Nohea Hee’s two-run double broke a tie in the bottom of the fifth inning as No. 7 Maryknoll capped a big rally with a 7-6 victory over No. 1 Kamehameha on Wednesday afternoon at Sand Island.
Maryknoll did every other team in Interscholastic League of Honolulu a big favor by handing the very young Warriors their first loss in league play. Kamehameha dropped to 5-1 while Maryknoll improved to 4-2. A loss would have been a major blow in the Lady Spartans’ quest to capture the regular-season title and an automatic state-tournament berth.
“Last week I said we haven’t peaked. Kamehameha has been so good,” Maryknoll coach John Uekawa said. “This shows a good sign for us. I’m so happy for a true team win. Everyone contributed.”
It was a unique day for Kahilu McNicoll, who started in the circle and pitched four innings, belted a solo homer, moved to right field, then returned in the seventh to notch a save in relief of Aloha Akaka. The freshman, Akaka, pitched two innings, allowing one run on three hits for the win.
“We always know we are a good team, and now we’re putting it together,” said McNicoll, who pitched five total innings.
The Warriors had won their first five games by margins of 10, four, nine, 12 and 12 runs.
“We needed to execute and do our job. We had times at bat we had runners in scoring position and didn’t come through,” Kamehameha coach James Millwood said. “Maryknoll and Kamehameha bring out the best in each other. It’s a credit to their team for battling back and hanging in there.”
Kamehameha jumped to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first against McNicoll when Maiah Motta walloped a grand slam to center. McNicoll persevered on the mound as her team chipped away. She dug in at the plate, too, ripping a first-pitch offering from Kamehameha starter Momi Lyman over the left-field fence in the second inning.
The Spartans reached Lyman and reliever Reese Mokuau for four runs in the bottom of the fourth, fueled by a combination of four singles and three walks.
Kaylah Santos singled with the bases loaded to bring Kanoe Tanigawa (single) home. Hee then walked on four pitches, forcing Liliana Thomas (single) to score from third. That cut the lead to 5-3. Logan Carlos followed with a single to left, plating McNicoll from third. With two outs, Baylie Kahele lined a single to center, allowing Santos to score from third with the tying run.
After surrendering a single in the top of the fifth, McNicoll traded places with Akaka.
Maryknoll pushed two runs across home plate in the bottom of the fifth. Thomas singled and McNicoll fouled off three pitches with a two-strike count before eventually walking. After Santos advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, Hee sliced a deep drive toward the opposite-field corner. The left fielder, Isha Knight, misread the corkscrew effect on the ball and it bounced into the fence. Thomas and McNicoll scored easily on the double to give Maryknoll its first lead at 7-5.
“I was looking outside. It was a fastball with good height,” Hee said. “I’ve been working all week on outside pitches.”
In the top of the seventh, Kamehameha had runners at second and third with no outs. Uekawa had McNicoll come in from right field to swap positions with Akaka again. McNicoll retired Motta and Shaylee Alani on groundouts, then struck out Alyssa Mahoe to end the game.
Kamehameha will host Pac-Five on Saturday. Maryknoll will play St. Francis on Saturday at Ala Wai Field.
