It didn’t matter who came up to the plate. Just about everyone wearing a Moanalua softball uniform found a way to do some damage Wednesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
It didn’t matter who came up to the plate. Just about everyone wearing a Moanalua softball uniform found a way to do some damage Wednesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Makamae Kaleikini and Cyanne Fernandez both went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for Na Menehune, who piled up 22 hits in beating Hilo 19-0 in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I state quarterfinals.
With the victory, Oahu Interscholastic Association No. 6 seed Moanalua (15-2) advanced to today’s state semifinals, where they will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Kamehameha-Oahu (15-2) at 7 p.m.
The two-time defending BIIF champion Vikings (15-3) will take on OIA No. 3 seed Leilehua (10-8) at 1 p.m. today in a fifth-place bracket semifinal.
Hilo had difficulty recording a single out against Na Menehune in a contest that ended after five innings because of the state’s 10-run mercy rule.
Moanalua scored nine runs on nine hits in the third inning to take a commanding 11-0 lead. In the inning, Kaleikini roped a two-run double while Kiana Mattos-Felicilda and Caitlyn Ramiscal each had two-run singles.
Mattos-Felicilda finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs while Chrissi Omalza and Leisha Yamaguchi both went 3-for-4 for Na Menehune. Miki Sylva added a three-run homer as each of the 12 Moanalua batters who made plate appearances reached base. Ten of them scored runs.
In the circle, Fernandez (2 2/3 innings), Yamaguchi and Ariel Ajimura combined on a two-hit shutout.
The Vikings’ Aliesa Kaneshiro had a two-out single in the first inning to load the bases, but Fernandez struck out Shalyn Guthier to end the inning.
Seini Nau added a leadoff single in the fourth inning.
Kaneshiro went the distance in the circle. She struck out three and walked seven.
Moanalua 209 62 — 19 22 0
Hilo 000 00 — 0 2 1