It had all the makings of an intense, early-season matchup Friday in the Second City, but that promise fizzled early.
Two-time defending state champion Campbell, behind the no-hit pitching of Dani Cervantes, mercy-ruled Kapolei 10-0 in five innings in the Oahu Interscholastic Association softball opener for both teams Friday.
A year ago, the Hurricanes put the fear into the Sabers by hoisting the OIA crown before Campbell came back for the whole enchilada, beating Kapolei 12-2 in the state final.
On Friday, it was more of the same domination, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone on either team who thinks second-ranked Kapolei doesn’t have a chance in a March 30 rematch against the top-ranked Sabers.
“They (the Hurricanes) are going to be good,” Campbell coach Michael Hermosura said. “I think we caught them on an off day. That’s a plus for us. I know they’re going to bounce back. I thought we did well and I still think we have a lot of work to do.”
Pitching doesn’t appear to be a place where a ton of work needs to be done. Cervantes, the reigning Honolulu Star-Advertiser pitcher of the year, was spot on, striking out seven 0f the 17 (two over the minimum) batters she faced in the five innings.
Ciena Kauhi, who walked in the first inning, and Dallas Pollard-Brownell, who reached on an error in the second, were the Hurricanes’ only two baserunners.
“We didn’t even get to go through the lineup twice,” Kapolei interim coach Stacie Mahoe said. “The second time through, we started to put the ball in play, and I think if they had gone a third time through it would have made a big difference.”
Campbell struck early, with a three-run first inning on Chloe Domingo’s RBI single and Cieana Curran’s two-run double.
In the third, the Sabers made it 6-0 on a two-run triple by Anastasia Iosia, who also crossed the plate on an errant throw home. Jocelyn Alo, the reigning All-State position player of the year, drilled an RBI single to center for a 7-0 count in the fourth.
Three more runs came home in the fifth for Campbell. Curran bashed a leadoff homer 225 feet to center and Dyllan Sanay drove her home with a double. Zoe Streadbeck, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, scored the 10th run on Alesia Ranches’ groundout.
“I tried to relax. It was a good pitch, so I just went after it and, yeah, I hit a home run,” Curran said. “Our team is pretty good. We have talented players; we just have to put it together and have confidence in ourselves.”
Due to Kapolei’s five errors, Sadie Kapaku-You — a first-team All-State pitcher a year ago along with Cervantes — yielded just six earned runs. She was not happy with the outcome.
“Our team is going to do better as we go on,” she said. “We still have a lot to learn. We’re a really young team, but I think we can compete with everyone.”
Mahoe is at the Hurricanes’ helm in place of veteran head coach Tony Saffery, who is helping out as an assistant and called the change a step “toward retirement.”
OIA WEST SOFTBALL
>> No. 1 Campbell 10, No. 2 Kapolei 0, 5 inn. (at Kapolei)
Campbell (1-0) 303 13 — 10 7 1
Kapolei (0-1) 000 00 — 0 0 5
Dani Cervantes and Jocelyn Alo. Sadie Kapaku-You and Lili Kaimi. W—Cervantes. L—Kapaku-You.
Leading hitters—Campbell: Chloe Domingo 3-3, 2 runs; Cieana Curran 2-2, 2b, HR, 3 RBIs; Anastasia Iosua 3B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Dyllan Sanay 2b.
ILH SOFTBALL
>> Mid-Pacific vs. Pac-Five (at Ala Wai Field) — ppd., field conditions. Make-up date is March 17, 4 p.m. at Ala Wai Field.
OIA EAST BASEBALL
>> No. 4 Kailua 10, Kalaheo 0, 6 inn. (at Kailua)
Kalaheo (0-2) 000 000 — 0 1 1
Kailua (3-0) 004 042 — 10 10 4
Gabriel Guebara, Noa Lapera (6) and Junior Chung. Shane Kalawaia, Chavis Coneicao (6) and Kalua Neves. W—Kalawaia. L—Guebara.
Leading hitters—Kailua: Dakota Kadooka 2 runs; Cody Riturban 3 runs; Joey Cantillo 3-4, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Dylan Kurahashi Choy Foo 2-3, 2b; Noah Chung 2 RBIs; Kalua Neves 2 RBIs; Matthew Kaleiohi 3b.
>> Kaiser 4, Moanalua 3 (at Kaiser)
Moanalua (1-1) 110 100 0 — 3 6 0
Kaiser (1-3) 002 020 x — 4 4 1
Christian Capinia, Skyler Yamamoto (3), Randy Tabura (6) and NA. Steven Miyata, Chase Asuncion (7) and NA. W—Miyata. L—Yamamoto. S—Asuncion.
Leading hitters— Moanalua: Cody Isa 2-4, 2 2bs; Tabura 2b; K. Tachino 2-3. Kaiser: Lincoln Lima 2 runs; Antonio Omphroy 3 RBIs.
OIA WEST BASEBALL
>> Leilehua 12, Pearl City 4 (at Fred Wright Field)
Pearl City (1-2) 210 001 0 — 4 5 4
Leilehua (1-1) 000 147 x — 12 8 2
Carson O., Kade H. (6), Marcus B. (6) and Kaleb N. Jansen Dangaran, Kawai Phifer (7) and Jaxon Hotta. W—Dangaran. L—Carson O.
Leading hitters—Pearl City: Matt A. 2-4, 2 2bs. Leilehua: Christian Ontai 2 runs; Dangaran 2-3, 2b, 3 RBIs; Kaika Cordero 2-4, 3 runs; Masen Reis 2 runs.
ILH BASEBALL
>> No. 5 Punahou 11, Maryknoll 1 (at Hans L’Orange Park)
Maryknoll (0-2) 000 10 — 1 2 1
Punahou (2-0) 028 1x — 11 10 0
Drayden Yamaguchi, Bryce Otsuka (3), Kaylen (3), Micah Neves (4) and NA. Kahi Bisho, Dustin Peters (4), Michael Robichaux (4) and Matthew Nakamoto, Ryan Nishi (3). W—Bisho. L—Yamaguchi.
Leading hitters—Maryknoll: Chayson Dulatre 2-3. Punahou: Andrew Matsueda 2-2, 2 runs; Kyson Donahue 2 runs; Noah Loughlin 2 RBIs; Jerick Nomura 2-2, 2b.
>> ‘lolani vs. Kamehameha (at Ala Wai Field) — ppd., field conditions.
ILH JV BASEBALL
>> Kamehameha 9, Punahou 7 (5 inn., weather)
MIL BASEBALL
>> Seabury Hall 5, Lanai 1
>> Maui High 3, King Kekaulike 0
