Mililani comes back to deal Pearl City another close loss

It’s hard to come closer to a victory and not succeed than the Pearl City softball team did on Thursday.

Instead, No. 3 Mililani — hitless through five innings at home — clutched up to score a run in the sixth and another in the seventh to steal a 2-1 win and stay a game behind top-ranked Campbell in the Oahu Interscholastic Association West.

Maya Yoshiura drove in the winning run with a two-out single, scoring Brooke Yasuda — who slid in safely by a hair after leading off the seventh by beating out an infield single and moving to second on Keri Togami’s sacrifice.

The comeback saved the solid effort of Trojans pitcher Aubree Kim, who twirled a one-hitter with eight strikeouts and five walks as Mililani improved to 6-1.

“I was trying to do something for my team because Aubree was working her butt off out there,” Yoshiura said about her game-ending hit. “She was pitching a great game for us. I just wanted to end the game so she wouldn’t have to go back out. Her mental game came into effect today and I’m really proud of her for that.”

Pearl City pitcher Tyanna Kaaialii was cruising along through five innings, but, with a 1-0 lead, ran into trouble in the sixth. Togami broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff double and went to third when Yoshiura reached on an error. With one out, Kaaialii intentionally walked Kristen Ishii to load the bases before Shannon Pascua-Stanton brought Togami in with a base hit for a 1-all tie. With the bases full, Kaaialii was fortunate to get the next two outs, preventing further damage.

“Both pitchers and both sides did very well,” said Chargers coach Chad Obara, whose team dropped to 3-4. “It boiled down to who was going to execute and they executed by coming up with that timely hit. If we play a small game the way we hope to play a small game, the game would have been over already, I think. But you cannot take anything away from Aubree. She’s a helluva pitcher and they have a helluva team. Our kids know we’re coming up a little short every time. It is a step in a positive direction. We’ve got to get some things cleaned up and hurry up doing it.”

Offered Kaaialii, who finished with a four-hitter: “This is probably the best we’ve played since the season started and from here, it can only get better. Our game is being stepped up and we need to step it up even more, so that we can show teams that we can win. Today definitely showed that.”

The Chargers broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth when Darian Obara walked, moved all the way to third on Kristin Frost’s sacrifice bunt and beat the throw home by a step on Kylie Tasaki’s sacrifice fly.

Mililani coach Rose Antonio said the Trojans did a good job of adjusting at the plate in the late stages.

“We needed to be more disciplined and swing at better pitches,” she said. “It was a very close game. The OIA West is very close and Pearl City is one of the top teams, too. Every team we face, it’s a battle.”

Yoshiura talked about the importance of the Trojans hitting the top of the ball.

“She (Kaaialii) pitched a a really nice game and she should be proud of that. She was hitting her spots and we were just getting under it a little. For me (on the winning hit), I wanted to swing down and hit it somewhere because Brooke is so fast and I knew she was going to go on the hit.”

Antonio had no complaints about the five walks given up by Kim, especially since the senior struck out eight.

“The strike zone was fairly small today and she just did her job,” the coach said. “What else can you ask from her? We’re working hard and trying to get better every outing.”

OIA DIVISION I EAST

Moanalua 15, Kaimuki 5

Na Menehune got off to a fast start, posting nine runs in the first inning in a win over the Bulldogs.

Kylie Kawelo went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and a home run for Moanalua, which moved over .500 for the season.

Lei Lani Mauricio and Lexus Mahiai. Shanelle Lum, Kyler Tsukada (5) and Raven Rosa-Lasco.

W–Lum. L–Mauricio.

Leading hitters–Kaim: Faye Laforterza 1-2, run, RBI. Moa: Iyana Reed 4-5, run, 3 RBI, 2 2B; Kylie Kawelo 4-4, run, 4 RBI, 3 2B, HR; Rosa-Lasco 2-4, run, 2 RBI, HR.

No. 5 Kaiser 4, Castle 2

The Cougars took advantage of six errors, as all four of their runs were unearned in a win over Castle.

Mele Turner and Moana Hillen. Seli Aholelei and Tiana Ching-Lake.

W–Aholelei. L–Turner.

Leading hitters–Cas: Rayla Keanu 2-3, run. Kas: Chelsea Soong 1-4, run, RBI.

OIA DIVISION I WEST

No. 3 Mililani 2, Pearl City 1

PB Kaaialii and Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi. Aubree Kim and Markie Okamoto

W–Kim. L–Kaaialii.

Leading hitters–PC: Darian Obara run; Kristin Frost SAC; Kyle Tasaki SF; Noel Saunders SAC. . Mil: Keri Togami 2b, run, SAC; Maya Yoshiura RBI, SAC; Okamoto SAC; Brooke Yasuda run.

No. 1 Campbell 6, Waianae 0

Sabers pitcher Elisa Favela was dominant in a win over the Seariders, striking out ten in a one-hit shutout.

Jocelyn Alo drove in two runs for Campbell.

R. Santiago and catcher not reported. Elisa Favela and Jocelyn Alo.

W–Favela. L–Santiago. S-.

Leading hitters–Wain: K. Cacho Kekahuna 1-2. Camp: Alo 2-3, 2 RBI; Cydney Curran 1-4, 2 runs, RBI.

No. 6 Kapolei 7, Leilehua 4

The Hurricanes took the lead in the fourth inning and never looked back in a win over the Mules.

Sadie Kapuku-You struck out eight while earning the win, and also had a home run with three RBIs. Laugatausala Pedebon had three hits for Kapolei.

Sadie Kapuku-You and Lili Kaimi. Chasity Stalcup, Kaena Nistal (5) and Staisa Mickey.

W–Kapuku-You. L–Stalcup.

Leading hitters–Kap: Laugatausala Pedebone 3-4, run; Kapuku-You 2-4, run, 3 RBI, HR; Lili Kaimi 2-2, RBI. Lei: Pomai Nahulu 2-4, run, RBI; Alo Salausa 2-4, run, RBI.

OIA DIVISION II

No. 9 Nanakuli 18, Waialua 6, 5 inn.

The Golden Hawks remained undefeated for the season with a rout of the Bulldogs.

Nanakuli received a combined eight RBIs and six runs from the battery of Chalyssa Belford and Kaila Burnett.

Chalyssa Belford and Kaila Burnett. Kaedy Hatchett and Lea’a Puleiala.

W–Delford. L–Hatchett.

Leading hitters–Nan: Belford 2-4, HR, 3B, 6 RBI, 3 runs; Burnett 4-5, 2 RBI, 3 runs; D. Kawaahau 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 3B, HR; Kekua 1-1, HR. Wail: Andrea Dicion 3-3, HR, 3 RBI, run; Gemelie Hatchie 3-3, 2B, RBI, run; Candace Basilio 2-3, RBI, 2 runs; Nova Rivera 2-3; Cheye Wong 2-3, run.

Aiea 7, Radford 2

Na Alii scored three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take control in a win over the Rams.

Chantelle Shimabukuro pitched Aiea to the win, and also went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs.

Taira Shibata drove in three runs for Aiea.

C. Farias and S. Auelua. Chantelle Shimabukuro and Mikelle Gonzalez.

W–Shimabukuro. L–Farias.

Leading hitters–Rad: K. Dusald 3B, RBI. Aiea: Shimabukuro 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Taira Shibata 3 RBI; Rayna Higuchi 2-3.