Leilehua still has its power game

By game’s end, the temperature dropped a good 10 degrees at Kaala Elementary School’s field, but Leilehua’s bats stayed red hot.

The defending state champions peppered and powered 13 base hits, including a home run by Gianna Araki, in a 10-4 win over No. 8 Kapolei on Tuesday. It was the Oahu Interscholastic Association regular-season opener for both teams.

Third baseman Kiana Domingo, batting fifth in the second-ranked Mules’ lineup, went 2-for-4 with a pair of two-run doubles. Up and down coach Wendell Au’s lineup, the Mules put the ball in play against Kapolei pitchers Jade Behic and Tatum Guzman.

“A lot of our players were on the team last year, but now they’re finding their leadership roles,” said Au, who guided the Mules to their first softball state crown in his first year at the helm. “The championship forced them to figure out things faster.”

Leilehua has been busy with preseason tournaments, which meant a lot of work in the circle for Alyssa Abe. The returnee went the distance against the dangerous Hurricanes, who had 11 hits but left nine runners on base.

“I’m pumped and excited. We know every team wants to beat us, but we know we can succeed,” she said.

Kapolei batted 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position against the experienced Leilehua ace. Behic, the Hurricanes starting pitcher, went five innings before yielding to Guzman, who started at second base. Behic struck out two, walked two and hit one batter.

“We’ve got to have better command of our pitches,” Kapolei coach Keoke Behic said. “And we’ve got to hit with men on. It’s hard to scratch from behind.”

Leilehua plated five runs in the bottom of the first off Jade Behic. Kayla Hale led off with a single, Alyssa Asuncion singled and Araki walked to load the bases. After a fielder’s-choice forceout at home, Domingo singled to center, scoring Asuncion and Araki.

With two outs, Jocelyn Kapaa was hit by a pitch, and Daysha Paraguelles followed with a line drive off the glove of third baseman Kawena Hussey for a single that scored Alana Jaren-Parker.

The No. 9 hitter, Mikayla Pinera, then lined a single off the glove of Behic, scoring Domingo and Kapaa for a five-run cushion.

In the second frame, Asuncion led off with a double to right and scored on a one-out single to left by Jaren-Parker for a 6-0 Mules lead.

The visiting Hurricanes scored in the top of the third on Chasity McKean’s solo home run to left. That was followed by perhaps the defensive gem of the game, a diving catch in short left by Asuncion, stealing a base hit from Elora Tonaki.

In the fourth, Behic led off with a single, Puakea Milbourne walked and Hussey singled to left, scoring Behic. An error in left field allowed the runners to advance, but with no outs and runners at third and second, the ’Canes didn’t score another run.

Kapolei trailed 6-2 going into the bottom of the fourth, which proved to be a fruitful inning. Hale singled and Asuncion walked, and with one out, Jaren-Parker socked a double to left, scoring Hale. Domingo followed with a double to left-center to bring Asuncion and Jaren-Parker home for a 9-2 Leilehua lead.

The ’Canes stranded two more runners in scoring position in the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, Hussey singled a 2-2 pitch to center, and pinch hitter Jordan Makaena slugged a home run to center, cutting the lead to 9-4. McKean singled to left, but got doubled off first base after pinch hitter Roxy Mattson flied out to right.

Moments later, Araki led off the bottom of the sixth with a mammoth shot over the left-field fence for Leilehua and Behic was done for the day. Tonaki, robbed of a potential single earlier, made a spectacular diving catch in short left field on a blooper by Domingo, avoiding a collision with shortstop McKean.

The visitors loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but Abe got Kealiana Chung-Balecha to ground out to end the game.

The ’Canes played without standout pitcher and hitter Cira Bartolotti, who did not return to the team for her senior season, Coach Behic said. Bartolotti has already signed with Hawaii.

“Cira decided not to play this year, but the team wants her back. At this point, if she came back it would be up to our administration,” he said. “She could help us in so many ways.”