Na Pa‘ani of Waipahu, O‘ahu, punched a fly ball to centerfield to clinch a 12-11 win over the Lihu‘e Kolohe Girlz in the 2009 Kaua‘i Amateur Softball Association (of America) Junior Olympic Under 14 Fast Pitch Softball Tournament, last week.
Na Pa‘ani of Waipahu, O‘ahu, punched a fly ball to centerfield to clinch a 12-11 win over the Lihu‘e Kolohe Girlz in the 2009 Kaua‘i Amateur Softball Association (of America) Junior Olympic Under 14 Fast Pitch Softball Tournament, last week.
The Waipahu team, finishing with the top seed following pool play, demonstrated its tenacity by rebounding to the tourney title in an International Tiebreaker over the Kolohe Girlz.
Following pool play, Kapa‘a Lokahi, third seed in the tournament, defeated the No. 4 Lihu‘e team to advance. The Kolohe Girlz, seeded No. 2, defeated the No. 5 seed Waimea Thundacats to advance on the tree.
After drawing an opening round bye in the playoffs, Na Pa‘ani set the stage for the showdown by getting past Lokahi to face the Kolohe Girlz for the championship.
Both teams faced a 10-10 deadlock following seven innings of regulation play in the title game, triggering the International Tiebreaker where the last batter out from the previous inning was placed on second base.
The Kolohe Girlz took an 11-10 lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI base hit only to have Na Pa‘ani answer to tie the match 11-11 in the bottom of the frame.
But Na Pa‘ani did more than answer the call as another fly to center field pushed another runner home for the 12-11 edge, and the title.
Eric Fujimoto, coach of the Kolohe Girlz, said following the game, Na Pa‘ani coaches heaped praises on the Lihu‘e players, noting that the girls would surprise a lot of teams on O‘ahu with the caliber of their play during the tournament.
Fujimoto said each player on the Kolohe Girlz roster is eligible to return next year in the Under 14 division, the coach speculating that a trip to the 2010 state tournament might become possible.
“Mike Koerte, the tournament director, and his supporters from the Waimea Softball Booster Club did an outstanding job with a fabulous Fellowship Dinner where the girls and families from all the teams bonded and shared stories,” Fujimoto said in an e-mail.
The Waimea tournament ended the 2009 Kaua‘i ASA Junior Olympic season, where teams from Lihu‘e, Waimea and Kapa‘a fielded teams in the Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, and Under 18 divisions.
Players in the Kolohe Girlz include Raesha Dabin, Kirra Jaquias, Kyren Ishikawa, Tiana Pantil, Teesha Tani, Jannin Hashizume, Sunni Efhan, Ka‘a Laamea, Makana Fujimoto, Kawehi Louis-Diamond, Kyana Hirokane, Roshayne Peahu and Cascade Mayer.
Assisting Fujimoto with the Kolohe Girlz are coaches Aaron Efhan, Alan Balocan, Ferdie Marcelino and team mom Janis Efhan.
