Alesia Ranches launched a three-run homer and
No. 1 Campbell outlasted No. 7 Leilehua 12-3 to capture the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I championship.
The Sabers repeated as OIA champions, but their 15-0 mark wasn’t always smooth.
“These are cardiac kids,” Campbell coach Michael “Shag” Hermosura said. “Sometimes they put me through hell. We had so many come-from-behind wins. But they executed. They’ve worked hard, and they deserve this. And this is the first time we’ve gone undefeated in the (OIA) season.”
Leilehua (9-6), the defending state champion, put up a fight for five innings before Campbell scored seven in the bottom of the sixth to put it out of reach.
The Sabers opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the third inning against Leilehua starter Alyssa Abe. Seaerra Fuentes-Arellano and Alesia Ranches walked and executed a double steal. Fuentes-Arellano raced home and scored on Dyllan Sanay-Shiraishi’s ground ball. Ranches raced home and scored after the ball squirted away from catcher Gianna Araki.
The Lady Mules answered with three runs in the top of the fourth. Kiana Domingo led off with a solo homer to center. Alana Jarra-Parker and Alyssa Asuncion singled, and with two outs, Kawena Kahana-Travis singled to center, bringing both baserunners home for a 3-2 Leilehua lead.
The Sabers scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth, chasing Abe. Jayla Favela led off with an infield single, and Sanoe Samante drilled a home run to center for a 4-3 Campbell lead. Michaela Fonoti walked with one out and later scored on a two-out single by Fuentes-Arellano for a two-run Sabers lead.
Leilehua loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but Jacelyn Kepa‘a’s line drive was caught by first baseman Liana Nagamine, who stepped on first base to complete the double play.
The Sabers left no doubt with a seven-run sixth inning, chasing Kylee Ancheta-Maeda in the process. Ranches’ three-run homer highlighted the inning. Sanoe Samante and Nagamine also came through with RBI singles, and Mikaela Fonoti’s sacrifice fly brought home Favela for a 12-3 lead after six frames.
