After faltering in the opening round of the 2001 Chevron State Softball Championships in Honolulu, Waimea showed some resiliency Thursday with a 6-1 victory over Lahainaluna in the consolation bracket. In Wednesday’s first round, the Menehunes lost 3-1 to Kailua
After faltering in the opening round of the 2001 Chevron State Softball Championships in Honolulu, Waimea showed some resiliency Thursday with a 6-1 victory over Lahainaluna in the consolation bracket.
In Wednesday’s first round, the Menehunes lost 3-1 to Kailua (12-2) at the University of Hawai’i Wahine Stadium.
“We really had some jitters Wednesday,” said Waimea coach Pat Baniaga via phone from Honolulu. “We just missed some opportunities. But I wouldn’t say we were overmatched.”
The Menehunes (12-2) showed they belonged in the state tourney Thursday. The team smacked eight hits, led by Bridget Louis’ 2-for-3 performance. Meanwhile junior Albette Nawai tossed a three-hitter in picking up the win.
“We played with a lot more confidence today,” Baniaga said. “We really played our kind of softball.”
That meant defense.
The game’s turning point, Baniaga said, came when Lahainaluna (9-4) had runners on first and third during one of the middle innings.
In an effort to gun down an attempted steal, Waimea catcher Maka Keamoai overthrew shortstop Ashley Mier, sending the ball into centerfield. There, Robyn Hoopii-Manuel had the play covered perfectly, scooping up the loose ball and firing to Keamoai at home in time to nab the runner coming from third.
“That was a key play in the game,” Baniaga said. “But we knew we could count on our defense.”
Through the first three innings, the game played out as a pitcher’s duel.
“It was a bunch of three-ups, three-downs,” Baniaga said.
Waimea got on the board once in the fourth, again in the fifth, three times in the sixth and then capped it off with a run in the seventh.
That followed a pattern the Menehunes made popular during the regular season. In nerve-wracking fashion, Waimea often waited until the fifth inning to unload any type of offense.
“We were a late-game team,” Baniaga said. “Better that than never.”
Waimea does not play Friday and will face the winner of the Waiakea-Leilehua game Saturday at 2:30 p.m. for the consolation title.
Sports editor Jason Gallic at 245-3681 or mailto:kauaisports@pulitzer.net
