Urgency and accuracy were on display in equal measure as Kamehameha seized a third straight Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular-season softball title.
This time it came in tie-breaker fashion over Maryknoll, 2-0 at the Spartans’ field at Sand Island Park on Friday.
A third pitchers’ duel between aces Kamalani Dung and Shearyna Labasan lived up to its billing — they each tossed a three-hitter — but the Warriors’ defense backed up Dung better throughout.
Kamehameha thusly punched its ticket as the ILH’s seeded representative to the state tournament and gets to rest up for two weeks.
Kamehameha’s last state title came back in 2008, though it made the championship game in 2013. The Warriors were upset 5-0 by Campbell in the quarterfinals last year.
"It feels good," said Dung, a senior, of Friday’s win. "I’m hoping this time around we can really get the job done. I think we just have to keep working hard continuously, getting better day in and day out. And I think this game really helped us to see what we need to do and what we need to work on."
Dung matched up with Labasan twice previously, including a 2-0 Maryknoll win on April 8. Warriors coach James Millwood observed Friday that Dung located her pitches the best of those meetings.
"I think the difference is that we actually showed up this time," Dung said. "This game was just about who could walk the walk."
Kamehameha scored twice in the first frame, started by a hard-hit RBI grounder to right by Mahina Sauer to score leadoff hitter Alana Cobb-Adams. Dallas Millwood added a run when the Spartans elected to throw home on a fielder’s choice but directed it too high for an error.
That was it for the scoring, but the Warriors made that support stand up, putting the Spartans away each time they threatened — which happened a lot.
Maryknoll put runners on base in six of seven innings. The Spartans were in scoring position in five of those frames.
All for naught, as the Warriors fielded their way out of trouble with some impressive snares.
"Kamalani Dung pitched a great game. Normally in every game we’ve been playing, we’ve been able to pull through, especially with two outs," Maryknoll coach John Uekawa said with a sigh. "The last game we played Kamehameha, we won 2-0. (Coach) Millwood said the same thing (then), that ‘we came across a pitcher that outpitched us today.’ We are going to win or lose off of defense and pitching, because that’s how championships are won. And they played better defense than us in comparable pitching today."
Most notably, Maryknoll threatened in the bottom of the fourth when Kanoe Tanigawa smacked a one-out double to right. Tanigawa advanced to third on a passed ball.
But Dung got Tamia Hirano to foul out and then struck out Kasey Magdadaro to end the threat as the Warriors came together and cheered on the way back to the dugout.
"Pitching and defense. We didn’t let them score," Millwood said of the difference for his squad this time. "They had a couple runners in scoring position, and we were able to shut it down every time. Kama Dung, one of the best pitchers, did a great job and our defense, her teammates supported her. They made all the plays necessary."
Labasan was Maryknoll’s toughest out all game and drew a two-out walk to keep the Spartans’ hopes alive in the bottom of the seventh. But Bree Soma grounded out to third to end it.
A disappointed Maryknoll squad must now contend with Punahou, Mid-Pacific and ‘Iolani in a one-and-done tournament for the league’s second and final berth next week. It begins against ‘Iolani at Sand Island at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Uekawa said.
| At Sand Island Field |
| Kamehameha |
200 |
000 |
0 |
— |
2 |
3 |
1 |
| Maryknoll |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
3 |
2 |
Kamalani Dung and Rachel Ogasawara. Shearyna Labasan and Nohea Hee. W–Dung. L–Labasan.
Leading hitters–Kamehameha: Jordan Millwood 2b. Maryknoll: Labasan 2b; Kanoe Tanigawa 2b.
