Kamehameha celebrates return to states with win

Even without taking a two-week break into account, Kamehameha had waited quite a while to get on the field in a state tournament game.

The Warriors hadn’t qualified for the Data House/HHSAA State Softball Championship since winning the Division I title in 2008. So their 12-1 opening-round win over Moanalua on Wednesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium held significance beyond a berth in today’s quarterfinal round.

"Nobody on our team had smelled states once. The last time was my eighth-grade year and I’m a senior now," Kamehameha right fielder Reyna-Michele Ae said. "For us to be here today meant a lot because we pushed hard this whole season just so we could get here and represent our school well."

Kamehameha sophomore Fahren Glackin crafted a memorable state-tournament debut in the circle and at the plate. She held Moanalua to three hits over five innings and ignited the Kamehameha offense from the leadoff spot by going 4-for-4 with a double and a triple while driving in two runs.

"She did awesome," third-year Kamehameha coach Aloha Yamaguchi said. "She came out strong from the start whether pitching as well as hitting. I felt she was in a zone. She was seeing the ball big offensively and with every at-bat she was in that zone."

Ae, the ninth batter in the Kamehameha lineup, provided pop at the other end of the order by driving in four runs with a two-run home run in the second inning and a two-run double in Kamehameha’s four-run fourth that brought the eight-run rule into effect.

The Warriors (14-3) hadn’t played since closing the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season in second place behind Mid-Pacific, the Division I state tournament’s top seed. Although finishing second meant playing in the first round, having a game coming off a two-week break may have some benefits entering today’s 3 p.m. quarterfinal game against third-seeded Lahainaluna.

"Being away for so long made us anxious to come out here and do our best and prove to everybody we belong here," Ae said.

Moanalua, the sixth seed from the Oahu Interscholastic Association, faces Baldwin in the consolation bracket today at 11 a.m.

Kapolei senior Winona Pauline’s three-run home run with two out in the bottom of the sixth inning powered the Hurricanes past the Surfriders and into a quarterfinal matchup with fourth-seeded Hilo.

Pauline, Kapolei’s starting pitcher, overcame a shaky sequence early in the game as Kailua turned a 3-0 deficit into a 5-3 lead. She shut out the Surfriders from there, giving herself a chance to deliver the decisive blast in the sixth.

"We always knew we could come back, it was a matter of how much we wanted it and how much we would push for it," Pauline said.

"I was praying for it to go over," Kapolei coach Tony Saffery said of Pauline’s homer. "I just kept leaning back, ‘is it going?’ And it went. It just carried and it was huge."

Reina Furuya’s leadoff home run sparked a five-run Punahou outburst in the top of the seventh and the Buffanblu pulled away from the Trojans to set up a meeting with second-seeded Campbell at 7 tonight. Punahou pitcher Jaci Young struck out four in a complete-game win and contributed a two-run double in Punahou’s seventh-inning rally. Thalen Masada drove in three runs with a two-run single in the first and a bases-loaded walk in the fourth that gave Punahou a 4-0 lead.

Dessirrei Sivia went 3-for-5, hitting a home run and a double as the Seariders defeated the Bears. Kylie Rose Dickson also had three hits, including a home run for Baldwin.

Kaili Agabin went 3-for-3 with three doubles and four RBIs as the Bulldogs beat the Dragons.

Agabin had two-run doubles in the third and fourth innings.

Agabin, Charee Wong, Gerika Ka’aua-Acorda and Michaela Chalker each scored two runs for the Bulldogs, who drew six walks.

Waialua’s Sabrina Tolentino scattered six hits in a complete-game performance. The only runs against her came on a two-run homer to left by Shalen-Brae Ho’opai in the fifth.

Moana Waipa went 3-for-4 with a double, homer and seven RBIs as the Red Raiders outslugged the Saints.

Waipa, the No. 8 hitter, had a two-run homer to left in the second, a three-run double to left in the fourth and a two-run single to center in the fifth.

Kauai’s Jenessa Maghanoy-Louis scored three runs, and Kyana Hirokane, Ka’a La’amea and Daeja Cummings each drove in two runs.

St. Francis’ Kelcie Hee hit a pair of two-run homers, and Ashley Kahapea Wagner and Shailah Fernandez each added two-run shots

Tristan-Marie Souza-Aikala allowed only one hit as the Marauders shut out the Cowboys in five innings.

The Mustangs got out to an early lead, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first en route to their win over the Dragons.