OIA Softball
Heavy rain dampens Kaiser and Moanalua's OIA opener


  



Tue, Apr 11, 2017 @ [ 3:00 pm ]


FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Kaiser 0 020000261
Moanalua 0 0 4004X8112

W: Mari Kimoto    L: Primrose Aholelei

MOA: Summer Kamioka 3-4 2 runs rbi; Mari Kimoto 6.6 IP 2 ER 2 K
KAIS: Kayla Russell 2-4 rbi; Primrose Aholelei 6.0 IP 5 ER 7 K


SALT LAKE — What a strange way to open the Oahu Interscholastic Association East season.

Kaiser scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to lead 10-6 over Moanalua, before the game was halted due to heavy rain with two outs at the Na Menehune's field on Thursday.

The Cougars added four runs on wild pitches and errors as the rain came down harder making the ball difficult to grip for the Na Menehune players. However, due to the game being waved, the runs in the ninth won't count and the game reverts back to the eighth inning as a 6-6 tie.

According to OIA softball coordinator Andy Moody, at the end of the season if it has bearings on the standings or seeding, then the game will be replayed from the beginning, not from the point the game was called.

Moanalua won after Castle forfeited and the Cougars' game against Farrington was postponed on Wednesday, so this was the first real game for both OIA East rivals.

Kayla Russell, who went 3-for-4, led off the first with a single. Shanelle Lum consecutively walked Tahani Kahawai-Robertson and Primrose Aholelei and the Cougars were able to cash in four runs on two errors.

"They didn't quit, but they have a lot of work to do," said Kaiser coach Mitch Matsumoto.

Moanalua answered to score two runs after Raven Rosa-Lasco hit a deep shot to left field, but Rosa-Lasco was tagged out just before home plate for the third out. The Na Menehune capitalized in the third inning to tie the game at four off of Kaiser errors.

Coaches Matsumoto and Morikawa know that their teams will go through growing pains as both teams committed costly errors at inopportune times.

"I think we made too many errors. Last year we graduated seven seniors so this year we have two starters coming back and this is a brand new team," said Matsumoto.

"They have no fear and they come to play. First varsity game and first one of the season. With different kids, you're working with different chemistry," said Moanalua coach Kristie Morikawa.

Precious Aholelei's single scored Kahawai-Robertson for a 5-4 lead, but Kylie Kawelo's leadoff solo homer in the bottom of the fourth tied the game back at five.

Russell's sacrifice fly to centerfield brought in Christiana Aholelei for a 6-5 lead after the fifth inning.

Shanelle Lum started on the mound before giving way to Mari Kimoto. Kimoto took a line drive to the stomach, but managed to complete the out at first. Jada Young cleaned up to pitch the last 2 and 2/3 innings.

"It's pitching by committee and they are going to give their portion and someone will be behind them," said Morikawa, on the pitching unit.

Moanalua made a pitching change to bring in Young in the seventh who struck out Trinidee Kahunahana and Lauryn Wee, and Tehani Aquino lined out to first.

Rheyl Arakawa-Lee reached on the third baseman's error and moved to second on Summer Kamioka's sacrifice bunt. Hilari Balenti's RBI single scored Arakawa-Lee to tie the game at six.

Primrose Aholelei pitched eight innings, of the six Na Menehune runs, one was earned and she struck out five Moanalua batters.

Both teams were able to get singles, but the defenses came through eight complete innings.

Moanalua hosts Kailua on Mar. 11, while Kaiser plays at Kalaheo on the same afternoon.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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