Hilo, Keaau bow out in state softball tournament

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WHT STAFF REPORTS

WHT STAFF REPORTS

They competed much better this time, but the effort didn’t translate into the result they desired Thursday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Hilo and Keaau both lost in consolation play at the Hawaii High High School Athletic Association state tournament, leaving Honolulu with 0-2 records.

Oahu Interscholastic Association No. 3 seed Leilehua beat the Vikings 6-2 in a fifth-place bracket semifinal while OIA No. 4 seed Waipahu topped the Cougars 5-2 in a seventh-place bracket semifinal.

Time constraints shortened both contests, with Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Hilo (15-4) bowing out in six innings and BIIF runner-up Keaau (11-8) falling in five innings.

A day after Hilo suffered a 19-0 loss to Moanalua, the Vikings’ Aliesa Kaneshiro and the Mules’ Taezha Ann Cordero were locked in a pitcher’s duel before Leilehua broke a scoreless tie with a four-run fourth.

Jazmyn Dangaran and Gelsey Duarte had RBI singles in the inning while Tiana Cantero-Kawelo went 2-for-2 for the Mules (11-8), who managed just five hits against Kaneshiro but held a 6-0 lead after five innings.

Cordero pitched a complete-game seven-hitter to get the win. She struck out three and walked two.

The Vikings got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth thanks to RBI groundouts from Seini Nau and Raven Hall.

Kaneshiro went the distance in the circle, striking out three and walking six. Two of the six runs she allowed were unearned.

Earlier in the day, Keaau hung tough against Waipahu after falling to Mililani 14-0 in the first round on Tuesday.

The Cougars cut a 4-0 Marauders lead in half in the fourth, with Sally Hanabaga coming through with an RBI single.

However, Keaau managed just four hits against Waipahu (9-9).

Annjahnee Miranda picked up the win, allowing two runs — one earned — on three hits over four innings. She struck out five and walked two.

Offensively, Shevan Defreitas went 2-for-2 for the Marauders, highlighting a four-run third inning with an RBI double.

Cougars starter Shaniya Kamakea-Wong, who lasted two innings, took the loss. She allowed a run on one hit, striking out one and walking two.

Lohi Kamakea-Wong pitched the final two innings, giving up four runs on six hits. She struck out none and walked none.

At the plate, Rylann Hacoba went 2-for-3 for Keaau.

Hilo 000 002 — 2 7 1

Leilehua 000 42x — 6 5 0