Sierra Mariano did just about everything a batter can do Wednesday except tear the cover off the ball.
Mariano hit a three-run homer and added three doubles to push No. 2 Campbell to a 12-0, five-inning, mercy-rule victory over Leilehua in the quarterfinals of the OIA softball tournament in Ewa Beach.
The win locked up a state-tournament berth for the Sabers (12-1), who move on to a 5 p.m. semifinal game today against No. 6 Pearl City at McKinley.
"She’s been clutch for us throughout the whole season," Campbell coach Michael Hermosura said. "She gives us good leadership and she’s a big bat for us."
The Mules (5-9) can make the state tournament if they beat Kailua on Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Surfriders’ home field.
"We lost today, but there’s still tomorrow," Leilehua coach Stacy Araki said. "It was big loss. It’s very disappointing and it hurts. We knew we needed to play an almost close to perfect game to win. Now, it’s about coming out tomorrow with a positive attitude. We still have a chance to make the states."
Araki lamented her team’s four errors, while Mules pitcher Chelsea Lobitos, who went the distance allowing six earned runs out of the 12, called it a "bad day for everyone."
Mariano’s two-run double and Caragh Morris’ two-run single keyed Campbell’s seven-run first inning.
The Sabers made it 9-0 in the second, with Mariano leading the way again by doubling and scoring on error.
With two runners on in the bottom of the fifth, Morris rocketed a ball over the head of right fielder Pomai Nahalu and quickly circled the bases to finish off the three-run blast and the mercy-rule victory.
"On my first hit, I felt very confident," Mariano said. "So I maintained that same swing as a stepping-stone to my other at-bats. I just try to help my team the best way I can, advancing runners so we can win games."
Nashlynn Anguay, who will play for Chaminade next season, made a diving catch of a shallow liner off the bat of the Mules’ Mahea Calizo in the fourth.
"That was a good ESPN Top 10 plays kind of catch," said Hermosura, who then voiced the SportsCenter jingle, "da-na-na … na-na-na."
The Sabers’ Elisa Favela earned the win with four innings in the circle and she combined on a one-hitter with reliever Dani Cervantes, who sat Leilehua down 1-2-3 in the fifth.
"We wanted to get Dani some needed innings," he said.
Shortstop Brandi Leong singled to right in the third for the Mules’ only hit.
| At Campbell |
| Leilehua (5-9) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
1 |
4 |
| Campbell (12-1) |
720 |
03 |
— |
12 |
12 |
1 |
Chelsea Lobitos and Staisa Micky; Elisa Favela, Dani Cervantes (5) and Kiana Ulufale. W–Favela. L–Lobitos.
Leading hitters–Campbell: Chardonnay Pantastico 2 runs, RBI; Cydney Curran 2-4; Sierra Mariano 4-4, 3 2Bs, HR, 5 RBIs, 3 runs; Nashlynn Anguay 2 runs; Caragh Morris 2-3, 2 RBIs; Nikki Corla 2-2, 2 RBIs.
Mililani 12, Castle 2, 6 inn.
Aubree Kim struck out 13 batters and allowed only two hits as the Trojans routed the Knights in six innings.
Mililani will play in its 23rd consecutive state tournament.
| At Mililani |
| Castle |
000 |
200 |
— |
2 |
2 |
3 |
| Mililani |
202 |
125 |
— |
12 |
10 |
1 |
Asia Igafo, Kacie Lum (6) and Taylor Ah Mook Sang. Aubree Kim and Markie Okamoto. W–Kim. L–Igafo.
Leading hitters–Castle: Kaylee Ishii 2b, 2 RBIs; Darrien Dacosin 2b. Mililani: Keri Togami 2-4, 2 runs, RBI; Merilas Rivera 3-3, 2b, run, 3 RBIs; Brooke Yasuda, 2-2 2 runs, 2 RBIs.
Pearl City 4, Kailua 2
Darian Obara went 3-for-4 at bat, hitting a double and droving in two runs as the Chargers defeated the Surfriders to earn a state berth.
| At Kailua |
| Pearl City |
100 |
020 |
1 |
— |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| Kailua |
000 |
002 |
0 |
— |
3 |
4 |
2 |
Tyanna Kaaialii and Hope Casarez. Dyani Cummings-Lani and Denise Nagayama.
W–Kaaialii. L–Cummings-Lani.
Leading hitters–Pearl City: Darian Obara 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs. Kailua: Delcie Williams 2b, RBI; Moani Kupahu 2b, RBI.
Kaiser 11, Kapolei 1, 6 inn.
Seli Aholelei was outstanding on offense, hitting a triple and home run to lead the Cougars past the Hurricanes. Kaiser clinched a spot in the Division I state tournament for the first time since 1997.
| At Kaiser |
| Kapolei |
000 |
001 |
— |
1 |
4 |
2 |
| Kaiser |
200 |
162 |
— |
11 |
14 |
3 |
Seli Aholelei and Tiana Ching-Lake. Sadie Kapaku-You, Laugatausala Pedebone (5) and Lili Kaimi.
W–Aholelei. L–Kapaku-You.
Leading hitters–Kapolei: Dallas Pollard-Brownell 2b, RBI. Kaiser: Aholelei 3-3, 3b, HR, 3 RBIs; Rainelle Matsuoka 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Marissa Oda 2b, 2 RBIs.
OIA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS
KALAHEO 7, KAHUKU 6
Shandi Belin scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Mustangs beat the Red Raiders.
Belin was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, sacrifed to second and stole third base.
| At Kalaheo |
| KAHUKU |
020 |
013 |
0 |
— |
6 |
8 |
2 |
| KALAHEO |
112 |
200 |
1 |
— |
7 |
8 |
4 |
Jocelyn Alo and J. Uli. Jacqui Howard and Michelle Sasaki.
W–Howard. L–Alo.
Leading hitters–Kahuku: Sabrina Alo 3-3, 3b, 2 runs, 4 RBIs. Kalaheo: Howard 2-4, 2b; Tiffany Beach 2-4, 2b.
Waialua 14, Farrington 6
Selena Victoria went 4-for-4 at bat and ripped two home runs to lead the Bulldogs past the Governors.
| At Farrington |
| Waialua |
221 |
423 |
1 |
— |
14 |
14 |
2 |
| Farrington |
102 |
012 |
0 |
— |
6 |
4 |
4 |
Danielle Maxwell and Laola Pang. Kaipo Castillo, Kelia Miller (4), Kylie Carganilla (6) and Kaycie Okada.
W–Maxwell. L–Castillo.
Leading hitters–Waialua: Selena Victoria 4-4, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs; Andrea Dicion 3-5, 2b, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Christel Agtina 3-4, HR, 4 runs, 2 RBIs; Keahi Pang 2-4; Alaina Bayudan 2-4, RBI. Farrington: Castillo 2-3, 3b, 2 RBIs.
