It was wild, a game with as many miscues as clutch plays, and in the end, the Mililani Trojans proved why they are defending state champions.
Kylie-Ann Bello’s opposite-field single brought home Keri Togami with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Mililani rallied past Kapolei 10-9 in the quarterfinals of the DataHouse/HHSAA Softball State Championships at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Bello finished 3-for-5 on a night when her team teetered close to elimination. The top-seeded Trojans (14-2) trailed 9-4 after four innings, but got plenty of help from Kapolei (9-9), which committed seven errors, to come back.
Bello stepped to the plate after Mililani had tied the game with two runs in the seventh.
"I felt more relaxed to know there was only one out. I wanted to do it for my team. I didn’t want this to be the last game of my senior year," the left-handed hitter said.
She slammed the first pitch from Kapolei pitcher Sadie Kapaku-You to the left-field fence 200 feet away, allowing Togami, who had singled in a run, to score easily.
Now the Trojans will face ILH powerhouse Maryknoll in a semifinal battle Thursday. Maryknoll beat Mililani in a preseason game. For Kapolei, a team with immense talent and a lot of inexperience, the loss was a heartbreaker.
"You know something? I really wanted to win for the kids," coach Tony Saffery said. "Everything after Tuesday was a bonus. We’ve had our ups and downs this season, and I couldn’t be prouder."
Kapaku-You was especially resilient, keeping her poise despite the torrent of errors.
"I feel like we played good. We gave it our all," the sophomore said. "We came together as a team and we can improve much more."
Two Kapolei errors allowed Mililani to score twice in the first inning. Maya Yoshiura singled and scored on a single to left by Kristen Ishii, racing home from second when the ball got away from the left fielder.
Bello scored on a throwing error to give Mililani a 2-0 lead.
Kapolei scored four runs in the top of the third to take the lead. Shaycelynn Ho’ohuli’s sac fly, dropped by the left fielder, scored Kamrynmae Kanae, and Sala Pedebone capped the inning with a two-run shot high over the left-field fence for a 4-2 ‘Canes lead.
Mama Rivera and Brooke Yasuda came through with run-scoring singles to tie the game at 4-all in the third.
Kapolei responded in the fifth with a five-run outburst, keyed by Kapaku-You’s grand slam to left.
The Lady Trojans cut the lead to 9-5 the bottom of the fifth on a run-scoring single to right by Yasuda.
In the sixth, Rivera came through again, smacking a two-run single up the middle. But Mililani left runners on third and second as Kapaku-You got Yasuda to ground out.
Saffery, a veteran coach, has high hopes for next season.
"I truly believe that all these woulda, shoulda, couldas, we can address," he said.
| At RWSS |
| Kapolei |
004 |
500 |
0 |
— |
9 |
7 |
7 |
| Mililani |
202 |
012 |
3 |
— |
10 |
15 |
3 |
Sadie Kapaku-You and Prestyne Kaimi-Montira. Aubree Kim and Markie Okamoto.
W–Kim. L–Kapaku-You.
Leading hitters–Kapolei: Makana Meyers 1-3, 2b, 2 runs, RBI; Kapaku-You 1-4, HR, 4 RBIs; Sala Pedebone 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Kamrynmae Kanae 3-3, 2 runs. Mililani: Kylie-Ann Bello 3-5, 3 runs, RBI; Kristen Ishii 2-3, 3 runs; Mama Rivera 2-4, 3 RBIs; Tristan Cozo 2-3; Brooke Yasuda 2-4, 2 RBIs; Shannon Pascua-Stanton 2-4
Kamehameha 3, Kaiser 2, 10 innings
Mahina Sauer singled to left field in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Warriors beat the Cougars to advance to the semifinals.
Both pitchers threw complete games in the rain, with Kamehameha’s Kamalani Dung throwing 163 pitches and making a late putout at home to keep the game tied.
Division I
At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
THURSDAY
Semifinals
Kamehameha winner vs. Campbell, 5 p.m.
Mililani vs. Maryknoll, 7 p.m.
Consolation
Waiakea vs. Kapolei, 9 a.m.
Kaiser vs. Baldwin, 11 a.m.
Division II
At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
THURSDAY
Semifinals
Nanakuli vs. KS-Hawaii, 1 p.m.
Waimea vs. Aiea, 3 p.m.
At McKinley
THURSDAY
Consolation
Konawaena vs. Waialua, 1 p.m.
Kalaheo vs. Molokai, 3 p.m.
Lanai vs. Pac-Five, 5 p.m.
St. Francis vs. Kohala, 7 p.m.
