Brunn, Kinney lead way in Punahou's win over Maryknoll

Greg Yamamoto | SL

For at least the moment, the Buffanblu stand alone atop the ILH Division I standings.

Punahou improved to 3-0 in league play, as a four-hit complete game by Paige Brunn and a three-RBI day at the plate by Austen Kinney equated to a 5-1 win over Maryknoll in a midday game at Sand Island Park.

"She was amazing," said Kinney of Brunn's performance today. "She always does a great job for us, hits her spots and just does what we need her to do, and we back her up. It's just a huge team effort."

Kinney got the scoring going for Punahou with a home run to left to lead off the fourth, breaking the scoring seal in what was a pitcher's duel up to that point.

"I was just trying to produce for my team, get something small and make adjustments," said Kinney.

Beyond the run on the board, Brunn said the long ball Kinney also helped in the energy department.

"It kind of started us, like we were a little energized," she said. "It got our energy going and (from) then we got confident that we could do it."

To Maryknoll's credit, they wasted little time in counterign Kinney solo effort, striking back in the bottom half of the same innin as Kyla Abad doubled to kick off the inning and came around to plate the tying run when Sheyzhelle Iokia's ground ball down the third base line caromed squarely off the bag and bounced skyward, allowing Abad to trot home easily to make it a one-all game.

"We kind of just had to flush it and come back because we knew we could score more than one run," said Brunn of the play.

Brunn struck out two in the final three innings of play, but mostly relied on her team's defense to produce outs, which they did, and did so without an error.

"I think it was a team effort," said Brunn of the win. "We all kind were collectively energized and supporting each other to get through those last couple of innings. I felt more confident because my team was picking me up."

Kinne agreed. "They've always hit well against us but I think our defense has really come together. We're all really excited for what the future holds."

Kealohi Cox put the Buffanblu ahead for good in the sixth, with a double to left that scored both Faatamalii Brown and Sydney Capello to make it a 3-1 lead for the visiting team. That lead doubled in the seventh with Kinney's one out single over the left fielder's head that brought home both Sera Tokumaru and Taryn Ho.

"I think I just saw the right pitch," said Kinne of the play. "I wanted to try get a deep ball to score one runner, but it worked out well as we got two."

In her first complete game of the season, Brunn allowed just one run on four hits, walked three and struck out six. Her counterpart, Kasi Cruz, also went the distance, allowing five runs on six hits. She walked five and struck out seven in the loss.

Abad was a bright spot for the Spartans in what was a muted day offensively. She was 2 for 3 at the plate with a double and a run scored.

Punahou stole five bases on the afternoon, two of them by Capello.