Pressure can turn coal into diamonds and that is exactly what is happening on the diamond for the Kohala at the HHSAA state tournament.
Facing mounting pressure every game, usually self inflicted do to walks and errors, the BIIF runner-up Cowgirls have overcome the odds to reach the state semifinals for the first time in school history.
“It is a good feeling, I’m not going to lie,” said Kohala head coach Terrance Alcoran. “I am excited, the girls are excited, hopefully we will do well.”
Kohala upset No. 3 seed Kapaa 7-6 in the quarterfinals and will play Waialua today at 4:30 p.m. for a chance to represent the league in the state championship game on Saturday.
Waialua is the No. 2 seeded team in the tourney and Kohala (13-6) has some history with the school. The Cowgirls defeated the Bulldogs 11-4 in the seventh place game last year.
“They pretty much look like the same team,” Alcoran said. “I believe we can beat them again this year too.”
In a back-and-forth battle in the quarterfinals, Kohala edged Kapaa behind the dominating all-around performance of senior Mikayla Kekoa.
Kekoa picked up the victory inside the circle, going seven innings, allowing two earned runs off four hits. She also went 3 for 3 at the plate, with a home run, two doubles, three RBIs and four runs.
While her numbers at the plate have been impressive, it is her strikeout total that stands out the most. Kekoa struck out 15 batters on Thursday, giving her 29 through the first two games of the tournament.
“Her fastball was really working well for her against Kapaa. They never hit the ball hard,” Alcoran said. “If she had cut down her walks and we played better defense behind her, then they probably would have never scored.”
Defense and walks have been the only thing that has held Kohala back this season. The Cowgirls committed five errors against the Warriors at Oahu’s Patsy Mink Field and Kekoa walked four.
Kekoa walked eight in the previous game to go with her 14 strikeouts.
“Eight walks and 14 strikeouts in the first round, that just seems unreal,” Alcoran joked. “If she can eliminate the walks and the team can eliminate the errors, then we can win this thing.”
Kapaa came out playing small ball. The Warriors laid down bunts and used their speed to an advantage to take a 3-2 lead after the second inning.
The Cowgirls tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning and the two teams found themselves tied again at 5-5 heading into the final inning.
“Heading into the seventh, I told the girls to just get one run. That is all we needed to win the game,” Alcoran said. “Well, we ended up needing two, but we got it. The team is hitting fairly well.”
After scoring a pair of runs in top of the seventh, Kohala found its lead cut down to one in the bottom of the inning, with two outs and a Kapaa runner on third.
The next batter put down a bunt, but Kekoa was able to field the ball and tag out the runner heading down the third base line for the final out.
“Kapaa was a risk taking team and they took chances like that all game,” Alcoran said. “They are a really fast team but we never quit and were able to move on.”
Along with Kekoa, Kayla Juan-Kealoha performed well at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Kaila Caravalho was 1 for 2 with two RBIs and a run.
Savannah Simons led the Kapaa offense with a 2 for 3 night, which included a triple and a run.
Seijia Makanani took the loss for the Warriors. Throwing four innings in relief, she allowed three earned, four total, off two hits. She struck out eight and walked three.
Shanayah Marshall started the game for Kapaa, going three innings, and allowing three earned of six hits. She struck out one.
KS-Hawaii 9, WAIMEA 2
The No. 1 seeded Warriors advanced to the semifinals after a dominating victory over Waimea on Thursday in a D-II quarterfinals game.
Kamehameha (19-0) didn’t need much offense to take down the Menehune behind another dominant pitching performance from Brooke Baptiste. Baptiste spread out eight hit over seven innings, allowing two earned runs. She struck out seven and walked four.
Dioni Lincoln led the offense, going 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBIs. Leiloa Bustamante was 1 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs. Eight different Warriors had hits in the game.
For Waimea, Makeyah Wisneski went 2 for 3 with a home run. Taira Aben also had two hits.
Shandalyn Kuhlmann took the loss for the Menehune. She allowed seven earned, off nine hits, over six innings.
The Warriors will play Saint Francis in the semis today at 7 p.m.
WAIALUA 12,
HONOKAA 6
Waialua scored 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on Thursday to end Honokaa’s hopes of advancing to the semifinal round of the D-II state tournament.
The Dragons (12-7) held a 6-2 advantage heading into the inning before the Bulldogs (10-3) were able to come from behind for the victory.
Maura Muniz earned the win inside the circle for Waialua, going seven innings and allowing five earned off six hits. She struck out one and walked one.
Tehani Epenesa took the loss for Honokaa. In 5 1/3 innings, she allowed 11 runs, 10 earned, off nine hits. Epenesa struck out four and walked five. Alexis Martinez entered the game in relief with one out in the sixth inning. She allowed one run, while walking four and striking out one.
The Bulldogs had three batters with multiple hits. Anela Hernandez led the way, going 2 for 3 with a double, a run and three RBIs. Quinn Ozoa was 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI. Sophia Manalo went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.
Ceelyn Gali-Lucero went 2 for 3 with a double, two runs and an RBI to lead the Dragons’ offense. Epenesa was 1 for 2 with a run and two RBIs.
Honokaa will play Kapaa in the consolation bracket today at noon.
DIVISION I
IOLANI 11,
KEALAKEHE 0, 5 INN.
The Raiders (17-5) kept Kealakehe’s offense off-balance all day to advance to the semifinals of the Division I state tournament on Thursday.
Iolani’s Allie Capello was dominant inside the circle, allowing only one hit over five innings. She struck out nine and walked three.
Telsea Taketa started for the Waveriders (11-7). She went four innings, allowing four earned runs — eight total — off seven hits. She walked one and struck out two.
Mia Joaquin pitched the final inning, allowing three runs off one hit and a walk.
Iolani’s offense was led by Aleia Agbayani, who went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, three runs and four RBIs. Capello had two hits, with a run and an RBI.
Joaquin had the lone hit for Kealakehe.
The Waveriders drop to the consolation bracket and will play at 6 p.m. today.
The Raiders advance to the semifinals and will play at 7:30 p.m.