Kapolei’s win at Waipahu on Thursday kept the Hurricanes in the mix for a favorable playoff seed.
But head coach Tony Saffery wanted to enjoy the moment before contemplating the what-ifs that remain heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale.
“I don’t want to look that far ahead. I’m just happy for the kids, they did a great job,” Saffery said after Kapolei’s 9-3 OIA Red West softball victory.
Kapolei improved to 6-5 to remain in contention for second place in the division heading into the OIA Red playoffs. The Hurricanes close the regular season on Saturday at Campbell with both vying for the spot behind division champion Mililani.
Kapolei won the first meeting with Campbell this season, but “I tell the girls to erase that memory because this is the second time around they’re going to make adjustments so we have to make adjustments,” Saffery said.
The Hurricanes split the regular-season series with Waipahu with Thursday’s win. Kapolei went ahead in the first inning on Kanaiaupuni Smith’s looping RBI double down the right-field line, then took control with a seven-run fourth inning.
Kacee Navarro, the Hurricanes’ starting pitcher, ignited the rally with a single and later drove in a run with her second single of the frame. The outburst gave her a comfortable margin against a formidable Waipahu lineup.
“I was nervous at first and when I got up there it fell into place,” said Navarro, who struck out seven and held Waipahu to five hits in a complete-game victory.
“(Waipahu’s) lineup is incredible,” Saffery said. “At any given time they could close that gap.”
With a run already across in the fourth, Makana Meyers gave Kapolei a 3-0 lead with a double that landed just inside the left-field line, and Kamryn Kanae followed with a single to left to score Meyers.
Stacia-Al Mahoe later added to the lead with a two-run double to the left-center gap.
“This was big for them,” Saffery said. “There were some timely hits with two out, we put the ball in play a lot and I was really happy about that.”
Kapolei led 9-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, but Waipahu extended the game to the seventh when catcher Nala Viliamu launched a two-run homer to left field in her final regular-season at-bat on the Marauders’ home field. Viliamu had also accounted for Waipahu’s first run with an RBI ground-rule double in the fourth.
“That was good for her, last home game over here,” Waipahu coach John Kapihe said amid the Marauders’ senior day festivities after the game.
Waipahu (5-6) closes the regular season at Waianae on Saturday.
At Waipahu
Kapolei ( 6-5) 100 701 0 — 9 12 1
Waipahu (5-6) 000 102 0 — 3 5 5
Kacee Navarro and Alecia Kupihea. AJ Miranda, Shevan DeFreitas (5) and Nala Viliamu. W—Navarro. L—Miranda.
Leading hitters—Kapolei: Stacia-Al Mahoe, 2b, 2 RBIs; Rachel McKean, 2-3; Kanaiaupuni Smith, 3-4, 2b, RBI; Navarro, 2-4, RBI; Amayha Dugas, 2-4; Makana Meyers, 2b, RBI; Kamryn Kanae, RBI. Waipahu: Lauren Tauanuu, 2b; Viliamu, 2-3, 2b, HR, 3 RBIs.
OIA RED WEST
Leilehua 14, Waianae 6
Tiana Cantero-Kawelo had three hits and a homer as the Mules scored seven runs in the fifth to beat the Seariders.
At Waianae
Leilehua (6-6) 002 070 5 — 14 13 1
Waianae (1-11) 200 021 1 — 6 12 2
Taezha-Ann Cordero and Kasey Auna. Kelcey Toguchi, Lindsee Joseph (5), Randie Santiago (6) and Kamalani Kamai.
W—Cordero. L—Toguchi.
Leading hitters—Lei: Tiana Cantero-Kawelo 3-5, HR, 2 RBIs. Wain: Toguchi 2-3, 2b, RBI; Kaley Kamaka 2-4, 2b, RBI; Kylie Kaluhiokalani 3-4, 2b, HR, RBI.
Campbell 12, Pearl City 5
Kiana Ulufale, Kawehi Kahana and Nashlynn Anguay homered to power the Sabers over the Chargers.
At Campbell
Pearl City (5-7) 401 000 0 — 5 5 5
Campbell (5-5) 322 203 x — 12 13 1
Cydny Rivera, Kristin Frost (2) and Robi Kami. Summer Palipti and Kiana Ulufale.
W—Palipti. L—Frost.
Leading hitters—PC: Natalie Kang 2-2, 2 runs; Hope Casarez 1-3, 2 RBIs, 2b. Camp: Kiana Ulufale 3-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Nashlynn Anguay 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Caragh Morris 2-4, 2 runs; Kawehi Kahana 1-4, 3 RBIs, HR, run; Tiana Rosario 1-3, 2 RBIs.
OIA RED EAST
Roosevelt 12, Kahuku 0
Katie DeBusca hurled a three-hit shutout and collected four RBIs to lead the Rough Riders.
At Kahuku
Roosevelt (5-7) 400 44 — 12 10 4
Kahuku (1-10) 000 00 — 0 3 0
Katie DeBusca and Destiny Holani. Taina Aumua-Yamamoto, Kulia Kaowili (3) and Hinano Uli. W—DeBusca. L—Aumua-Yamamoto.
Leading hitters—Roos: DeBusca 3-4, 2b, HR, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Kaohi Kapko 2-2, 2 runs; Krystle Chung 3b; 3 RBIs. Kah: Sabrina Alo 3b.
No. 3 Moanalua 20, Kalaheo 0, 5 inn.
Leisha Yamauchi, Cyanne Fernandez and Miki Sylva each homered for Na Menehune.
At Moanalua
Kalaheo (1-8) 000 00 — 0 2 4
Moanalua (10-0) 881 3X — 20 15 0
Mahina Turner and Kamale Kahanu. Leisha Yamauchi and Chrissi Omalza.
W—Yamauchi. L—Turner.
Leading hitters—Moan: Makamae Kaleikini 2-4, 3b; Kiana Mattos 2 RBIs; Yamauchi 1-1, HR, 2 RBIs; Omalza 2-4; Krislynn Gabriel 2-2, 3 RBIs; Cyanne Fernandez 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs; Miki Sylva HR, 3 RBIs.
Kailua 4, Castle 2
No stats reported.
OIA WHITE
Nanakuli 5, Aiea 4
The Golden Hawks slipped past Na Alii with Emma Kawaiaea earning the win on the mound.
At Aiea
Nanakuli (9-1) 200 300 0 — 5 12 5
Aiea (5-4) 030 001 0 — 4 4 3
Chyanne Koko, Emma Kawaiaea (3) and catcher not reported. Raisa Strom-Okimoto and catcher not reported.
W—Kawaiaea. L—Strom-Okimoto.
Leading hitters—Nan: Alexis Paulo-Meyers 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Lauren Ku 2-4; Precious Paulo-Meyers 2-4; Koko 2-4, 2 2bs, run; Ashley Van Gieson 2-4, run.
Farrington 18, Kalani 3, 5 inn.
Leani Haskell Berinobis had three hits, including a triple and homer, to lift the Governors to their first win.
At Aina Haina field
Kalani (3-9) 003 00 — 3 2 2
Farrington (1-9) 622 8X — 18 12 2
Melanie Shiraki, Carly Kakuda (1), Shiraki (2) and Nicole Omai. Precious Peters and Racquel-Anne Misioka.
W—Peters. L—Shiraki.
Leading hitters—Farr: Leani Haskell Berinobis 3-5, HR, 3b, 4 runs; Misioka 2-2, 3 RBIs; Noela Werkmeister 2-2, 2 RBIs; Kaipookalani Castillo 2-2, 3 RBIs; Jonnie Cabrales 2-2, 2b, 2 runs.
Also
Kaiser def. Anuenue, forfeit
BASEBALL
ILH DIVISION II
Maryknoll 2, ‘Iolani II 0
Joshua Muneno spun a five-hit shutout as the Spartans beat the Raiders.
At Ala Wai Community Park
‘Iolani II (5-3) 000 000 0 — 0 5 1
Maryknoll (6-2) 001 010 x — 2 4 0
W—Joshua Muneno. L—Matt Hino.
Leading hitters—Iol: Ryan Sato 2-3, 2b; Aaron Nakasone 2-3. Mryk: Jason Nakamura 2-3; Jed Andrade 3b.
MIL
Baldwin 7, Kamehameha-Maui 1
Maui 9, Lahainaluna 2
ILH
Junior varsity
Mid-Pacific 5, Pac-Five 2
