Just like that, Moanalua’s perfect season came to an end, and Na Menehune are on the brink of missing the state tournament.
The Viliamu sisters made sure of that. Junior Tali Viliamu hurled five strong innings in relief, and older sister Tammy socked two triples as Waipahu stunned No. 2 Moanalua 6-4 on Thursday at Na Menehune’s field.
Waipahu (8-6) secured a state-tourney berth with the win. It came just one day after an 11-0 victory over Castle in the opening round. Waipahu will play Campbell tonight at Central Oahu Regional Park.
“We played our best games against them,” Tammy Viliamu said. “That’s our rival.”
Tali Viliamu struck out three and walked none, allowing two earned runs on seven hits.
“My curves and fastballs were working. They’re small, so I aimed for my catcher’s knees instead of the glove,” she said.
Coach John Kapihe was proud of his squad.
“I’m happy. These girls work hard. They deserve this,” he said.
Moanalua entered the game 12-0 and was the top seed in the East, but started slowly and never led.
Now Moanalua will face Pearl City, which lost to Campbell on Thursday, in an elimination matchup.
The winner gets a state berth. The loser will be done for the year.
“That layoff, you lose that edge. We tried to create things to keep that edge, but we came out cold,” Moanalua coach Kristie Morikawa said. “Waipahu hit the ball. We know a lot of them from club. They were ready.”
A near-two-week layoff seemed to hurt Moanalua more than Waipahu. The home team had runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but failed to execute. The visitors, meanwhile, broke through against ace Leisha Yamauchi in the third inning with three runs.
Tammy Viliamu tripled to left-center and came home on a triple to the left-field corner by Lauren Tauanuu. Shevan DeFreitas singled to left, scoring Tauanuu for a 2-0 lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, Alyssa Lene had an 0-2 count when Yamauchi hit her with a pitch, and the lead became three runs.
After taking over for DeFreitas (hamstring) in the third, Tali Viliamu retired eight in a row at one point.
Waipahu added some key insurance runs in the top of the sixth when Laugatausala Pedebone singled and scored on Tammy Viliamu’s second triple, this one an opposite-field shot. Viliamu then scored on a sacrifice fly by Tauanuu, and the Marauders led 5-0.
Na Menehune finally broke the ice in the bottom of the sixth with two runs. Chrissi Omalza socked a run-scoring single, one of four straight base hits. They were within 5-2 and had runners at the corners with no outs. But Sparki Ramiscal’s line drive was snagged by Waipahu first baseman
DeFreitas, who stepped on the bag for a double play. Tara Dumlao followed with a groundout and the threat was done.
“Three inches higher and we score,” Morikawa lamented.
An error by Moanalua led to an unearned run for Waipahu in the seventh.
Moanalua battled back in the bottom of the seventh. An error by the shortstop, Tammy Viliamu, opened the door. Yamauchi (3-for-4) delivered a run-scoring single, and courtesy runner Najae Reed scored on a groundout by Omalza, Moanalua was within 6-4. But Tali Viliamu, the ace, got Jadeen Sakauye to ground out and Waipahu advanced.
At Moanalua
Waipahu (8-6) 003 002 1 — 6 7 3
Moanalua (12-1) 000 002 2 — 4 9 3
Shevan DeFreitas, Tali Viliamu (3) and Shandell Palencia. Leisha Yamauchi and Chrissi Omalza. W—Viliamu. L—Yamauchi.
Leading hitters—Waip: Tammy Viliamu 2-3, 2 3b, RBI, 2 runs; Lauren Tauanuu 1-3, 3b, RBI, run. Moan: Kiana Mattos-Felicilda 2-4, run; Yamauchi 3-4, RBI, run; Omalza 2-4, 2 RBIs, run; Cyanne Fernandez 2-3, 2b.
Kapolei 6, No. 1 Mililani 3
Stacia Mahoe scored two runs and the Hurricanes overcame Joen Baker’s eight strikeouts and Mililani’s 10 hits to hand the Trojans their first loss of the season.
Kapolei faces Leilehua in the semifinals today at 5 p.m. at Central Oahu Regional Park for a spot in the title game. The Trojans host Kailua today with a state berth on the line.
At Mililani
Kapolei (8-6) 000 123 0 — 6 6 0
Mililani (12-1) 000 020 1 — 3 10 1
Kacee Navarro and Alecia Kupihea. Joen Baker and Kacie Oshiro. W—Navarro. L—Baker.
Leading hitters—Kap: Stacia Mahoe 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Navarro 1-3, 2b. Mil: Justine Fabella 2-4, 2b, run; Karly Macadangdang 2b, run; Kylie-Ann Bello 4-4, 2b, RBI.
Leilehua 6, Kailua 1
Kyla Larson’s two-run double highlighted a four-run, first-inning rally that powered the Mules.
At Kailua
Leilehua (8-6) 410 000 1 — 6 13 1
Kailua (9-4) 000 010 0 — 1 6 1
Chasity Stalcup and Kyla Larson, Kasey Auna (7). Teah Kauhi and Jamie Lasconia. W—Stalcup. L—Kauhi.
Leading hitters—Lei: Jazmyn Dangaran 2-4, 2b; Chenoa Au 3-4, 2 runs; Tiana Cantero-Kawelo 3-4; Larson 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Tihani Palomares 2b. Kail: Lindsey Farley 2-3; Tiani Lastimosa 2-3, HR.
OIA WHITE PLAYOFFS
Aiea 7, Waialua 1
Kailie Alama had three hits, including a pair of doubles, as Na Alii advanced to the semifinals by beating the Bulldogs. Aiea plays at Kaiser today.
At Aiea
Waialua (6-8) 100 000 0 — 1 4 3
Aiea (8-4) 112 300 x — 7 8 3
Sabrina Tolentino, Kaili Agabin (4), Tolentino (4) and Keahi Pang, Michaela Chalker (4). Raisa Storm-Okimoto and Kendra Chong. W—Storm-Okimoto. L—Tolentino.
Leading hitters—Aiea: Kailie Alama 3-4, 2 2b; Ashley Nakamoto 1-4, 2b; Kayla Higuchi 1-4, 2b.
McKinley 10, Radford 8
Tiare Sugui homered and drove in three runs to lead the Tigers past the Rams. McKinley plays at Nanakuli in a semifinal today.
At Radford
Radford (3-9) 005 010 2 — 8 8 3
McKinley (9-4) 234 010 x — 10 6 4
W—Kim Amor. L—Cheyanne Dochwat. Sv— Jillian Cristobal.
Leading hitters—Rad: Rose Lojkar 2-3, 2b; C. Lopez 3-3, 3b, 4 RBIs. McK: Tiare Sugui 2-4, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Grace Kapesi 2-3, RBI.
