The Kaua‘i Red Raiders girls softball team got the HHSAA Division II title it has been striving for over the past few seasons. With a hard-fought 1-0 win over Waialua on Friday, Kaua‘i took the final step that has eluded
The Kaua‘i Red Raiders girls softball team got the HHSAA Division II title it has been striving for over the past few seasons. With a hard-fought 1-0 win over Waialua on Friday, Kaua‘i took the final step that has eluded the team two years in a row.
Making it to the Championship game the past two seasons but coming up short gave this team great incentive to finish this season with a win. They were able to do so behind a great pitching performance from Wailana Borrero. She came away with a complete-game two-hitter in the team’s biggest test all season.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team backing me up,” she said after the game.
The game’s only run came in the top of the sixth inning. Left-fielder Alyssa Carvalho singled up the middle on a 2-2 pitch. Second-baseman Naja Pungan then reached on an error and the Red Raiders had two on with no out.
After Borrero’s pop out, second-baseman Jessica Iwata came to bat and ripped the first pitch to deep center field. The ball carromed off the base of the wall and Carvalho scored easily from second base. Pungan advanced to third and Iwata made it to second base standing up.
With just four hits on the day, it was crucial for the Red Raiders to take advantage of that timely scoring opportunity.
They were unable to bring home another run in the inning, first when Pungan was thrown out at home on a great block of the plate by Waialua catcher Alyssiah Hernandez. Right-fielder Randee Layosa then flew out to center field to end the frame.
However, Borrero
would make sure that
one run stood up as she cruised through the final two innings, giving up one hit and striking out the game’s final two batters, allowing Kaua‘i to celebrate in style.
Borrero’s final line was seven innings of work, just two hits, one walk and six strikeouts.
Borrero, Carvalho, Iwata and third-baseman Melia Aki had the four hits. Iwata and first-baseman Jori Jasper each stole a base.
Waialua third-baseman Gabrielle Maxwell and center-fielder Ciarra Balidoy had their team’s two hits.
Waialua pitcher Marissa Keao pitched a tremendous game that would have been good enough for the win on most days, just not Friday. She went seven innings giving up four hits, one run and two walks while striking out seven.
The Red Raiders took a bonding trip out to Koke‘e before heading to Honolulu for the tournament and Borrero said they plan on going again when returning to Kaua‘i.
“We want to go back as champions,” she said.
Normally a parent is proud of a child’s accomplishments, but Kaua‘i head coach Darrell Borrero was able to watch his daughter throw a terrific game to give his team a title.
“I’m so proud, she was a bulldog out there today,” he said of his daughter.
When asked whether or not he plans to return as the team’s coach next season, Borrero said “I’m just gonna enjoy this moment, go home and take it all in.”
Coach Borrero knew that his team was up against a tough opponent Friday.
“This could have gone either way,” he said. “We just got lucky to win.”
