Nanakuli claims crown with wild win

Nanakuli’s reign as Division II state champion went down to its final strike — and beyond.

A wild pitch on a swinging third strike with two outs in the top of the seventh extended the final game of the DataHouse/HHSAA Division II Softball Championship, and Nanakuli capitalized on the new life to retain the title with an 8-5 win over Waimea on Friday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Golden Hawks and Menehunes traded wild momentum swings in the final three innings, with Nanakuli ending up with the championship trophy for a second straight year.

"These kids are resilient," Nanakuli coach Ricky Gusman said. "I made a couple calls, just went on gut feeling and the girls showed up and it happened."

Alexis Paulo-Meyers ignited Nanakuli with a home run to lead off the game and capped the scoring with a two-run double in the top of the seventh.

Her niece, Raynette Meyers-Kahalehoe, delivered a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the sixth inning and was at the plate with two out in the seventh and Nanakuli trailing 5-4 with runners on second and third.

Down two strikes, Meyers-Kahalehoe swung at a pitch in the dirt and the ball went to the backstop, allowing her to reach first while the tying run stunningly crossed the plate.

"It was a break," Gusman said. "In every good ballgame there gonna be breaks somewhere."

Charallen Mahoe followed with a single to left to bring in Ashley Van Gieson with the go-ahead run, and Paulo-Meyers gave the Golden Hawks a three-run margin with her double.

Chyanne Koko protected the lead in the bottom of the seventh to close out a complete-game victory, and Nanakuli celebrated its second title.

"It means a lot knowing that we worked really hard for this game and to win it is just great," Paulo-Meyers said.

"I believed in my team 100 percent."

"We made some mistakes. Things happen in the game," Waimea coach Teddy Perreira said. "That’s OK. We had fun."

After Nanakuli jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, Waimea scratched out a run in the third and executed four bunts to spark a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth.

With Waimea up 4-2, Gusman summoned Meyers-Kahalehoe from the bench in the top of the sixth and the sophomore rewarded him with a two-run homer to center field to tie the game.

"My coach told me to stay positive and … I was really happy I hit that home run because my team was counting on me," Meyers-Kahalehoe said.

After giving up the shot, Waimea pitcher Kiani Kamakea came up with two outs in the bottom of the inning and launched a go-ahead homer to left field.

Kamakea walked two batters in the seventh, and Meyers-Kahalehoe was allowed to re-enter again to hit for Daria Kawaauhau with two outs.

After a wild pitch advanced the runners into scoring position, a lengthy discussion followed on whether Meyers-Kahalehoe was still eligible to return. 

"She can enter the game twice," Gusman said. "(The Waimea coaches were) saying because she was a non-starter I couldn’t use her again. But we’ve been doing it all season." 

Chyanne Koko and Kaila Burnett. Kiani Kamakea and Karlyee Malapit. W–Koko. L–Kamakea.

Leading hitters–Nanakuli: Alexis Paulo-Meyers, 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs; Daria Kawaauhau, RBI; Raynette Meyers-Kahalehoe, HR, 2 RBIs; Charallen Mahoe, RBI. Waimea: Kamakea, HR; Bailey Bailey San Agustin-Nordmeier, 2-4; Alyssa Miyamoto, 2-3; Saecha Padasdao-Oyamot, RBI; Taylor Lazaro, 2B, RBI; Jacey Sabala-Rapanot, RBI.

THIRD PLACE

St. Francis 7, Aiea 1, 5 inn.

Kayla Higuchi and Tessie Tavale. Tiare Guerrero, Shaye Simms (3), Caryn Chinen (5) and Taiana Creekmur. W–Simms. L–Higuchi.

Leading hitters–StF: Danielle Antolin 3-3, 3 RBIs, HR; Rasela Vili HR, 2 RBIs.a