Dung leads the way as Kamehameha defeats Moanalua

Two runs might not look like much of a lead on the scoreboard. But the margin tends to appear a whole lot wider with Kamalani Dung in the circle.

The Kamehameha sophomore gave up a run early in Thursday’s state tournament semifinal matchup with Moanalua. But once the Warriors gave her the lead, Dung made sure it stood up in a 3-1 win that sent Kamehameha to the Division I final of the DataHouse/HHSAA Softball State Championship.

"Her toughness, the way she fights out there, she brings the team tighter just being out there and having her set the pace," Kamehameha head coach Aloha Yamaguchi said.

Kamehameha, the tournament’s top seed, faces ILH rival Punahou for the title at 7 p.m. at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The Warriors and Buffanblu split their meetings in the regular season with the tiebreaker coming tonight with a state title on the line.

"Playing in this type of moment in states is going to be a good matchup for both of us," Yamaguchi said. "Because we see each other in the regular season, both teams know the pitching, the defense, the hitters. All around it’s going to be an even matchup."

While Kamehameha will be seeking the program’s ninth state championship and first since 2008, reaching the final represents a new experience for the current group after falling in the semifinals a year ago.

Dung got a taste of playing in the state tournament as a freshman, winning her start in last year’s quarterfinals. She’s now carrying the pitching load as a sophomore and finished with 11 strikeouts while holding Moanalua to three hits on Thursday.

"Knowing how it feels being on the stage right, now I know you can’t take anything for granted," Dung said. "The defense did it; the girls held strong. I give lots of props to my catcher (Rachel Ogasawara). She held on to so many balls out there for me, she saved so many strikeouts."

Moanalua, the sixth seed out of the OIA Red, took the early lead and stayed within striking distance throughout thanks to solid defense and an inspired pitching performance from Leisha Yamauchi. The junior held Kamehameha to four hits and struck out three in a complete-game effort.

"Unreal. This is her best pitching performance I’ve seen ever," Moanalua coach Kristie Morikawa said. "It’s very interesting it comes in the most high-profile, high-pressure game probably in her whole life.

"(Na Menehune) wanted respect and I think they got it tonight."

Moanalua’s early lead didn’t last long. With runners on second and third in the bottom of the inning, Kamehameha senior Kaya Naiwi lined a single into left field to drive in both runs.

"For them to come back in a game like this was big," Yamaguchi said. "To come out right after, it shows a lot about them."