Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
The run is done for Campbell.
The Sabers’ bid for a four-peat was thwarted by the ILH runner-up Buffanblu, 11-3. Kennedy Ishii went the distance, scattering eight hits, striking out six, walking two.
Punahou will face Leilehua in the state final on Friday night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The Buffanblu continued their offensive onslaught, piling up 14 hits.
Punahou scored two in the top of the first on a single up the middle by Kawai Mielke, scoring Maya Matsubara and Ishii.
Campbell answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first. Anastasia Iosia’s infield single brought Trinity Favela home. With the bases loaded, Zoie Recolan walked, scoring Alesia Ranches to tie the game.
Punahou scored a run in the third to regain the lead. A Campbell error set up a run-scoring single by D’Asha Saiki. Eri Mizuguchi’s run made it 3-2.
The Buffanblu tacked on two runs in the top of the third. Mielke walked, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Bri Alejo’s grounder was muffed by the second baseman, Favela, then overthrown to first. Alejo later scored on a two-out single to center by Matsubara, extending the lead to 5-2.
Again, Punahou inched further ahead with a run in the top of the fifth. Martinez was hit by pitch with one out, Alejo singled and Mizuguchi doubled to deep center, scoring Martinez for a four-run cushion. Alejo later scored on a sac fly by Matsubara and it’s 7-2.
In the sixth, Saiki led off with a single and Akimseu launched a towering shot over the center-field wall, her third homer in as many state-tourney games.
Campbell got a bit of momentum going in the bottom of the sixth when Nunes singled, Favela reached base on an infield error and Ranches singled to right, scoring Nunes. But Iosia grounded into a 6-3 double play.
74