No fence, no problem.
The Waianae Seariders overcame a four-run deficit for a resounding 17-8 win over Moanalua on Wednesday afternoon in an OIA Division I playoff game at Na Menehune field.
The home team, Moanalua, opted wisely to not put an outfield fence up, the better to play Waianae’s immense home run power. It also gave Moanalua’s line-drive gap hitters a better chance to round the bases, which they did early on.
In the end, however, there was no solution for the Seariders’ top-to-bottom hitting skills. The Hensley cousins, Kayla and Kiani, came up with home runs as Waianae (5-8) advanced to the quarterfinal round. The Seariders, the sixth seed from the rugged West, will visit Leilehua, the West runner-up, today.
“They work hard all week, so we go out and play hard,” Waianae coach Aina Kalaola said.
“We always start out rough,” said Kayla Hensley, the senior second baseman. “Then we get that spark.”
Moanalua, the third-place team from the East, closed the season 9-4.
“We came a long way. The girls had to adapt to new coaches and a new culture. They bought in,” first-year head coach Dean Oshiro said. “Our pitchers threw strikes and Waianae hit the ball. Give all the credit to them.”
The home team opened with three runs in the bottom of the first. Summer Kamioka led off with a walk and scored on a triple in the right-center gap by Kellie Kitano-Maguire. Raven Rosa-Lasco then lined a shot in the same alley for a two-run homer.
Moanalua added one run in the second when Kamioka singled with two outs and came home on a triple to right by Kitano-Maguire.
Down 4-0, Waianae finally got warmed up in the top of the third against Moanalua starter Jada Young. The visitors sent 11 batters to the plate, getting RBI singles from Xailey Kamealoha, Gianni Souza-Bradbury and Paiaala Wilcox Molina.
With two outs, Moanalua left fielder Rheyl Arakawa-Lee dropped a fly ball in the gusty wind, and two more Waianae runs scored.
Kailua Gates-Coyaso followed with a double to left, and an errant throw allowed Lei-Shell Kapihe to score.
There was more. Junior Kiani Hensley, who hadn’t played softball since seventh grade, came up with the highlight of her season. Batting in the No. 9 spot, she swatted a two-run homer to center, and Waianae led 9-4.
Moanalua never quite recovered. Senior Iyana Reed blasted two home runs, including a three-run tater in the sixth. However, Waianae put the game out of reach with five runs in the top of the sixth to open a 14-8 lead. That included a grand slam by Kayla Hensley.
Freshman Alohilani Napalapalai went five innings for the hard-earned win. Right fielder Hepua Tambaoan-Kaeo took over for the final two innings on the mound, using a tough riser to retire six of the seven batters she faced.
