CJ Caraang | SL

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WAIPIO – Cydney Curran and Jocelyn Alo each drove in two runs to power No. 1 Campbell over No. 6 Pearl City, 10-5, Tuesday night.

The Sabers (4-0) cashed in on three of four illegal pitches called against the Chargers (1-3) in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division softball game at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. One snapped a 5-all game in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded on an apparent called third strike on Curran. Two pitches later, the left-handed hitting Curran doubled to left to score two. Later in the inning, Curran took third on a wild pitch and scored on another illegal pitch. On illegal pitches, the pitch call or if the ball is put in play, is changed to a ball and the runner or runners advance a base, much like a balk.

"At least a five-run swing," Pearl City coach Chad Obara said of the effect of the illegal pitches against his team.

At issue was the interpretation of whether Pearl City pitcher Tyanna Kaaialii was stepping behind the rubber after she brought her pitching hand and glove together.

"The reason for the illegal pitches is he (the first base umpire) said that when she brings her hands together, she's stepping back. I'm saying she's not stepping back. That's what I was pointing out."

Campbell starting pitcher Elisa Favela had no issues with her windup, but got hit hard on occasion. Half of the six hits she allowed in six innings were for extra bases. Kristin Frost doubled in the first and later scored on Kylie Tasaki's double to give Pearl City a 2-0 lead. But the Sabers backed Favela with four runs in the bottom of the first and one in the second. But Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi's three-run home run to center tied the game at 5 in the top of the third.

Kaaialii was pulled after facing three batters in the bottom of the first. She had walked the first two batters and left after Alo's two-run double to right-center. Left fielder Frost came in and pitched the next 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, three walks and four hits. When Kaaialii reentered the game to replace Frost, she had another illegal pitch that advanced runners to second and third, but she escaped the jam when Darien Robinson flied out to left and Sierra Mariano was doubled off third after not tagging up for the inning-ending double play.

But the game turned around in the bottom of the third with the aid of the illegal pitches. Caragh Morris led off with a single and took second on Trinity Favela's single. After Cieana Curran struck out, Chardonnay "Sissy" Pantastico reached on an error to load the bases. On a 1-2 pitch to Cydney Curran, an apparent called third strike was ruled illegal, allowing the runners to advance, including the go-ahead run. Two pitches later, Cydney Curran doubled to left to score both runners to make it 8-5.

"I go with the pitches because ever since my freshman year, (pitchers) have been pitching the lefties outside," Cydney Curran said. "I've never gotten anything really inside, so I've been working on the outsides a lot right now…at home or at practice, I'll do (batting) T-work on outside pitches."

An out later, Cydney Curran went to third on a wild pitch and scored on yet another illegal pitch that made it 9-5.

"That's her forte," Campbell coach Shag Hermosura said of Cydney Curran's hitting prowess to the opposite field.

The left-handed hitting Pantastico hit a solo home run to right to round out Campbell's scoring.

Meanwhile, Elisa Favela retired 10 of the next 11 batters she faced before giving way to junior Danielle Cervantes, who pitched a scoreless seventh, allowing an infield single and walk with two strikeouts.

Although the Sabers won convincingly – though it  might have been different had they not get the illegal pitch calls  Hermosura feels his team is still a bit shy of last year's state championship team.

"I don't think we're as disciplined like we were last year," Hermosura said. "Staying down on the high pitches, just looking down and getting the barrel on the ball. Not try to over swing. On a scale of 1 to 10, we're 5, 6, 7 at the most. We still have to go back to the drawing board."

A nice addition to the Sabers is Kahuku transfer Alo, who walked twice after her first-inning, two-run double. She replaced one of two positions the Sabers lost to graduation last year. She likes her new scenery.

"I just stick to my plan," Alo said. "I know if I do bad, my team will be there to back me up."

Alo not only adds power to the offense, she is a strong defender, too. She was offered a scholarship to UC-Berkeley.
"I had a bunch of offers my eighth grade and ninth grade years," she said. "Midway through my ninth grade year, I verbaled to Cal-Berkeley."

She said is still sticking to that commitment.