Lanai players celebrate after a run scored against Waialua. Steve Erler | Special to SL

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Lanai players celebrate after a run scored against Waialua. Steve Erler | Special to SL

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Lanai scored seven unanswered runs to pull away from Waialua, 14-8 in the opening round of the DataHouse/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II Softball State Championships at McKinley's Tiger Softball Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Pinelasses, from the Maui Interscholastic League, advance to the quarterfinals to play fourth-seeded Kamehameha-Hawaii on Wednesday at 3 p.m. while the Bulldogs play Konawaena in the consolation bracket on Thursday at 1 p.m. at McKinley.

Claire Vila went 2-for-4, added two runs, a double and a 2RBI home run and Cherie Malacas went 2-for-3 and 3RBI for the Pinelasses. Vila pitched the whole game allowing four earned runs and striking out four and walking one. Jordan Sanches and Kayci Kaopuiki-Galiza scored three runs each.

"She did good pitching, I told her to keep us in the game and let the offense take care of itself. She kept her composure and hit well today," said Sanches, on Vila.

The Pinelasses cranked out 12 hits and it overshadowed seven fielding errors for the game.

"This was the worst defensive game they played, but I figured if we keep hitting, we'll be alright. I told the girls if we keep hitting and it would put pressure on them. We had some base running mistakes so hopefully we'll play better," said Lanai coach Robbie Sanches.

"We all have faith in each other, but we shook it off and came back," said Malacas.

"For a pitcher when errors are being made, it's hard to come back with strikes but I came through and my teammates came through," said Vila.

The Bulldogs scored first to take a 2-0 lead after Selena Victoria scored off an error and Andrea Dicion scored another run, but Lanai managed to tie it up at 2 after Danielle Maxwell walked Noelani Eskaran.

Waialua went back up, 4-2 after Laola Pang doubled and scored off of a passed ball. Candice Basilio scored off of Kiani Ekamrak's single.

Malacas brought in Sadie Schilling as the Pinelasses trailed, 4-3. But in the fourth inning they rallied to score four runs. Kahea Ganer-Eskaran led off with a triple and Jana Ohashi doubled to bring her home. Vila's double brought in Ohashi and scored off of Jordan Sanches' sacrifice fly. Maxwell walked Kayci Kaopuiki-Galiza, who then scored off of an error.

"I knew we were behind so I had to go up there, not think about it and do my job. In the beginning we were kind of nervous, but after a couple innings we got it out and played our game," said Malacas.

Selena Victoria doubled then scored off of Andrea Dicion's sacrifice fly and Christel Agtina scored off an error. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the fourth inning to trail by one run, 7-6. They also added two runs in the sixth after Gemelie Hatchi doubled and Ekamrak scored and Agtina scored her second run of the game.

However the Pinelasses scored seven unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull away for good. Lanai scored two runs in the fifth off of Bulldog miscues. Vila smashed a 2RBI home run over the centerfield fence and Malacas brought in her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly. Sanches and Kaopuiki-Galiza scored their third runs in the sixth.

"Once I made I contact with the ball, I could tell it would be a hard one. When it went over the fence and I was surprised because it's my first home run in my high school career and it felt great," said Vila.

Selena Victoria led Waialua going 2-for-5, scored two runs and hit a double.