Hilo sophomore shortstop Quinn Waiki’s powerful bat impressed Keaau, which intentionally walked her with the bases loaded in the fifth inning.
That was part of a three-run scoring spurt that pushed the Vikings to a 12-1 five-inning TKO victory over the Cougars in the BIIF season-opener on Thursday at the Walter Victor complex.
Prior to the intentional walk, the 5-foot-8 Waiki launched a long rocket over the left-field fence. Alas, the ball was pulled foul.
BIIF softball was back after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the BIIF and state championships in 2020 and 2021.
The scoreboard was out of order after Wednesday’s electrical storm. All that power was transferred to Hilo’s bats.
The Vikings scored two runs in the first inning, four in the second, three in the third, and three in the fourth inning.
“I think we’re coming along. It was a long break for a lot of these girls after COVID,” Hilo assistant Noelani Kalipi said. “It was a good start. The girls were nervous to get back on the field after 2 1/2 years. It was good to get the wiggles out.
“Some of the girls played in between with Little League and wooden bat so some of them know each other through all the different squads. They were having fun, learning the basics, and getting a feel. It’s very different to be on the field from practice.”
Waiki was on the Hilo basketball team that fell to Waiakea in the BIIF semifinals. She’s been playing softball, her preferred sport, since she was 5 years old.
Hilo senior right-hander Hauoli Kalipi fired a one-hitter and struck out seven. She allowed an unearned run and walked three.
Kira Alameda hit a base-clearing double and finished with three RBIs. Waiki and Kalipi had two RBIs each for the Vikings (1-0), who last won the BIIF title in 2014.
Kalipi started on the 2020 team along with her sister Kuuipo, a junior third baseman, and junior catcher Kiana Agpalza, who was the shortstop.
“I played (Pony) baseball first,” Waiki said. “We could have done a little better. We’re green.”
At least the Vikings are not as green as the Cougars, who have just two players with experience in shortstop Karley Lucas-Medeiros and left fielder Viviana Flores.
“We’re pretty good for the amount of practice we had,” Keaau coach Boy Wong said. “Most of the girls haven’t played. I only have two girls back from 2020, and that’s it. The rest are all new. A lot of girls from the canoe team came, but they never played before.”
Freshman Alana Smith took the loss for the Cougars (0-1), who last went to states in 2015 as the BIIF runner-up.
First baseman Alameda, Waiki, Hauoli and Kuuipo Kalipi, Agpalza, center fielder Hope Barclay, and right fielder Janae Watanabe have playing experience. The rest of the Vikings are rookies.
Kealakehe won the BIIF title in 2019, and Waiakea took the BIIF crown from 2015 to 2017 with the Waveriders as the league runner-up.
