Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 WAIPIO, HI – The Chaminade softball team concluded the season by being swept by Hawai'i-Hilo in a PacWest doubleheader at Corp Field at Central Oahu Regional Park, 18-7 in five innings, and 10-8.
The Silverswords ended the season at 25-21 overall and 17-13 in the PacWest. UH-Hilo improved to 37-17 overall and 23-7 in the PacWest. The Swords' 25 wins is the most in over a decade.
In Game 1, the Vulcans jumped out to a 3-0 lead, aided by a trio of Sword errors.
The Swords opened their half of the second when
Tumamaopavaiai Enos (Pahoa, HI/Pahoa) was hit by a pitch, then
Elia Lizarraga (Torrance, CA/Narbonne) got on board on an infield single. But CUH could not capitalize, lining out into a double play to end the inning.
After the Vulcans tacked on two runs in the third, the Swords got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when
Shannan Hokama (Torrance, CA/South) came home when the center fielder bobbled a base hit by
Rayna Strom-Okimoto (Aiea, HI/Aiea).
In the bottom of the fifth, the Swords exploded for six runs to take the lead. Enos led off with a double, then Lizarraga was hit by a pitch. Two batters later,
Samantha Ford (Honolulu, HI/Word of Life) singled, moving the runners up, but a throwing error to home allowed Lizarraga to score.
Ashley Phelps (Torrance, CA/South) followed that up with a single, bringing home
Letisha Vaba (Stockton, CA). Hokama then tied it, lacing an RBI double to left center, scoring pinch-runner
Dominique Bocanegra (Brisbane, CA/Terra Nova) and Ford. Four batters later, Enos drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the go-ahead run at 6-5. Lizarraga followed that up with an RBI infield single, making it 7-5.
But the Swords' advantage proved to be short-lived. The Vulcans would retake the lead in the fifth by sending 17 batters to the plate. UH-Hilo scored 13 runs in the frame to put the eight-run rule in effect. The Swords were unable to stave off the mercy rule, falling 18-7.
In Game 2, the Swords started all five seniors. UH-Hilo tacked on three runs in the first, but Chaminade countered with an RBI double from Vaba in their half of the frame.
The Vulcans would add three runs in the second and third innings, but Chaminade got two runs back in the bottom of the third on Strom-Okimoto's team-leading ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot to center to cut the deficit to 6-3.
The Swords continued to battle back, making it 6-5 as
Kori Berinobis (Kaneohe, HI/Castle), notched her third base hit of the game with a two-run single to right, bringing home Lizarraga and Ford.
After UH-Hilo got a run in the fifth to make it 7-5, the Swords got the run back on
Aja Keyes' (Kaneohe, HI/Lutheran) third home run of the season.
But the Vulcans countered with a solo homer of their own in the top of the sixth.
Brett Aspel (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union) would come in relief of starter
Chelsea Camello (Hilo, HI/Waiakea) and retired the side.
CUH responded in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-hitters Hokama and
Noelani Maglinti (Kailua, HI/Kalaheo) singled and was hit by a pitch, respectively. Berinobis singled to load the bases, then Vaba delivered a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hokama. The Swords loaded the bases again with one out, but couldn't bring the equalizing run.
But again, UH-Hilo had an answer, this time adding insurance via a two-run homer, making it 10-7. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Ford led off with a single to right. After a sacrifice bunt, Bocanegra delivered her first career RBI with a single to right, bringing Ford home. The Swords would bring the tying run to the plate twice but were retired to end the game.
All five Swords seniors recorded at least one base hit in the finale; Berinobis concluded her career by going 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored; Vaba was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored; Strom-Okimoto was 3-for-4 at the dish with two RBI and a run scored; Enos went 1-for-4; and Bocanegra was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
