Three-time defending state champion Campbell has been through through it all before. All that stands between the Sabers and another trip to the state final is a potent Punahou team that has scored 10 runs in each of its tournament wins thus far.
Punahou 11, Campbell 3, final
Punahou will face Leilehua in the state final on Friday night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Campbell’s bid for a four-peat is thwarted by the ILH runner-up Buffanblu. Ishii goes the distance, scattering eight hits, striking out six, walking two.
Seventh inning
Ishii was still queen of the hill to the finish. Sanay-Saneishi reached on an infield error, but Ishii retired the final two batters to send Punahou to the state final.
Akimseu doubles off the left-field wall with one out, but Punahou doesn’t score. The Buffanblu had scored in every inning but the fourth.
Sixth inning
Campbell got a bit of momentum going when Nunes singled, Favela reached base on an infield error and Ranches singled to right, scoring Nunes. But Iosia grounded into a 6-3 double play to end the inning. PUNAHOU 11, CAMPBELL 3
Saiki’s third hit of the game is a single to center, and then Akimseu launches a towering shot over the center-field fence. That’s her third HR in three state-tourney games and the lead is now seven runs. Sato singles and that’s for the young hurler, Sales, who pitches 5-plus innings. Nadia Delzer enters the game. Mielke singles to left, runners at the corners. Martinez lines out to first and Alejo bunts foul with two strikes for the second out of the frame. Mizuguchi’s infield single scores Sato from third for an eight-run lead. Matsubara then smacked a liner up the middle that was knocked down by the SS, Nunes. The infield single allowed Mielke to score. PUNAHOU 11, CAMPBELL 2.
Fifth inning
Ishii struck out Domingo to start the inning, marking the pitcher’s third K in a row going back to the fourth inning. Sanay-Saneishi walked, but the Sabers couldn’t get into scoring position.
Punahou two more runs in the fifth. Martinez was hit by pitch with one out, Alejo singled and Mizuguchi doubled to deep center, scoring Martinez. Alejo later scored on a sac fly by Matsubara. PUNAHOU 7, CAMPBELL 2.
Fourth inning
Caisha Nunes leads off with a single, but Favela grounds into a forceout and Ishii fans Ranches and Iosia. Ishii now has four Ks and one walk.
Saiki doubles with one out, but Punahou comes up empty.
Third inning
Campbell got runners to third and second with two outs after an error and a then a double by pinch hitter Michaeal Fonoti, but Ishii retired pinch hitter Tatiana Liu on a grounder to end the threat.
Two errors by Sabers second baseman Favela contributed to Punahou’s two runs in the third frame. Mielke walked, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Alejo’s grounder was muffed by Favela, then overthrown to first. Alejo later scored on a two-out single to center by Matsubara. PUNAHOU 5, CAMPBELL 2.
Second inning
Campbell gets a baserunner on when Favela singles with one out, but she is left stranded at first.
The Buffanblu push a run across with the help of a Campbell error. Eri Mizuguchi scores on D’Asha Saiki’s single, but the Buffanblu leave the bases loaded. PUNAHOU 3, CAMPBELL 2.
First inning
Campbell responds with two runs of its own. Trinity Favela leads off with a walk, Alesia Ranches singles to center and Favela scores on an infield single by Anastasia Iosia. With one out, Dyllan Sanay-Saneishi is hit by pitch to load the bases. Zoie Recolan walks, scoring Ranches from third. Punahou P Ishii strikes out Jaelyn Myers and gets Aberdean Sales on a forceout to end the inning. CAMPBELL 2, PUNAHOU 2.
Punahou draws first blood. Maya Matsubara singles, Kennedy Ishii walks and Bailey Akimseu, with one out, walks to load the bases against Chloe Sales. After Janell Sato pops out, Kawai Mielke singles up the middle on a full count to bring two runs home. Sales then walked Ashanti Martinez before getting Bri Alejo on a grounder to end the inning. PUNAHOU 2, CAMPBELL 0.
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