Kapaa High School’s varsity softball team lost to Kohala High School of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation in the quarterfinals of the 2019 DataHouse Softball Championships-Division II state tournament.
Kapaa — this year’s Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion and tournament No. 3 seed — fell to Kohala, 7-6, Thursday afternoon at the Patsy T. Mink Field in Kahului, Maui.
“We (played against) a team with a really good, dominating pitcher. We were right there, back and forth throughout the innings. Coming down to the wire, we just needed a timely hit, and we came up short,” said Kapaa head coach Francis Takasaki in a phone interview Thursday. ”The other actually did come through with some timely hits. Basically, that was the result of what happened. We fell a little short.”
In the bottom of the seventh inning, facing a 7-6 deficit with a runner at third base and two outs, Warriors shortstop Shailee Telles-Kelekoma reached first base on a fielder’s choice.
As Telles-Kelekoma reached first, Warriors outfielder Shanayah Marshall went for home. Marshall, who was the potential game-tying run, was tagged out on an unassisted play at home plate for the final out.
“It was a close play. It could have gone either way, and it would have tied it back up. We didn’t get the call on that,” Takasaki said.
He added: “Give the pitcher credit. She made a fantastic play. Everything had to be perfect for her to get that out, and she did it.”
Earlier in the bottom of the seventh, Marshall drove in a run on a bunt single. Warriors catcher Savannah Simmons scored from third on Marshall’s squeeze bunt.
Kohala scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-5 lead. Cowboys starting pitcher Mikayla Kekoa knocked an RBI double to left field, and first baseman Laila Caravalho hit a grounder to the pitcher to score Kekoa from third base.
The Cowboys took an early 2-0 lead with two runs scored in the top of the first inning. Kekoa hit an RBI double, and Caravalho hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Kekoa from third.
Kapaa took a 3-2 after scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Warriors first man Kaia Davis-Caberto and second baseman Kaylana Maghanoy both scored on Kohala errors.
In the bottom of the sixth facing a 5-4 deficit, Kapaa scored a game-tying run when Telles-Kelekoma reached home plate on a Kohala error.
Kapaa got six runs on four hits, left six runners on base and recorded one error. Simmons was 2 for 4 hitting with a triple and scored one run. Marshall was 1 for 4 with an RBI bunt single.
Seijia Makanani pitched in relief and took the loss for Kapaa. Makanani threw four innings, allowed four runs on two hits and had eight strikeouts and three walks.
Marshall was the starting pitcher. She went three-plus innings, allowed three runs on six hits and had one strikeout.
At the time Marshall was relieved in the fourth inning, the game was tied at 3-3 and Kohala had runners on second and third bases with no outs. Makanani struck out the next three batters to keep the game tied and then struck out the side in order in the top of the fifth inning.
Kohala got seven runs on eight hits, left four runners on base and recorded five errors. Kekoa was 3 for 3 batting with two doubles and a home run, was walked once and scored four runs. Third baseman Kayla Juan-Kealoha was 2 for 4 with a double and had one RBI.
Kekoa got the win for Kohala. In a complete-game effort, Kekoa got 15 strikeouts, four walks and one hit-by-pitch.
Kapaa will play against Honokaa of the BIIF in a consolation game at noon today. Honokaa lost to No. 2 seed Waialua of the Oahu Interscholastic Association in the quarterfinals Thursday, 12-6.
“We’re moving on. We have that game. I’m sure we’re going to come out and take it out a little bit on whoever faces us,” Takasaki said. “I think our girls will be ready. It’s another day. It’s just the way it goes.”
KIF runner-up Waimea High School played against No. 1 seed Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii of the BIIF on Thursday evening at the Patsy T. Mink Field. The result of that game was not available by press time.
If Waimea won, the Menehune will play Saint Francis School of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu at 7 tonight. Saint Francis defeated Radford High School of the OIA in the quarterfinals Thursday in five innings, 12-1.
If Waimea lost, then the team will play Radford in a consolation game at 2:15 p.m. today.
Thursday’s Division II results
Game 5 (consolation): McKinley (OIA) 7, Waipahu (OIA) 5, 5 innings
Game 6 (quarterfinals): Kohala (BIIF) 7, No. 3 Kapaa (KIF) 6
Game 7 (quarterfinals): No. 2 Waialua (OIA) 12, Honokaa (BIIF) 6
Game 8 (quarterfinals): Saint Francis (ILH) 12, Radford (OIA) 1, 5 innings
Game 9 (quarterfinals): No. 1 KS-Hawaii (BIIF) vs. Waimea (KIF), not available by press time
Info from Hawaii High School Athletic Association.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
