The Gold Coast Seniors (13-16 years old) bounced back on Sunday in the Little League Softball West Regionals in Missoula, Montana, winning two of three games to improve its overall record to 5-3 for the tournament. ADVERTISING The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast Seniors (13-16 years old) bounced back on Sunday in the Little League Softball West Regionals in Missoula, Montana, winning two of three games to improve its overall record to 5-3 for the tournament.
Hawaii opened the day with a slugfest against Northern California, winning 22-12. Kaila Tabiloca-Amaral, Nanea Kaluau and Erin Kaimuloa Bates led the Gold Coast offense with three hits apiece. Tabiloa-Amaral was 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs. Kaluau went 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI, and Bates went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Tabiloa-Amaral and Naluau each had a double.
Taylor Tabucbuc continued to supply the power with another home run. She was also walked twice, scoring four times and picking up three RBIs.
Chawna Aquino led Northern Cal with three hits and three runs scored.
Tabucbuc picked up the win inside the circle. She threw all five innings, allowing 12 runs, none earned, on 11 hits. The defense struggled behind her, committing five errors. She walked three.
Jessica White took the loss for the California team. She allowed 14 runs, 10 earned, in 2-2/3 innings, walking three and striking out two.
In contrasting games, Gold Coast lost its next game in a much lower scoring affair, falling to tournament host ZooTown 5-3.
ZooTown picked up the win by spreading out 16 hits over seven innings. They were led by Shaina Allen and Jalen Cooper, who had three hits apiece.
Hawaii’s offense was led by Naluau. Batting in the leadoff spot, she went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Amber Hickethier picked up the victory for ZooTown. She threw three innings, allowing two runs, none earned, off five hits. She struck out three.
Telsea Taketa took the loss for Gold Coast. She threw all seven innings, allowing five runs, four earned, while striking out two.
In the final game of the day, Hawaii managed to hold off a late surging Montana 7-6. Gold Coast held a 6-0 lead after four innings, but Montana scored three in the fifth and three in the sixth. An insurance run picked up by Hawaii in the bottom of the fifth made the difference.
Gold Coast’s offense was led by Kaluau and Bates, who had two hits each. Kaluau had two runs and two RBIs. Bates added three RBIs. Montana’s offense was led by Natalie Beck, Kaylee Kanneglesser and Sydney Nelson, who had two hits each.
Bates picked up the victory, allowing six runs, four earned, off nine hits in 5-1/3 innings. She struck out one and walked one. Tehani Epenesa picked up the save, throwing the final 1-2/3 innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.
Alison Eldridge received the loss for Montana. She allowed six earned off eight hits, while striking out three and walking four.
With pool play now over, seeded play for the tournament will begin today. Seedings were unavailable by press time.
The Gold Coast Majors (9-12 year olds) did not play on Sunday in their West Regional tournament, which is being played in San Bernardino, California. The team awaits seeding as pool play wraps up. Seedings were not available by press time.
