After watching Kapolei left fielder Dallas Pollard-Brownell secure the final flyball, Hurricane pitcher Sadie Kapaku-You flung her glove in the air to celebrate the 6-5 win and the program’s first OIA championship in 11 years.
Kapaku-You, a junior, gave herself a 4-2 lead with a grand slam in the top of the third inning and saw it slip away in Mililani’s three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth.
The Hurricanes reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh with the aid of two Mililani errors and two walks and Kapaku-You finished off the win in the OIA Division I championship game Saturday night at McKinley High School’s field.
The Hurricanes captured the program’s first title since 2005 and earned the OIA’s seeded berth in the upcoming Division I state tournament while ending Mililani’s two-year reign as league champion.
“I was just really happy, really excited and relieved because it was intense,” Kapaku-You said of the final out.
“It feels really good for our seniors because they work really hard and a lot of them played for four years and to finally get a banner for our community feels really great.”
The title was the third for Kapolei coach Tony Saffery, who led the Hurricanes to back-to-back titles in 2004 and ’05.
Mililani took the lead against Kapaku-You with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning and took a 2-0 lead on back-to-back doubles to the right-center gap by Merilas Rivera and Shannon Pascua Stanton.
Kapolei’s third inning rally started with a dropped pop-up and the Hurricanes flared singles to the left side to load the bases. Kapaku-You then fell behind by a strike before launching the next pitch out to left center for a go-ahead grand slam.
“I was just looking for a solid hit because the first time I came up to bat I popped up and I didn’t want to do that,” Kapaku-You said. “Bases loaded I wanted to drive in runs.”
In the circle, Kapaku-You relied on her teammates to hold off the Trojans into the sixth inning, getting 12 of her first 15 outs on ground balls.
An error on a grounder sparked Mililani’s rally in the bottom of the sixth. Tarah Aniya reached on the error and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. She then scored on Brooke Yasuda’s RBI groundout and Tracie Okumura, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning went to third on the play.
Keri Togami followed with a single between third and short to score Okumura with the tying run. Kristen Ishii’s flyball down the left-field line was dropped and Togami circled the bases to give Mililani the lead again.
Makana Meyers reached base on an error to lead off the top of the seventh and a single and a walk loaded the bases. Sala Pedebone then watched four balls go by to force Meyers in and tie the game 5-5.
“We weren’t looking for big, I just said put it in play,” Saffery said.
After a strikeout, Kim bobbled Pollard-Brownell’s grounder and Ciena Kauhi scored the go-ahead run.
Kapaku-You got the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh before Aniya lined a double to left field. But Pollard-Brownell caught the final fly to start Kapolei’s celebration.
OIA DIVISION I SOFTBALL
At McKinley |
Kapolei |
004 |
000 |
2 |
— |
6 |
5 |
3 |
Mililani |
200 |
003 |
0 |
— |
5 |
8 |
3 |
Sadie Kapaku-You and Lili Kaimi-Montira. Aubree Kim and Markie Okamoto. W–Kapaku-You. L–Kim.
Leadng hitters–Kapolei: Ciena Kauhi, 2-3; Kapaku-You, grand slam; Sala Pedebone, RBI. Mililani: Keri Togami, RBI; Merilas Rivera, 2B, RBI; Shannon Pascua-Stanton, 2B, RBI; Tarrah Aniya, 2-3, 2B;
Brooke Yasuda, 2B, RBI.
Campbell 6, Pearl City 3
Danielle Cervantes tossed a complete game to lead the Sabers to a third-place finish in the OIA.
Darian Obara scored a run for the Chargers.
At Campbell |
Pearl City |
000 |
100 |
2 |
— |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Campbell |
110 |
031 |
X |
— |
6 |
7 |
4 |
PB Kaaialii, Kristin Frost (5) and catcher not reported. Danielle Cervantes and catcher not reported.
W–Cervantes. L–Kaaialii.
Leading hitters–PC: Darian Obara 1-2, run; Kaaialii 1-1, RBI. Camp: Chardonnay Pantastico 3-4, 2 runs, RBI; Cydney curran 1-2, 2 runs.
Leilehua 6, No. 5 Kaiser 3
Brandi Leong batted 5-for-7 with a double, a home run and four runs scored as the Mules won a wild one against the Surfriders in a fifth-place semifinal game.
At Kaiser |
Leilehua |
000 |
024 |
0 |
— |
6 |
8 |
4 |
Kaiser |
011 |
010 |
0 |
— |
3 |
9 |
4 |
Chasity Stalcup, Kaena Nistal (5) and catcher not reported. Crystal Ching-Lake, Seli Aholeilei (6) and catcher not reported.
W–Nistal. L–Ching-Lake.
Leading hitters–Kais: Chelsea Soong 2-4, RBI; Aholeilei 2-4, run, RBI; Tiana Ching-Lake 2-3, run. Lei: Staisa Micky 2-3, run, RBI.
OIA DIVISION II SOFTBALL
At McKinley |
Aiea |
000 |
200 |
0 |
— |
2 |
4 |
1 |
Nanakuli |
000 |
100 |
2 |
— |
3 |
8 |
0 |
Poamai Tuli and Testimoni Tavale. Kanalei McCoy and Kaila Burnett.
W–McCoy. L–Tuli.
Leading hitters– Aiea: Chantelle Shimabukuro 1-3, run; Tuli 3-3, RBI. Nan: Burnett 2-4, 2B, RBI, run; Keani Sonognini-Keopuhiwa 1-3, run, HBP; Daria Kawaauhau 2-4, RBI; Mahina Piilani 2-2, sac; Kama Kaeo 1-3, 2B; Kika Mahoe 2-3, run.
Kalani 4, Farrington 1, 8 inn.
Cherise Horita struck out 10 in a complete-game effort and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to lead the Falcons past the Governors to claim third place in Division II.
At Farrington |
Kalani |
000 |
100 |
03 |
— |
4 |
5 |
1 |
Farrington |
001 |
000 |
00 |
— |
1 |
8 |
5 |
Cherise Horita and Kylie Pagud. Kaipo Castillo, Krislon Philpot-Rosa (4) and Kaycie OkadaW–Kapaku-You. L–Favela.
Leading hitters–Kaln: April Kochi 2-3, Horita 2-4, Sandi Matsumoto 2-3. Farr: Philpot-Rosa 3-4, Kasey Okada HR.
MIL division II SOFTBALL
Championship game
Lanai 9, Molokai 7