters–Waipahu: Palencia 3-4, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Viliamu 2-4, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Mizpah Leau 2-4, 2 2bs, 3 runs; Tami Viliamu 2 RBIs; 2 runs.
RADFORD (1-4) |
000 |
010 |
0 |
— |
1 |
3 |
1 |
WAIPAHU(4-1) |
061 |
000 |
X |
— |
7 |
3 |
2 |
Ritanna Pocaigue and Ilona Peterson. Tristan Souza-Aikaka and Shevan Palencia. W–Souza-Aikaka. L–Pocaigue.
Leading hitters–Waipahu: Souza-Aikaka 2-3, 2 RBIs; Shevan DeFreitas 2 runs.
Kahuku 14, Anuenue 3
Kahuku 24, Anuenue 3
Kalynn Latu clubbed two of the Red Raiders’ five home runs in the second game.
At Hauula Playground field
ANUENUE (0-3) |
100 |
20 |
— |
3 |
4 |
3 |
KAHUKU (2-1) |
830 |
3x |
— |
14 |
8 |
1 |
P. Silva, H. Haumea (3), K. Oana-Morie (5) and T. Silva. Aiyana Aipia and Kasey Capillian. W–Aipia. L–P. Silva.
Leading hitters–Anunue: H. Haumea 2b. Kahuku: Gabrielle Lealao 3-3, HR.
KAHUKU (3-1) |
718 |
44 |
— |
24 |
15 |
0 |
ANUENUE (0-4) |
020 |
01 |
— |
3 |
0 |
5 |
Kulia Kaowili, Napua Aumua-Yamamoto (4) and Kasey Capillan, Keliikaapuni Kanoa (4). S. Williams-Kahookele, K. Reys-Lenchanko and T. Silva. W–Kaowili. L–Williams-Kahookele.
Leading hitters–Kahuku: Kalynn Latu 3-4, 2b, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs; Aiyana Aipia 2-5, HR, 3 RBIs; Capillan HR, 2 RBIs; Kanoa HR, 2 RBIs; Aumua-Yamamoto 2-3, 2b; Kaowili 2-4, 3b.
McKinley 16, Farrington 1
McKinley 18, Farrington 1
Kay Tehotu and Rachel Amor drove in three runs each in the opener.
At McKinley
FARR. (1-2) |
|
000 |
100 |
— |
1 |
4 |
9 |
MCKINLEY (1-3) |
622 |
6x |
— |
16 |
11 |
2 |
Precious Peter and Lehualani Newo. Kimberly Amor and Rachel Amor.
W–K. Amor. L–Peter.
Leading hitters–Farrington: Newo 2-3. McKinley: Kay Tehotu 2-2, 3 RBIs; Rachel Amor 2-2, HR, 3 RBIs.
MCKINLEY (2-3) |
044 |
028 |
— |
18 |
6 |
1 |
FARRGTON. (1-3) |
100 |
000 |
— |
1 |
2 |
10 |
Jillian Cristobal and Jaclyn Galinato. Sherry Pam Langidrik and Lehualani Newo. W–Cristobal. L–Langidrik.
Leading hitters–McKinley: Kimberly Amor 2-3, 2 RBIs. Farrington: Langidrik 2b.