Waialua gains DII semifinals
Campbell edges MPI in nine innings, 6-3
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
There was no dramatic win for the Waialua softball team this time around.
Just a convincing victory yesterday over Hāna.
Karina Bayudan pitched a three-hitter, and Alyssiah Hernandez batted 3 for 3 and scored four times as Waialua beat Hāna, 8-1, in the quarterfinals of the DataHouse Division II Softball State Championships at Central O'ahu Regional Park.
Waialua, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association runner-up, will face Waimea in the semifinals today at 3 p.m. at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
"It was pretty fun that we made it this far," said Bayudan, a junior right-hander. "All the pressure and stuff and dealing with it as well as we can."
Waialua (12-3) was coming off a 7-6 victory over Kohala the previous day when Charee Wong drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Yesterday's win over Hana was a lot easier, but Waialua coach Jay Keao was never at ease.
"But still yet at the beginning, four runs, six runs, is never enough," he said.
Bayudan walked one and stuck out five against Hāna, the Maui Interscholastic League champion and No. 3 seed. She faced one batter over the minimum through five innings.
"Karina has never been an overpowering pitcher, but a pitcher who puts the ball over the plate, throws strikes and tries to hit spots," Keao said.
The Bulldogs scored one in the first on an error and tacked on three in the third.
Wong and Althia Dicion led off the third with consecutive walks and both advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Hernandez followed with a two-run single to center to make it 3-0.
"I just wanted to keep my mind in (the game) and hit the ball," said Hernandez, a junior third baseman and No. 3 hitter.
Hernandez eventually scored on an attempted double steal with runners at the corners. The runner at first was thrown out at second as Hernandez sprinted home.
Waialua made it 6-0 in the fourth when Wong scored on a successful double steal with runners at the corners, and Hernandez came in on a wild pitch.
"They were on it ... on fire today," Hāna coach Louis Hoopai said. "We couldn't hit. Our pitching was a lot of balls. We couldn't keep up with those guys. They were too fast."
Hana (10-3) scored in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Miracle Helekahi, which scored Leimamo Naihe.
Waialua made it 8-1 in the sixth when Dicion and Hernandez scored on a passed ball that the Dragons catcher couldn't locate right away.
HĀNA (10-3) 000 001 0—1 3 4
WAIALUA (12-3) 103 202 X—8 10 0
Jy-Len Hoopai and Natasha Emmsley. Karina Bayudan and Pua Naki. W—Bayudan. L—Hoopai
Leading hitters—Hāna: Alohi Kapoi 2-3, double. Waialua: Charee Wong 2 runs; Althia Dicion 2-3; Alyssiah Hernandez 3-3, 4 runs, 2 RBIs.
KALANI 6, KAUA'I 0
Rayme Awaya pitched a five-hitter with seven strikeouts and Kristi Belshe hit a two-run homer to lift the top-seeded Falcons.
KAUA'I (9-5) 000 000 0—0 5 1
KALANI (14-1) 003 120 X—6 6 1
Naja Pungan and Carly Matsumoto. Rayme Awaya and Kristi Belshe. W—Awaya. L—Pungan.
Leading hitters—Kalani: Chelsea Yamamoto 2-4; Awaya 2-4; Kristi Belshe homer, 2 RBIs, 2 runs.
PAC-FIVE 6, KONAWAENA 3
Samantha Ford batted 3 for 4 with a double and triple, and Aja Keyes went 3 for 4 with three RBIs to lead the Wolfpack over the fourth-seeded Wildcats.
KONAWAENA (6-6) 102 000 0—3 8 3
PAC-FIVE (6-10) 100 113 X—6 10 2
Chelsea Shimamoto and Iisha Cho. Sheridan Mahelona and Cassandra Koja. W—Mahelona. L—Shimamoto.
Leading hitters—Konawaena: Cho 2-4, homer; Emily Kainoa 3-3. Pac Five: Samantha Ford 3-4, triple, double 2 runs; Aja Keyes 3-4 3 RBIs; Mahelona 2-4.
WAIMEA 6, KALĀHEO 0
Michelle Koerte tossed a six-hitter and Taylor Ephan scored twice in leading the second-seeded Menehunes past the Mustangs.
KALĀHEO (12-5) 000 000 0—0 6 3
WAIMEA (11-2) 200 031 X—6 10 2
Sarah Fitzherbert and Tiffany Harada. Michelle Koerte and Taylor Ephan. W—Koerte. L—Fitzherbert.
Leading hitters—Kalāheo: Theresa Capllonch 3-3. Waimea: Mariebeth Watanabe 2-4; Ephan 3-4, double, 2 runs; Gaylan Matagiese 2-4.
CONSOLATION BRACKET
MOLOKA'I 8, 'AIEA 5
Larriley Rawlins homered and drove in three runs to lead the Farmers past Nā Ali'i.
MOLOKA'I (9-6) 104 000—5 9 1
'AIEA (6-10) 320 021—8 9 1
Korie-Lee Dudoit-English and Larriley Rawlins. Kelcie Takeuchi and Ashlei Li'ili'i. W—Takeuchi. L—Dudoit-English.
Leading hitters—Moloka'i: Amanda Venegas-Makaiwi 2-3; Larriley Rawlins homer, 3 RBIs; Myla Shontel Maliu-Calairo 2-3; Celsey Kauwenaole 2-3. 'Aiea: JoeAnn Rapoza 3-4, 2 runs; Kori Nishi 2-4, 2 RBIs; Ashlei Li'ili'i 2 RBIs; Amberlin Scharsch 2 RBIs
KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 4, KOHALA 2
Kaina Mossman went 3 for 3 and Kiani Wong tossed a two-hitter and drove in two runs to lift the Warriors.
KOHALA (5-8) 010 000 1—2 2 2
KS-HAWAI'I (7-7) 102 001 X—4 5 4
Paea Holschuh and Britney Torres. Kiani Wong and Kaala Ahu. W—Wong. L—Holschuh.
Leading hitters—KSH: Kaina Mossman 3-3, double; Wong 2 RBIs.