The Waimea High School girls softball team won its first-round game in the HHSAA Division II tournament on Tuesday night, defeating Kalani 11-6. Waimea got off to a rough start as Kalani jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the
The Waimea High School girls softball team won its first-round game in the HHSAA Division II tournament on Tuesday night, defeating Kalani 11-6.
Waimea got off to a rough start as Kalani jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning off of starting pitcher Michelle Koerte.
They failed to score in the bottom of the first, but managed to keep the deficit at three heading into the bottom of the second.
That’s when the bats woke up and Waimea plated six runs in the frame, pushing out to a 6-3 lead that they would not relinquish.
Koerte again held Kalani scoreless in the third and received even more run support thereafter. Waimea extended its lead to seven by putting up a four-spot in the bottom of the third to take a dominating 10-3 advantage.
Kalani would score three more runs in the game, but never more than one in a single inning and Waimea added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
Koerte got the win, going all seven innings and scattering 13 hits.
Her batterymate behind the plate was catcher Taylor Ephan. Ephan was also in charge in the batter’s box, where she went 2-for-3 on the day with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
MarieBeth Watanabe drove in two runs for Waimea as did Tanisha Defabian.
Krysta Kali had a triple and scored twice in the contest, as did Fiare Moe.
Waimea keeps its championship hopes alive, as does Kaua‘i High School, which gets its title run underway today.
