For the young Cougars of Kaiser, the pressure was on.
The Cougars came up clutch, scoring six runs in the fourth inning to break a stalemate, handing first-place Moanalua a 10-9 loss on Thursday afternoon at gusty Ted Fukushima Athletic Complex.
Kaiser closed the gap, improving to 7-2-1 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association East, while Moanalua took its first loss in league play and slipped to 6-1-1. Because the teams played to a 4-all tie earlier in the season, Thursday’s result means that Kaiser will have the tiebreaker edge if the teams finish regular-season play tied.
“We were lucky,” longtime Kaiser coach Mitch Matsumoto said. “This is our third game we’re missing at least two starters. Hoku (Kaneaiakala) hit well. She didn’t even play last year.”
Kaneaiakala hit 2-for-3 with an RBI. She scored a run during the pivotal fourth inning. Trinidee Kahunahana paced Kaiser at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. Leadoff hitter Tahani Kahawai-Robertson went 2-for-3 with a key two-run triple in the fourth.
Sophomore pitcher Prim Aholelei felt the burden with two teammates ruled academically ineligible, but she was steady most of the way. With Aholelei tiring, Moanalua rallied with five runs in the top of the seventh inning, including a wild final sequence that resulted in two runs and a runner thrown out at third base to end the contest.
Trailing 10-4, Na Menehune got a leadoff double by Rhyl Arakawa-Lee and a walk by Mari Kimoto. After pinch hitter Kellie Kitano-Maguire’s fielder’s choice grounder scored Arakawa-Lee, the lead was down to five runs.
Pinch hitter Megan Oshiro walked and pinch hitter Aleksya Batoon lined a single to right, bringing Kamioka and Kori Young (re-entry) home. That made it 10-7.
Aholelei then hit Kylie Kawelo, and after Raven Rosa-Lasco flew out to left for the second out, the chaotic game-ending sequence ensued.
Hilari Balenti reached base on an infield single and Batoon raced home to score, beating the throw by the shortstop, Kahawai-Robertson. Catcher Nala Dombrowski, sprawled on the dirt, winged a wobbly throw in the vicinity of third base, where Kawelo slid in safely. With the ball rolling in the infield, Kawelo sprinted home and beat the throw, scoring Moanalua’s ninth run. However, Balenti kept going around the bases, and this time Dombrowski’s rifle throw to third base nabbed Balenti for the final out.
It was a bizarre game — seven errors total with winds blowing in from left field up to 25 mph — on several fronts. Kimoto, Moanalua’s freshman starting pitcher, went 32⁄3 innings, allowing eight hits and nine runs, but none of the runs were earned due to untimely errors by her defense. She struck out two and walked three before being relieved by Jade Young, another ninth-grader.
Moanalua finished with 13 hits against the gritty Aholelei, but stranded 12 runners. Aholelei fanned three, walked four and hit four batters.
Moanalua’s first East defeat shouldn’t sting too badly, coach Kristie Morikawa said.
“You lose the game, you don’t lose the lesson,” she said. “We have a lot of young kids, so the fight is always there. The last time we were on top (of the standings), we had eight or 10 seniors. We’ve got to play better defense, especially with two outs. It all comes with experience. Tomorrow, we’ll be fine. Losses early on don’t hurt.”
OIA East Softball
Kaiser 10, Moanalua 9
At Kaiser
Moanalua (6-1-1) 000 301 5 — 9 13 3
Kaiser (7-2-1) 300 610 x — 10 10 4
Mari Kimoto, Jada Young (4) and Raven Rosa-Lasco. Prim Aholelei and Nala Dombrowski.
W—Aholelei. L—Kimoto.
Leading hitters—Moa: Summer Kamioka 1-4, 2 RBIs; Aleksya Batoon 2-2, double, 2 RBIs, run; Rosa-Lasco 2-3, run, 2 HBP; Rheyl Arakawa-Lee 2-2, run. Kais: Tahani Kahawai-Robertson 2-3, triple, HBP, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Trinidee Kahunahana 3-4, double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Aholelei 1-4, double, 2 RBIs, run; Kayla Russell 1-4, 2 runs.
Farrington 7, Kalaheo 5
At Kalaheo
Farrington (3-5) 003 022 0 — 7 6 3
Kalaheo (1-6) 010 004 0 — 5 6 4
Krislon Philpot-Rosa and Kaycie Okada. Michelle Sasaki and Shaley Salis.
W—Philpot-Rosa. L—Sasaki.
Leading Hitters—Farr: Kylie Carganilla 3 runs; Racquel Abrero 2-4, HR, 2 RBI. Kalh: Salis 2-3, 3 RBI.
OIA West softball
No. 5 Mililani 11, Nanakuli 3
At Mililani
Nanakuli (1-7) 000 030 0 — 3 5 1
Mililani (6-2) 030 611 x — 11 12 3
Chaly Belford, Cranci Kamaka (5) and Kaila Burnette. Misha Carreira and Markie Okamoto
W—Carreira. L—Belford.
Leading Hitters—Nan: Lima Cabico 2-4; Keani Brown-Nahinu 2-3, 3 RBI, HR. Mil: Tarah Aniya 2-3; Okamoto 2-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR; Taylor Schmerbauch 2-4.
No. 1 Campbell 3, Kapolei 0
At Campbell
Kapolei (2-6) 000 000 0 — 0 4 0
Campbell (7-1) 003 000 x — 3 4 4
Sadie Kapaku-You and Chanelle Makinney. Danielle Cervantes and Jocelyn Alo.
W—Cervantes. L—Kapaku-You.
Leading Hitters—Camp: Cieana Curran 2-3, run, RBI; Alo 2 RBI.
No. 8 Leilehua 15, Waianae 2
At Waianae
Leilehua (5-3) 284 1x — 15 9 1
Waianae (0-7) 002 00 — 2 7 5
Kamryn Kamakaiwi, Alyssa Abe (4) and Staisa Mickey, Shea Tammarine (3). Hepua Tambaoan, Lena Kotrys (4), Tawni Kalahiki (5) and Tyra Pai.
W—Kamakaiwi. L—Tambaoan.
Leading Hitters—Lei: Brandi Leong 2-2, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Reilyenne Nahulu 2-3, 2 runs; Gianna Araki 2 runs, 3 RBI. Wain: Paia’ala Wilcox-Molina 2-3.
NON-LEAGUE SOFTBALL
Washington Union Invitational
At Fresno, Calif.
St. Francis 13, Taft (Calif.) 3, 5 inn.
