Powerhouse Kailua showed it can win playing small ball.
The Surfriders dominated Kalaheo in a six-inning, 11-1 mercy-rule victory Thursday at sunny Aikahi Park. Junior Shaelyn Kumai-Farrell gave up just two hits over four scoreless innings and freshman Delcie Williams went the last two frames, allowing one unearned run.
“They both don’t have a lot of pitching experience,” Kailua coach Tamara Kaluau said. “Shaelyn is coming to us without a lot of experience in high school and outside leagues. Delcie has had more experience as a position player. We have five pitchers and we’re trying to get them all exposure.”
Kailua (1-1) used its skill at bunting, small-balling its way into runs in every inning but the second.
Four times the Surfriders laid the ball down in front of home plate. The result: three singles, one sacrifice and two RBIs, including a squeeze bunt by Lindsey Farley.
“It’s part of our coaching repertoire. With these kids, we’re able to go small ball and hit the long ball.
Lindsey’s a fourth-year player, it’s exciting. She’s a lefty, she’s the one since freshman year we’ve been developing,” Kaluau said.
The Surfriders lost their opener at home against Kaimuki on Tuesday, 8-5.
“I think the loss kind of taught them to play more together. They were a little more hungry to come out and play. Against Kaimuki, they were kind of flat and not into it, so we’re trying to teach them to come out hungry,” said Kaluau, now in her fourth season as head coach. “I feel relaxed. Excited. It was a good game today for our team. They understand that we’re going game by game, that the main thing is we set goals so we can get focused and prepare for the playoffs. We want to finish at the top of our division and take it from there.”
Kalaheo, which reached the Division II state semifinals last year, dropped to 0-2 in league play. The other loss was a 23-13 five-inning loss at Kahuku on Tuesday. Still, coach John Spencer has enough optimism that his young team can settle down and qualify for the Red playoffs.
“It’s a work in progress. A lot of young players, but the future is still bright,” Spencer said. “We’ll try hard. We can only get better.”
Kailua’s top five in the lineup, from Farley in the leadoff spot to Moani Kupahu, combined to hit 7-for-17 with six RBIs. Much of the damage came from those bunt singles, though catcher Leilani
Lastimosa showed some clout with a deep, opposite-field triple in the first frame.
“Kailua has a young team as well, and they have a lot of players,” Spencer said. “The one thing good about this is we get to see them again, so hopefully, we can do a better job.”
Kalaheo starter Mahina Turner (three strikeouts, one walk) showed grit as her defense committed three errors in the first three innings. The visiting Surfriders plated three runs in the top of the first.
Taylor Aquino reached base on a dropped fly ball and came home on Lastimosa’s blast to deep right.
Shaydon Apela-Moku followed with a double to left, scoring Lastimosa.
Apela-Moku was at third base when Kupahu apparently struck out. As Kupahu jogged back to the Kailua dugout, the umpire called her back, mistakenly counting her with just two strikes. Kupahu’s second chance was productive, bringing Apela-Moku home on a grounder to third for a 3-0 Kailua lead.
A bunt single by Aquino to lead off the third sparked another three-run frame for Kailua, which took advantage of two Kalaheo errors and a run-scoring wild pitch in the frame.
Kailua tacked on a run in the fourth, a squeeze bunt by Farley that scored Teah Kauhi from third. The Surfriders scored one more in the fifth on Williams’ groundout to second, scoring Kauhi.
Then came a three-run sixth against Kalaheo reliever Jacqui Howard. The sophomore showed some good movement on her drop pitch, whiffing Lastimosa on a full count, but struggled with control.
Farley bunted for an RBI single for the second time as Kailua leaped to an 11-0 lead.
The Mustangs managed to score in the bottom of the sixth after Kamele Kahanu walked and later scored on a wild pitch by Williams.
At Aikahi Park
Kailua (1-1) 303 113 — 11 8 1
Kalaheo (0 000 001 — 1 2 4
Shaelyn Kumai-Farrell, Delcie Williams (5) and Lastimosa. Mahina Turner, Jacqui Howard (5), Turner (6) and Melissa Sasaki.
Leading hitters—Kailua: Lindsey Farley 2-4, 2 RBIs, run; Taylor Aquino 1-3, 3 runs; Leilani Lastimosa 1-4, triple, RBI, run; Teah Kauhi 2-2, 3 runs, RBI; Moani Kupahu 1-4, 2 RBIs, run. Kalaheo: Howard 1-2; Turner 1-2.
OIA RED EAST SOFTBALL
Moanalua 13, Roosevelt 0
Juniors Cyanne Fernandez and Ariel Ajimura combined on a five-inning no-hitter, striking out 12, and Jadeen Sakauye homered and drove in five runs to lead Na Menehune over the Rough Riders.
At Moanalua
Roosevelt (0-1) 000 00 — 0 0 3
Moanalua (2-0) 454 0x — 13 10 0
Katie Debusca and D. Holani. Cyanne Fernandez, Ariel Ajimura (4) and Chrissi Omalza. W—Fernandez. L—Debusca.
Leading hitters—Moa: Kiana Mattos-Felicilda 2-3; Makamae Kaleikini 2-3, HR, 4 RBIs; Leisha Yamauchi 3-3, 2 RBIs, 3b; Chrissi Omalza 3b, RBI; Jadeen Sakauye 2-3, 3b, HR, 5 RBIs.
Kaimuki 14, Castle 2
The Bulldogs scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to rout the Knights.
At Castle
Kaimuki (2-0) 140 006 3 — 14 10 2
Castle (0-2) 010 001 0 — 2 2 3
Ellen Awaya and Seplynn Aikau. BrandeeLane and Chelsie Aweau. W—Awaya. L—Lane.
Leading hitters—Kaim: Nikki Vongprachann 2-5; Awaya 2-4; Darla Amond 2-4, 2b, 4 RBIs; Elise Inouye 2b, 2 RBIs; Aikau 2b.
OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL
No. 4 Mililani 3, Waipahu 1
Freshman righthander Aubree Kim struck out eight in 41⁄3 innings to fire the Trojans over the Marauders.
At Mililani
Waipahu (1-1) 000 001 0 — 1 1 0
Mililani (2-0) 102 000 x — 3 3 0
T. Viliamu and S. Palencia. Aubree Kim, Joen Baker (5) and Nicole Cox. W—Kim. L—Viliamu.
Leading hitters—Mil: Kacie Oshiro 2-3, RBI, run.
Pearl City 6, Leilehua 0
Naomi Hama went 2-for-4 at bat with a home run as the Chargers beat the Mules.
At Leilehua
Pearl City (1-0) 002 040 0 — 6 10 2
Leilehua (0-2) 000 000 0 — 0 4 1
Kristin Frost and Taylor Kawakami. T. Cordero and S. Sanborn. W—Frost. L—Cordero.
Leading hitters—PC: Robi Kami 2-4; Naomi Hama 2-4, HR; Hope Casarez 2-3, Joe-ann Rapoza 2-4, Kawakami 2-2, 2 runs. Lei: T. Abear 2-3.
Kapolei 8, Waianae 7
Winning pitcher Kacee Navarro homered to help the Hurricanes rally past the Seariders. Paige Kahalepuna hit a grand slam for Waianae.
At Waianae
Kapolei ( 1-1) 110 231 0 — 8 11 0
Waianae (0-2) 304 000 0 — 7 11 4
Kacee Navarro and A. Kupihea. Raelene Diorec and Willy-Ann Perez. W—Navarro. L—Diorec.
Leading hitters—Kapo: Stacia Mahoe 3-5, 2b, RBI; Kacee Navarro 2-4, HR. Wain: Kaley Kamaka 3-4, RBI; Raelene Diorec 3-4, HR, 2b; Paige Kahalepuna HR, 4 RBIs.
OIA WHITE SOFTBALL
Nanakuli 15, Aiea 5
Nani Chai clubbed one of her team’s five home runs amd drove in six runs to power the Golden Hawks.
At Nanakuli
Aiea (0-2) 320 000 — 5 8 6
Nanakuli (2-0) 143 241 — 15 15 0
K. Higuchi and K. Chong. Cheyenne Koko, Emma Kawaiaea (1) and Precious Paulo-Meyers. W—Kawaiaea. L—K. Higuchi.
Leading hitters—Aiea: T. Pantil 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs. Nan: Alexis Paulo-Meyers 5-5, 2b, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; Nani Chai 3-4, HR, 6 RBIs; Precious Paulo-Meyers 2-3, HR; Emma Kawaiaea 2-4, HR, 3 RBIs.
Radford 27, Anuenue 0
Paige Moore, Suzy Saelua and Kylie Marcum collected three hits each as the Rams routed Na Koa.
At Radford
Anuenue (0-1) 000 0 — 0 2 6
Radford (1-1) 847 8 — 27 12 2
P. Silva, S. Williams (1) and T. Silva. Cheyanne Dochwat and Ilona Petersen. W—Dochwat. L—P.Silva.
Leading hitters—Anu: S. Williams 2-2. Rad: Paige Moore 3-4, 5 RBIs; Suzy Saelua 3-3, RBI; Kylie Marcum 3-3, RBI; Jessie Ines 2-3, 2 RBIs; Miracle Fata 2 RBIs.
Kalani 19, Farrington 9
The Falcons scored 19 runs off 13 hits in their win over the Governors.
At Kalani
Kalani (1-0) 220 276 — 19 13 6
Farrington (0-2) 015 102 — 9 7 1
C. Kakuda and N. Omai. L. Haskell Berinobis and N. Werkmeister. W—Haskell Berinobis. L—Kakuda.
Leading hitters—Kaln: Kakuda 4-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; K. Muramaru 3-4, 4 runs, 2 RBIs; J. Furuya 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Omai HR, 4 runs, 3 RBIs. Far: R. Misioka 2-2, run.
OIA BASEBALL
No. 4 Campbell 3, Leilehua 1
Ian Kahaloa and Zachary Kapihe combined on a four-hitter as the Sabers beat the Mules.
At Campbell
Leilehua (0-1) 000 010 0 — 1 4 2
Campbell (1-0) 010 200 X — 3 6 1
B. Smithe, C. Academia and I. Kaopua. Ian Kahaloa, Zachary Kapihe and Tyrzen Patricio. W—Kahaloa. L—Smithe.
Leading hitters—Lei: B. Smithe run. Cam: Rayven Kahana 2-2; Tyrzen Patricio 2 runs.
