HILO — The Waiakea High School varsity softball team ended its week with a gargantuan, 27-1 home victory over Konawaena High School.
The three-inning blowout was a morale-booster for the Warriors, who suffered a bottom-seventh loss on Wednesday to cross-town rival Hilo High.
Brianne Felipe took the mound for Waiakea. After walking Konawaena leadoff Kalla Salmo, Felipe caught Salmo stealing at second for the first out of the top first. The Wildcats’ Jerzie Lopez doubled, but was left on base after the three-hole flew out to Kaylee Aiona at third base and the next batter was struck out by Felipe.
The Warriors recorded a giant, 16-run bottom first — which saw them reach the top of their lineup twice, steal eight bases and the entire batting order score at least one run with most scoring two. Throughout the inning, five of Waiakea’s batters walked and three were hit by pitch. Aiona, Felipe and Darci Kaina singled — then in their second time through the lineup, Kaina, Tehani Chinen and Keani Kaneshiro doubled. The highlight of the inning was Aiona’s two-RBI home run during her second at-bat. Two of Konawaena’s outs were on passes from third-baseman Alexa Tayamen to Lopez at first, and the other was a flyout caught by Salmo.
The Wildcats put up their only point in the top second. After Felipe struck out the first two batters, she hit Sherri Furuuchi with a pitch, who then stole second. Furuuchi was sent home by a double from Leilani Lebraun-Ward. Lebraun-Ward and Tasha Amor were left on third and second after a flyout to shortstop Jhayda Turner.
In the bottom second, the Warriors buried Konawaena with another double-digit slate of runs. Waiakea notched more hits than its last time at bat — with seven singles, two walks, two doubles, a hit-by-pitch and another two-RBI home run — this time by Chinen. One out came from a runner tagged out short of home, and the other two were flyouts to Salmo.
The Warriors ended the game in just three batters in the top third. Felipe struck out the first, then the next two were each caught stealing.
Kaina went four-for-four to lead Waiakea in the box, scoring two runs. Aiona went three-for-three with a walk and four runs scored. Chinen and Kalmi each went two-for-two with four runs — Chinen getting hit-by-pitch twice and Kalmi once, then reaching first on an error. Turner also batted 1.000, singling twice and hit-by-pitch twice to score three runs.
Furuuchi started on the mound for Konawaena, and Jamalea Uoses relieved her partway through the bottom first.
Felipe earned the win on the mound — striking out four, walking three and allowing three hits.
The Warriors, now 2-1, will play away twice this week — at Keaau High School at 1 p.m. Wednesday and at Pahoa Community Park 11 a.m. Saturday, against Pahoa High School.
