Morris and Favela lead Campbell in 11-0 rout of Kaiser


Campbell first baseman Caragh Morris, left, tags Kaiser's Kai Hasegawa, right, for an out. Tyler Kanoa | Special to SL

Hawaii Kai – A pair of sophomores, first basemen Caragh Morris and pitcher Elisa Favela, could do no wrong as the third-seed out of the Red West, Campbell, cruised by Kaiser 11-0 Thursday afternoon to reach the Oahu Interscholastic Association softball semifinals.

The No. 2 seed from the East, Kaiser, boasted an 11-1 record prior to the game with its only loss at the hands of East top-seed, Moanalua.

With the win the Campbell advanced to play Mililani in Friday's semifinals, but more importantly has secured a spot in the upcoming Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Tournament.

"What they do in practice is what they do in the game," Campbell head coach Shag Hermosua said about his team. "They’re young, playful, they love the game and they’re strong."

After a quiet first inning, the Sabers' bats awoken with five hits and five runs in the top of the second inning.

The first run of the game was a sacrifice fly by Sierra Mariano that scored left fielder Nashlynn Anguay from third.  Two batters later, leadoff-hitter Cydney Curran singled into left to score another run. Curran batted 1 for 3 with an RBI, walk and two runs scored.

On the next batter, Kaiser catcher Tiana Ching-Lake jumped all over a softly hit ball in front of the plate, but her throw was wide and another runner scored and set the table for Morris with players at second and third.

Morris came up to bat and hit a ball into the right field gap that scored two runs. She then rounded third and tried for an inside-the-park homerun, but the relay was in time and Morris was tagged out by Ching-Lake at the plate.

Kaiser starting pitcher Seli Aholelei was relived after the second inning for by Crystal Ching-Lake.

The next time Morris came up to bat was in the fifth. Already 2 for 2 from the plate, the Campbell sophomore hit another deep fly ball to right field and this time was able to round the bases safely for the inside-the-park homerun.

Two hitters later, third baseman Kawehi Kahana tripled and later scored on a pass ball. Kahana finshed the game 3 for 4 with a double and a triple.

The Sabers added four more runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

With runners on first and second, and needing a double to complete the cycle, Morris crushed a two-run triple to deep left in her final at bat.

"There’s two lefties before me so I’m the first righty and I’m not sure how they’re going to pitch to me so I have be ready for anything," said Morris who finished 4 for 4 with a double, two triples and five RBIs.

Favela scored Morris on a screaming single past the second baseman and was lifted for a courtesy runner that scored later on a fielder’s choice.

Morris' performance was only matched by her fellow sophomore teammate Favela in the circle. The right hander hurled six innings of two-hit softball with four strikeouts and threw 45 of her 54 pitches for strikes. Favela had only one inning where she did not set down the Cougars in order.

"She wants the ball all the time," Hermosua said of his pitcher. "She’s a gamer and I knew that when I first saw her."

"My outside and inside pitches we're working today," remarked Favela who has seven pitches in her repertoire.  "As well as my semi-changeup and risers a little bit, but mostly my fast(ball) did well."

Favela, who threw a two-hitter in a win against Kahuku Wednesday, has yet to pitch a full seven-inning game as Campbell will take on West No.-1 seed Mililani Friday.

"We're on a good run right now, we’re peaking at the right time," Hermosura said.

The Sabers have won six straight dating back to the beginning of the month, including three consecutive games where they scored in double digits.