Maryknoll to take on defending champ Mililani for D1 title

MANOA – Momentum met its match Thursday evening.

Her identify is Sheyzelle Iokia.

Maryknoll’s sophomore third baseman’s fifth-inning grand slam drove the dagger in Campbell in a 9-4 win within the semifinals of the DataHouse Division I state softball match at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The second-seeded Spartans (14-4) will play top-seeded and defending champion Mililani (14-1) at 7:30 p.m. for the championship. Maryknoll is looking for its first title since 2022, the primary yr again after the match’s two-year hiatus due to COVID. Mililani is looking for its fifth title. The Trojans are 4-6 in title video games, whereas the Spartans are 1-0.

Iokia’s insurance coverage blast got here after the Sabers pulled to 5-3 within the high of the fifth on Skylynne Gonzalez’s pinch-hit two-run house run that was adopted by Taylor Mendoza’s homer. This after Maryknoll starter Kasi Cruz had mowed down the Sabers by way of the primary 4 innings, permitting solely a third-inning stroll to Kaiena Fuentes-Arellano.

However with one out within the fifth, Dalexy Sanchez doubled and scored on Gonzalez’s homer to left-center. Mendoza adopted together with her drive to left, giving Sabers hope of a comeback.

Besides Iokia would rain on the Sabers’ tried rally.

Within the backside of the fifth, holding on to a 5-3 lead, Kaiya Miller led off with a stroll towards Campbell starter Lily Perreira, who was charged with six runs on 9 hits and 4 walks in four-plus innings. She was changed by proper fielder Fuentes-Arellano, who bought the primary two batters she confronted. However Reyni Hiraoka reached on an infield single that moved Miller to 3rd. Kyla Abad drew a stroll to load the bases. Iokia then ripped a 1-0 pitch over middle subject to make it 9-4.

“I had a feeling she would pitch me down the middle, so I was ready for that pitch,” stated Iokia, who added she knew the ball would clear the wall when she made contact on her D-1 state-leading tenth house run of the season.

It gave the Spartans the cushion for the remainder of the sport.

Maryknoll pitcher Kasi Cruz scattered 5 hits and three walks with seven strikeouts for the complete-game win.

Iokia additionally had a solo house run within the third that elevated Maryknoll’s result in 3-0. Her slam shut the door on Campbell, which has made to the title video games 10 instances, greater than any of the 4 semifinalists.

“You can never count Campbell out,” Maryknoll coach John Uekawa stated. “They’re a fabulous team. But we’re a really good two-out hitting team, You see a lot of these runs come with two outs.”

Along with Iolia’s two-out slam, the Spartan had two two-out single earlier within the sport.

The distinction between this group and the 2022 state champion group is that this squad is younger, Uekawa stated.

Maryknoll has a mixed eight freshmen and sophomores, of which 5 are starters.

MILILANI 19, PUNAHOU 5 – The defending state champions rallied from a 5-0 deficit getting into the third, then scored 19 unanswered runs. Of Mililani’s 14 wins, 13 instances they scored in double figures. They even scored double digits in a 14-10 loss to Campbell.

Punahou had some early momentum towards Trojans’ ace Hinano Bautista, who allowed 5 runs on one-plus innings, her shortest outing of the yr.

Punahou’s Taryn Ho’s three-run house run ro middle – her third in as many days within the match – raised the Buffanblu’s hopes, particularly when Lexi Hinahara adopted with a homer of her personal.

“I had a lot of things running through my mind,” Bautista stated of her outing. “I made my D work as much as I could.”

However she made up for it on the plate. Her three-run homer within the fourth was one among 5 bombs by the Trojans. Kodie Ancheta, Kahiau Aina, Makanalei Watkins-Villegas and Ori Mailo additionally went deep.

The steady-fielding second baseman Kamryn Aoki batted 5 for five with three doubles and three RBIs.

It was Mililani’s eighth mercy-rule win this season, together with all three video games within the OIA match.

Division II

Karlee Rose Keale fired a five-inning no-hitter as Kapaa demolished Pac-5, 17-0, in a single D2 semifinal at RWSS.

Keale confronted just one batter over the minimal in a sport shortened by the 10-run rule.

The defending champion Warriors are looking for their fourth title

Within the different semifinal, Sky Phoenix Lumabao hit two house runs and Pearl Metropolis outlasted Waimea, 15-9, denying an all-KIF remaining.