Maui transfer Bartolotti hurls three-hitter, blasts 2 HRs to lead Kapolei

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Kapolei’s Cira Bartolotti runs home to score after hitting a home run in the first inning of Kapolei’s softball game against Mililani at McKinley softball field, Tuesday.

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Cira Bartolotti’s regular-season debut for the Kapolei Hurricanes was one to remember.

The Maui High transfer belted a three-run home run and a two-run homer, and pitched a three-hitter with nine strikeouts to power No. 4 Kapolei over No. 2 Mililani 9-2 at McKinley softball field on Tuesday.

Bartolotti moved to Oahu to live with her mother and siblings after staying with her father on Maui, where she was an ace for the Sabers last season.

“It’s been actually really good. The girls have been great,” Bartolotti said.

It was also the regular-season debut for longtime coach Keoke Behic with Kapolei.

“I feel good. It’s good to get the first one out of the way,” said Behic, who was coach at Pearl City until 2014, and then an assistant at Campbell. “The passion for the game is always there.”

The Hurricanes plated six runs in the first frame off Mililani ace Joie Baker, including a leadoff double from Lili Kaimi-Montira and a single by Kayla Alcott before Bartolotti made her regular-season debut at the plate with a monster three-run homer to left.

With two outs, Chasity McKeon singled to right and Kawena Hussey muscled a two-run home run over the center-field fence to give Kapolei a 5-0 lead. The next batter, Kiley Ozaki, then belted a shot that cleared both the softball and baseball fences for a six-run Hurricane lead. The Trojans ace settled down after that, but the Hurricanes had all the runs they would need.

The Trojans got baserunners on via three walks issued by Bartolotti in the first four innings, but the fireballer whiffed five batters over that span.

In the top of the fifth, Mililani finally got on the scoreboard with two runs. Kate Brown drew a one-out walk and Maya Saneishi reached on an infield single. With two outs, Cherise Mori sent a double to center, scoring both runners to cut the lead to 6-2.

Tatum Guzman led off the bottom of the fifth for Kapolei with a double to center, stole second base, and then scored on a two-out single to center by Ozaki.

The ’Canes added their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kaimi-Montira singled to right and with one out and Bartolotti blasted a towering shot over the center-field fence for her second homer.