KAILUA KONA — The Warriors of Kamehameha-Hawaii claimed their fourth consecutive BIIF crown Saturday morning at Old Airport Park with an 11-1, six inning victory over Kohala in the second game of the Division II championship series. Kohala never threatened the lead in either game. They dropped the first game on Friday, 7-1.
KAILUA KONA — The Warriors of Kamehameha-Hawaii claimed their fourth consecutive BIIF crown Saturday morning at Old Airport Park with an 11-1, six inning victory over Kohala in the second game of the Division II championship series. Kohala never threatened the lead in either game. They dropped the first game on Friday, 7-1.
“Our girls really matured over the season and learned how to pick themselves up and play like a team,” Kamehameha assistant coach Akea Kiyuna said. “It was a tough series and Kohala came to play. It showcased the best out of both teams but unfortunately someone had to win.”
Kamehameha got two dominating pitching performances from their ace Mykala Tokunaga in the championship series victory. She also got the job done at the plate in Game 2, leading the offense with four hits.
“She pushed herself really hard and did it for herself and the seniors,” Kiyuna said. “It was one of her best series and I am looking forward to what she can do at state.”
In both games, the Warriors put up most of their runs late. On Friday they scored the majority of their runs in the final three innings. Saturday, Kamehameha scored seven of their 11 runs in the fifth and sixth inning.
The Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Kiarra Lincoln led off with a walk and stole both second and third. She scored on a grounder to third by Kekai Wong Yuen. A throwing error allowed Wong Yuen to move all the way around to third and she scored on a Tokunaga infield hit. Tokunaga stole second and scored when Makena Wagner ripped a single into center.
The damage could have been more severe for Kohala in the opening frame if not for an interference call on pinch runner Ronelle Valera. With two outs, Jaysha Alonzo-Estrada blooped a shot to short and Valera, forgetting how many outs there were, stalled in front of the fielder. The home plate umpire called the interference.
In the bottom of the inning, Kohala put a runner in scoring position when leadoff hitter Antonette Fernandez doubled down the left field line. However, Tokunaga, starting her second game of the series, struck out two of the next three batters to get out of the inning.
The Warriors took a 4-0 lead in the top of the second when Elexis Emmsley beat out an infield grounder and scored when Samantha Simmons reached on a throwing error by the third baseman.
The Cowgirls put a runner on third in the bottom of the third but could get nothing out of it. Symphony Kauanoe led off the inning with a single to left and Kaila Tabiolo-Amarai walked. Fernandez hit a grounder to short and Kamehameha turned the 6-4-3 double play. Kauanoe advanced to third but was stranded when Ashlyn Van Zandt popped out to second.
Kamehameha had their biggest offensive inning in the top of the fifth when they pushed four runs across the plate. Lincoln led off with a double and stole third. She scored on a Wong Yuen single to left. Wong Yuen then moved to second when the left fielder could not field the ball cleanly.
Jessica Cameros popped up a bunt but it landed in front of the diving Kohala pitcher for a single and Tokunaga followed with a single to center to plate Wong Yuen.
Wagner hit a grounder to short and reached on a fielder’s choice as the throw went to second. All runners were safe on the play to load the bases for Taylor Sullivan, who stepped and singled to left, scoring Cameros and Tokunaga. Kamehameha led 8-0.
The Cowgirls finally pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the fifth by taking advantage of two Warrior errors. Kiana Alejandro-Cazimero reached when the second baseman misplayed a pop up and she was moved to second on a sac bunt. Fernandez singled to left to put runners on the corners and Van Zandt reached on an error by the centerfielder, allowing Alejandro-Cazimero to cross the plate.
The Warriors stretched their lead to 10 in the top of the sixth. Kamehameha loaded the bases when Alonzo-Estrada was hit by a pitch, Lincoln reached on a two base error by the left fielder, and Wong Yuen walked. After Cameros reached on a fielder’s choice at the plate, Tokunaga singled to right, scoring Lincoln and Wong Yuen. Cameros scored on a groundout to short.
Tokunaga put the Kohala batters down in order in the bottom half of the inning to end the game. She picked up her second win and complete game of the series. Kauanoe threw every inning for Kohala, taking the loss.
Kamehameha 310 043 / 11 12 2
Kohala 000 010 / 14 3