HHSAA softball: Kohala advances in dominating fashion

Kohala advanced to the second round of the the HHSAA Division II tournament Tuesday afternoon with a dominating 18-2 victory over Kalaheo at McKinley High School in Honolulu.

The Cowgirls rode to victory behind the bats of third baseman Ashlyn Van Zandt, first baseman Setsuko Kimura and catcher Kadence Coito.

Van Zandt, batting in the No. 2 hole, led her team with four hits. She accounted for eight of the 18 runs while going 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, four RBIs and four runs scored. Kimura and Coito , the third and fourth hitters in the lineup, followed with three hits apiece. Setsuko knocked in four and scored three times. Coito plated two runners.

Shortstop Denae River only picked up one hit, but she walked twice, knocked in four runs, and scored three times.

The Cowgirls offense did most of its damage in the first inning, pushing six runs across the plate. They scored three in the second and third inning and added another two in the fourth. Kohala plated its final four runs in the fifth inning.

Symphony Kauanoe put in a solid days work inside the circle. She threw all five innings in the run-shortened game, allowing two earned off five hits, while walking three and striking out four.

Jacquelyne Howard was the starting pitcher for Kalaheo and she struggled, allowing 11 earned, 12 total, off 11 hits in three innings of work. She walked three and struck out one. Michelle Sasaki threw the final two innings, allowing six runs off four hits. She also walked three.

Sasaki, who was in the game as the catcher before being called on to pitch, was Kalaheo’s top hitter, going 2-for-2 at the plate. Tiffani Beach supplied the runs for Kalaheo with a 2-RBI double.

Kohala will now advance on to the second round where they will square off with No. 2 seeded Waimea. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday. Kalaheo falls to the consolation bracket and will play at 3 p.m. on Thursday.