WAHIAWA — Blessing its recently refurbished home field with an impressive league victory, Leilehua held off Kapolei, 4-3, yesterday in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West softball opener for both teams.

The Mules are playing this season on a new skin infield at Ka'ala Elementary School.

"It feels really good (playing on the field)," said Leilehua centerfielder/pitcher Alex Smith, who hit a two-run homer and earned the save yesterday. "It's made a big difference for our senior year."

The Mules got off to a good start, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning when both runs scored on a two-out error. Kaylen Ynigues had reached on a leadoff error and Ciara Paracuelles followed with a walk, and both runners advanced on Krystin Kubo's sacrifice bunt.

Smith then made it 4-0 with two outs in the third when she slammed a line drive into the gap at left-center and circled the bases following Paracuelles, who had drawn a one-out walk.

Meanwhile, Leilehua starter Keke Moala was in a groove, setting down the first 10 batters before Dorian Acierto's one-out triple to left-center in the fourth inning. She stranded Acierto at third after shortstop Ashley McKeown's diving catch of Mikela Manewa's line drive and a groundout to second.

"We were chasing bad pitches, we weren't being patient," Hurricanes coach Tony Saffery said. "Down 4-0, we were chasing, and that's what happens when you gotta chase."

Kapolei's bats finally came alive in the fifth, when Kai Clark blasted a leadoff home run over the center fielder's head. Alyssa Aipa followed with a triple to right-center and scored on Aimee Aipa's sacrifice fly to left two batters later.

The Hurricanes closed to 4-3 in the sixth when Cherece Beyer reached on a two-base, two-out error and scored on Clark's single to right.

But Smith, who had come in to relieve Moala in the sixth, induced a groundout to end the inning and then set Kapolei down in order in the seventh.

It was a solid opening victory for the youthful Mules, who have three seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen in their starting lineup.

"We've been struggling (in nonleague play), but they're slowly coming around," Leilehua coach Stacy Araki said.

KAPOLEI (0-1) 000 021 0 — 3 5 2

LEILEHUA (1-0) 202 000 X — 4 3 1

Shavanna Holt and Cherece Beyer; Keke Moala, Alex Smith (6) and Ciara Paracuelles. W — Moala. L — Holt. S — Smith.

Leading hitters — Kapolei: Kai Clark 2-3, home run; Dorian Acierto 2-3, triple; Alyssa Aipa 1-2, triple. Leilehua: Smith 1-3, home run, 2 RBIs; Brittney Lani double.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on high school sports at www.preptalk.honadvblogs.com

OIA RED WEST

CAMPBELL 6, PEARL CITY 0:

Katie Manuma had 12 strikeouts, and was one out away from a perfect game when Keani Passi singled in the top of the seventh, as the host Sabers (who got three hits from Brittany Garcia) beat the Chargers.

PEARL CITY (0-1) 000 000 0—0 1 4

CAMPBELL (1-0) 100 023 X—6 10 0

Courtney Ahlo and Maya Nagata. Katie Manuma and Jaycelyn Kim. W — Manuma. L — Ahlo.

Leading hitters — Campbell: Brittney Garcia 3-4, two triples; Randi Schoening 2-4, double; Brianne Silva Kapihe triple.

Reported by David Perreira.

MILILANI 18, WAIPAHU 0:

Kylee Rodrigues pitched a five-inning no-hitter, Courtney Senas went 5-for-5, and Jaimee Aiwohi went 4-for-5 as the visiting Trojans rolled past the Marauders.

MILILANI (1-0) 443 43—18 21 1

WAIPAHU (0-1) 000 00— 0 0 5

Kylee Rodrigues and Rebecca Lee. Darci Aiwohi-Dutro and Angi Sakamoto. W — Rodrigues. L — Aiwohi-Dutro.

Leading hitters — Mililani: Courtney Senas 5-5, triple, double; Lee 2-4, homer; Kristi Oshiro 2-4; Jaimee Aiwohi 4-5, double; Celina Garces 2-4; K. Kamaka 2-4. Waipahu: none.

Reported by John Kapihe.

OIA RED EAST

ROOSEVELT 10, KAIMUKI 0:

Lianna Bajarin pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts, and Charisse Tanabe hit a two-run homer to lead the Rough Riders over the Bulldogs in an OIA Red game shorterned to six innings due to the 10-run rule.

KAIMUKI (0-1) 000 000— 0 2 0

ROOSEVELT (1-0) 130 042—10 12 1

Sheena Hussey and Dejah Faasoa. Lianna Bajarin, Lindsay Takekawa. W — Bajarin. L — Hussey.

Leading hitters — Roosevelt: Charisse Tanabe 2-4, 2-run homer; Macy Frank 2-4, double; Kathleen Nakata 2-4, double.

Reported by Christina Johnston.

CASTLE 14, KAHUKU 0:

Chansel Dacosin gave up one hit and struck out eight over five innings, and Kalena Lessary and Anne Nakapaahu hit homers as the visiting Knights beat the Red Raiders in a game shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.

CASTLE (1-0) 470 30—14 14 0

KAHUKU (0-1) 000 00— 0 1 3

Chansel Dacosin and Kaisha Dacosin. Dalys Tapusoa, Kalee Phelps (3) and Brenda Capillan. W — C. Dacosin. L — Tapusoa.

Leading hitters — Castle: Brittany Hawn 2-4; C. Dacosin 3-4; Maycee Moe 3-4; Kaite Wills triple; Kalena Lessary 2-3, homer; Anne Nakapaahu homer.

Reported by Dean Hughes.

MOANALUA 6, FARRINGTON 4:

Visiting Na Menehune scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to beat the Governors, who got 10 strikeouts from starting pitcher Felicia Tui.

MOANALUA (1-0) 010 210 02—6 6 3

FARRINGTON (0-1) 100 012 00—4 7 4

Peyton Buen and Kylee Oshiro. Felicia Tui and Kinciana Ngiralmau. W — Buen. L — Tui.

Leading hitters — Moanalua: Michelle Acosta 2-4. Farrington: Tui 2-3; Ngiralmau 3-4; Brittany Lopez 2-3.

Reported by Glenn Zukeran.

OIA WHITE

KAISER 19, NANAKULI 3:

Kayla Alcoran spaced two hits over five innings, hit two triples and drove in three runs to lead the host Cougars over the Golden Hawks.

NANAKULI (0-2) 000 30— 3 2 6

KAISER (1-0) 757 00—19 14 1

Arika Kahao and Violet Mao. Kayla Alcoran and Chelsy Okuma. W — Alcoran. L — Kahao.

Leading hitters — Nanakuli: Chelsea Eli-Kido 2-2. Kaiser: Alcoran two triples, 3 RBIs; Okuma double; Caliann Fukuda 2-4.

Reported by Veronica Perriera.

WAIALUA 9, KALAHEO 3:

Marissa Keao scattered three hits and struck out nine, and also went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and four RBIs, and Alyssiah Hernandez hit a solo homer to lead the host Bulldogs over the Mustangs.

KALAHEO (1-1) 000 030 0—3 3 2

WAIALUA (1-0) 203 103 X—9 13 2

Caira Pires and Hii Olsen. Marissa Keao and Fhantashia Naki, Gabby Maxwell (6). W — Keao. L — Pires.

Leading hitters — Waialua: Keao 3-4, 3-run homer, triple, double, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; Maxwell 3-4; Alyssiah Hernandez 2-4, solo homer; Alphia Dicion 2-4, 2 runs.

Reported by Rod Dicion.

'AIEA 9, MCKINLEY 1:

Rayna Strom-Okimoto tossed a one-hitter and went 3-for-4 with a homer and double, and Emily Tausaga had two hits, including a homer, to lead host Na Ali'i past the Tigers.

MCKINLEY (1-1) 100 000 0—1 1 3

'AIEA (1-0) 101 520 0—9 8 3

Rachel Ragus, Trinity Cristobal (4) and Amanda Sakagawa. Rayna Strom-Okimoto and Ashlei Liilii. W — Strom-Okimoto. L — Ragus.

Leading hitters — McKinley: none. 'Aiea: Strom-Okimoto 3-4, double, homer; Emily Tausaga 2-3, homer.

Reported by Tracie Koide.

KALANI 13, RADFORD 3:

Rayme Awaya went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Kristi Belshe had two hits, including a homer and drove in two runs, to lead the host Falcons over the Rams.

RADFORD (0-2) 000 21— 3 4 6

KALANI (1-0) 321 7X—13 13 1

Erin Laurent and Lei Esclito. Rayme Awaya, Jade Teruya (5) and Kristi Belshe. W — Awaya. L — Laurent.

Leading hitters — Radford: none. Kalani: Awaya 3-4, 2 RBIs; Kristiann Endow 2-4, triple; Belshe 2-3, homer, 2 RBIs; Hikaru Kumagai triple; Teruya triple.

Reported by Melissa Marquez.