Big first inning helps Punahou rout Mid-Pacific in ILH opener

Teammates gather around home plate to greet Taryn Ho (2) after she hit a home run as the Buffanblu scored 12 runs on 11 hits in the first inning to win their ILH season opener. Brandon Ching | SL

When it rains, it pours.

Punahou bounced back from an early deficit and put away Mid-Pacific with a 12-run first inning to win, 13-3, in five innings in an ILH Division I opener for both teams at McKinley's Tiger Softball Stadium.

The Buffanblu (1-0) picked up its first league win after 11 of its 15 hits of the game came from the bottom of the first inning.

The Owls (0-1) attacked first on hits from Emi Kano and Chloe Tepraseuth and Alexa Siu walked to load the bases. Kano scored off a wild pitch and Tara Gojo's RBI single plated Tepraseuth. Paige Maeda's sacrifice fly brought in Siu for a 3-0 lead.

Punahou responded and never looked back with a scoring onslaught with six singles, three doubles, and two home runs. Sydney Capello, Tasi Taufahema, and Lii Brown accounted for doubles and Taryn Ho and Kahiau Aina blasted homers to plate six base runners.

Seven of the nine starting batters in the lineup registered a hit led by Aina, who finished 3 for 3 with four RBI. Taufahema was 3 for 3 with three runs and two RBI, Ho plated a pair with her home run, and Brown was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBI.

Austen Kinney brought in Taufahema with a single to left field in the third inning to go up 10 runs.

Tara Gojo (0-1) took the loss in 1/3 inning pitched, seven of the eight runs were earned. Alexa Siu pitched 3 2/3 innings, to scatter nine hits and walked three with one strike out.

Paige Brunn (1-0) took the win with 3 2/3 innings pitched, scattered three hits, three Owl runs were earned, but struck out three and walked one.

Mid-Pacific was seeking its first ILH win since Apr. 29, 2021.

The Buffanblu finished last season 7-8 overall and beat the Owls by an average of 9.7 runs last season.

Punahou goes to Iolani (0-1) on Monday, Mar. 11 at 4 p.m. while Mid-Pacific goes to Maryknoll at Sand Island on Mar. 13.

Both teams are slated to meet again at Mid-Pacific on Mar. 21 and Apr. 4.

Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].