Woe for any team that takes the ‘Iolani Raiders lightly.

Fifth-ranked Punahou knew better, of course, rallying for a 4-2 win over their arch rivals on a sweltering hot Saturday morning at Ala Wai Elementary School field. 

Starting pitcher Nicole Nishizawa went the distance for a three-hitter, permitting just one earned run. The right-hander struck out eight and walked one. 

She staved off the relentless Raiders in the bottom of the seventh, stranding runners in scoring position. ‘Iolani had Karley Devens (single) and Maddie Ikeda (walk) at second and first when Nishizawa got Leila Anonia to ground out. With both runners advancing on the play — Ikeda representing the potential tying run — Nishizawa then retired Macy Uyehara on a grounder to short to end the game. 

"The heat is definitely not what we’re used to," Nishizawa said as temperatures hovered in the high 80s for a game that ended shortly after high noon. "’Iolani is a great hitting team, and my change-up and riser were faltering toward the end." 

The win kept Punahou 

(7-1) a half-step behind ILH leaders Kamehameha (7-0-1) and Maryknoll (7-1-1) with six games left on the regular-season slate. The first-place finisher will earn an automatic state-tournament berth. The second state berth will be up for grabs in the league’s playoff tournament. ‘Iolani dropped to 2-7. 

"It was a typical Punahou-‘Iolani game. No matter what the (win-loss) records are, you just throw them out," Buffanblu coach Bobby Makahilahila said. "The close games are important. They help you figure out how good you are against the best."

It was close enough to the end that the longtime coach contemplated replacing Nishizawa with fireballer Bailey Akimseu in the last few innings. 

"Nicole has a goal of finishing her games, this being her senior year. We need her to know that we’re counting on her," he said. 

Nishizawa, who struck out five of the first six Raiders at the plate, allowed an unearned run in the fourth inning as ‘Iolani took a 1-0 lead on a double to left field by Alyssa Espiritu. 

Punahou’s bats came alive in the top of the fifth inning against Kennedi Lopes. Jessica Shimoda tripled to deep center, and after Elyse Nakamoto walked and stole second base, Sarah Sumida’s single to center brought both baserunners home for a 2-1 Buffanblu lead. 

The visitors added a run in the fifth after Espiritu, in relief, hit two batters and Janell Sato’s sacrifice fly to center brought courtesy runner Sunny Rosario home for a 3-1 Punahou lead. Rosario was in for Akimseu, who was hit on the foot to begin the inning. 

The sixth inning was a big one for the Buffanblu defensively. With one out and Macy Uyehara at first, ‘Iolani’s Cassie Ho belted a mammoth shot to deep left. However, with the left-field line roughly 230 feet away, Nakamoto, the outfielder, corralled the ball at the fence. In just about any other park, the ball would’ve been long gone and the score would’ve been tied. 

"Elyse made a great play," Nishizawa said. 

It appeared that tradewinds (5-15 mph) held the ball up a bit. 

"If that was a regular field, the ball probably would’ve been out," Nakamoto said. "I knew I was getting pretty close to the fence." 

The Buffanblu tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh with two outs. Nishizawa reached base on an infield error, and Akimseu blasted a triple to the fence in right center to bring courtesy runner Lauryn Tachino home. 

Lopes, who started and went 41/3 innings before being replaced, returned to the mound in the sixth and went two more full innings. She gave up three runs on six hits in a total of 61/3 innings with one strikeout and one walk. 

For most ILH teams, it’s going to be about the playoffs. 

"For our kids, we’d would like to win the close games for their morale," ‘Iolani coach Corey Okamura said. "As coaches, we’re happy just getting better with each game. We’ve had a lot of games that were close. A break here or there and it’s a different story." 

Punahou has three key games next week, including a home-field showdown with Kamehameha on Saturday. 

Nicole Nishizawa and Janell Sato. Kennedi Lopes, Alyssa Espiritu (5), Lopes (6) and Cassie Ho. W–Nishizawa. L–Lopes. 

Leading hitters–Punahou: Sarah Sumida 2-4, 2 RBIs; Bailey Akimseu 1-3, 3B, RBI, run; Sato 1-2, RBI; Jessica Shimoda 1-3, 3B, run. ‘Iolani: Espiritu 1-3, 3B, Karley Devens 1-3, run. 

ILH SOFTBALL

No. 2 Kamehameha 15, Sacred Hearts 1 (5 inn.) 

Jordan Millwood went 2-for-2 with a grand slam and seven RBIs and Chris Hipa added three hits and four RBIs as the Warriors beat the Lancers. 

Hipa and Mahina Sauer combined on a two-hitter for Kamehameha.

Kaua Huihui-Awa, Kiley Ozaki (3) and Divine Victorino. Chris Hipa, Mahina Sauer (3) and Rachel Ogasawara. W–Sauer. L–Huihui-Awa.

Leading hitters–Sacred Hearts: Huihui-Awa HR. Kamehameha: Hipa 3-3, 4 RBIs; Kalei Kaneshiro 2b; Jordan Millwood 2-2, grand slam, 7 RBIs; Lia Tom 2-2.

No. 4 Maryknoll 8, Pac-Five 0

Shearyna Labasan tossed a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts  to lead the Spartans over the Wolfpack. 

Kanoe Tanigawa scored twice for Maryknoll. 

Megan Yoshioka, Kiara Peterson (5) and Kailee Russell. Shearyna Labasan and Nohea Hee. W–Labasan. L–Yoshioka.

Leading hitters–Maryknoll: Labasan 2-3; Hee 2-3; Kanoe Tanigawa 2b, 2 runs.

OIA EAST SOFTBALL

Castle 13, Moanalua 3 (6 inn.)

Kaylee Ishii blasted a home run and drove in three runs to lift the Knights over Na Menehune. 

Castle scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning on three hits, a pair of walks and two hit batsmen. 

Kacie Lam and Taylor Ah Mook-Sang. Jordan Snow, Kyler Tsukada and Makamae Kaleikini.

W–Lam. L–Snow.

Leading hitters–Castle: Asia Igafo 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Ariel Hendricks 3b, 2 RBIs; Kaylee Ishii HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI. Moanalua: Summer Kamioka 2-3, 2b; Snow 2-2; Kylie Kawelo 2b.

No. 10 Kaiser 27, McKinley 1 (5 inn.)

Cougars pitcher Seli Aholelei helped her cause by driving in three runs on a homer and two triples, while teammate Chelsea Soong went 5-for-5 with three RBIs in the blowout.

Seli Aholelei and Tiana Ching-Lake. Jillian Cristobal and Majorlyn McMillan. W–Aholelei. L–Cristobal.

Leading hitters–Kaiser: Aholelei 4-6, 2 3bs, HR, 3 RBIs; Chelsea Soong 5-5, 3 RBIs. 

OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL

No. 1 Mililani 17, Waianae 0 (5 inn. )

Aubree Kim pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts and Merilas Rivera had two home runs and five RBIs as the Trojans beat the Seariders.

Bailey Pittman and Kayla Hensley. Aubree Kim and Markie Okamoto. W–Kim. L–Pittman.

Leading hitters–Waianae: Breani Simpson-Baker 2b; Kalei Cacho-Kekahuna 2b. Mililani: Merilas Rivera 2-3, 2 HR, 3 runs, 5 RBIs; Maya Yoshiura 2-4, 2 runs; Kylie Ann Bello 2-4, 2 runs; Tristan Cozo 2-3, 2b; Brooke Yasuda 2-3.

No. 3 Campbell 6, Leilehua 1

Elisa Favela pitched a five-hitter with 11 strikeouts as the Sabers beat the Mules. 

Favela drove in two runs and Cydney Curran scored twice for Campbell. 

Chasity Stalcup and Staisa Micky. Elisa Favela and Sierra Mariano. W–Favela. L–Stalcup.

Leading hitters–Leilehua: Shanaye Mattson 2-3. Campbell: Cydney Curran 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Caragh Morris 2-3, 2b; Favela 2b, 2 RBIs. 

OIA WHITE SOFTBALL

Farrington 11, Radford 10 (8 inn.)

Kailee McGloghlan hit a two-run walkoff homer to cap the Governors’ four-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning.

After Farrington scored a run in the seventh to tie it at 7, Radford scored three in the top of the eighth.

Kaipo Castillo had four RBIs and McGloghlan finished with two home runs and three RBIs for Farrington.

Ciera Farias and Suzzana Saelua. Kaipo Castillo and Kaycie Okada. W–Castillo. L–Farias.

Leading hitters–Radford: Farias 2b; Saelua 3-5, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Cameron Lopez 2-5, HR, 2 RBIs. Farrington: Kailee McGloghlan 2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBIs; Okada 2-3, 2b; Jazmayne Williams 2b; Castillo 3-4, 3b, HR, 4 RBIs; Nicole Tagataese 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs.

Kalaheo 4, Kahuku 3

Kalaheo 11, Kahuku 10

Jacqui Howard pitched a three-hitter and Cyler Meredith drove in two runs as the Mustangs beat the Red Raiders in the first game.

In the second game, Autumn Grant drove in two runs for Kalaheo.

Kahuku’s Jocelyn Alo homered three times and drove in seven runs in the doubleheader.

Jocelyn Alo and Napua Galletes. Jacqui Howard and Michelle Sasaki. W–Howard. L–Alo.

Leading hitters–Kahuku: S. Alo HR; J. Alo 2-2, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs. Kalaheo: Howard 2-4; Cyler Meredith 2-2, 2 RBIs.

Jacqui Howard and Michelle Sasaki. Jocelyn Alo, A. Sorenson (2) and Napua Galletes.

W–Howard. L–Sorenson.

Leading hitters–Kalaheo: Autumn Grant 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Cyler Meredith 2-5, 2b. Kahuku: Alo 2 HR, 5 RBIs.