Kamehameha opens with win

Dallas Millwood drove in four runs and Rayla Jacobs-Kea scattered five hits as No. 3-ranked Kamehameha rallied past St. Francis 8-2 on Saturday night at McKinley’s Tiger Softball Stadium.

Millwood’s two-run double helped the Warriors push ahead of the Division II Saints in the top of the second inning. Jacobs-Kea was steady, allowing just one earned run for a complete-game victory. She fanned three and walked two in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu opener for both teams.

Millwood’s left-handed power at the third spot in the lineup was a fine complement for a speedy lineup of patient Kamehameha batters. Alana Cobb-Adams reached base three times, twice on walks, and stole three bases, scoring twice. Cleanup hitter Kyler Stevens was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

“St. Francis is very athletic. We knew they would throw different pitches at us with different pitchers,” Warriors coach James Millwood said.

His team laid three bunts down in the first three innings.

“It’s important to play small ball and keep (St. Francis) honest,” Millwood added.

Kamehameha looked every bit the part as the ILH’s defending champion in D-I.

“We knew they would bring the short game. Kamehameha is very quick,” Saints coach Randy Langsi said. “It’s a matter of keeping the game close and we didn’t do that. We will improve.”

St. Francis reached the D-II state semifinal round last season, losing to eventual runner-up Nanakuli. The Saints are now the lone D-II program in ILH softball; last year’s league champion, Pac-Five, moved up to D-I after winning the state crown.

The Saints jumped to a 1-0 lead off Jacobs-Kea in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Kaena Keliinoi reached base on an infield error and advanced to third base after Kolbee Kealoha walked and Skye Ah Yat singled. Keliinoi scored on Sammie Ofoia’s grounder to short, but Jacobs-Kea retired the next two batters to avoid further damage.

“This is her third year on varsity and the first time she ever pitched,” Millwood said of Jacobs-Kea, who was a right fielder last season. “She started with a little too much energy. Once we took the lead, she didn’t have to press.”

Shaylee Alani singled with one out for Kamehameha in the top of the second before two bunt plays turned the momentum. Mariah Motta laid down a bunt that was fielded by Ah Yat, the first baseman, who fell down. Motta reached first base safely and Alani raced all the way to third base. Gabrielle Tyrell followed with a bunt, which was scooped up by catcher Kalyn Higa, who looked Alani back to third and never made a throw to first. Tyrell reached base to load the sacks.

Jacobs-Kea then slapped a single to left, scoring Alani to tie the game at 1. After Cobb-Adams popped out, Saints pitcher Sierrah Kupikea had Millwood behind 0-2 when the slugger sent a drive to deep center, scoring Motto and Tyrell for a 3-1 lead.

The Warriors scored in the third when Tausani Tavale led off with a triple to center and scored on a squeeze bunt by Kaili Hopu-Castillo for a 4-1 lead.

While Jacobs-Kea found her groove on the mound, Kamehameha added another run in the fourth. With one out, Cobb-Adams walked, stole second base and reached third on a passed ball. She scored on an opposite-field single by Millwood, giving the Warriors a four-run lead.

Saints cleanup hitter Ofoia crushed a two-out solo home run to dead center in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 5-2. Hailey Matsumura followed with a single, but Jacobs-Kea didn’t allow another hit the rest of the way.

Cobb-Adams sparked a two-run sixth inning by the Warriors. She walked, stole second base and reached third on a fielding error. Millwood then delivered another clutch hit, singling to left, plating Cobb-Adams for a 6-2 Kamehameha lead. Millwood later scored on a two-single up the middle by Motto.

Pinch hitter Laa Bertulfo reached base on an infield error in the top of the seventh and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Stephens for an 8-2 lead.

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