Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi’s two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted No. 2 Pearl City over No. 1 Campbell on Tuesday afternoon at the Chargers’ field. They improved to 4-0 in the rough Oahu Interscholastic Association West, dropping two-time defending state champion Campbell to 3-1.
Yamaguchi just needed an opportunity after struggling earlier against Campbell ace Dani Cervantes with a groundout and strikeout. The right-handed batter lined a fastball to right field, just like she had practiced.
“We’ve been working on it a lot. I was looking for the outside fastball. She was pitching outside all game,” Yamaguchi said.
It almost wasn’t to be after the visiting Sabers went ahead 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning despite a mostly dominant effort by senior ace Tyanna “Peanut Butter” Kaaialii.
“In my head, I was telling myself to calm down. It was getting there, and that’s how strong our team bond is,” said Kaaialii, who struck out 10, walked two and hit one batter. “It’s taken four years for this to happen. It’s not an upset. It was coming.”
The Sabers got a superb pitching performance from Cervantes, who fanned five and walked just one. Both Pearl City runs were unearned. At the plate, the Sabers simply spent most of the afternoon trying to keep up with Kaaialii.
“We didn’t adjust to her pitches. Peanut Butter did a good job,” Campbell coach Michael “Shag” Hermosura said. “She threw her drop, then the riser, and fastball and curve outside. They mixed her pitches. They worked hard for a big win.”
Chargers coach Chad Obara considered the victory an upset.
“I think so because of what Campbell has been able to do. They’re proven,” he said. “But we’ll just try to keep things of equal value. Every at-bat, every game, they’re equal, and we have to face facts. It’s early. A championship game would be the same as today.”
Campbell didn’t get a baserunner on until the fourth inning. Kaaialii had four strikeouts after three frames. Pearl City managed to get a single from Darian Obara in the first, a bunt single by Bryanna Passi in the third, a single by Jaeda McFarland in the fourth and a single by Cheyne Obara in the sixth. The Chargers didn’t get a runner in scoring position against Cervantes until the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Taylor Shigeta reached base when shortstop Alesia Ranches lost control of a ground ball. After Kylie Tasaki singled to center, Shigeta advanced to third. After Cervantes fanned McFarland, Obara walked to load the bases.
Noel Saunders popped out for the second out, bringing Yamaguchi to the plate. She socked a 1-0 pitch to the opposite field, scoring Shigeta and Tasaki to give the Chargers a 2-1 lead. Two pitches later with Kaaialii at the plate, Yamaguchi was caught off first base and tagged out to end the inning.
The Sabers got a leadoff walk by Anastasia Iosia in the top of the seventh, but Kaaialii whiffed Curran and got Liana Nagamine and Zoe Streadbeck to pop out. The third baseman, Tasaki, made a tough catch on Streadbeck’s foul pop, keeping both feet in the field of play as she hauled the ball in like Julio Jones to end the game.
