Strike one win off the Maryknoll softball team’s ledger of victories.
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu has ruled that Maryknoll’s 12-0 TKO win over ‘Iolani on Apr. 14 — exactly one week ago — is now a forfeiture. It goes in the books as a 2-0 loss.
The ruling involves pitcher Ua Nakoa-Chung, who had returned from a showcase tournament in Las Vegas on Apr. 12, a Monday. She then played two days later against ‘Iolani after getting clearance from her school.
That was a violation of a recently-approved league rule that requires traveling student-athletes to quarantine for five days after returning to Oahu. The rule was passed just before the start of the ILH softball season.
‘Iolani had three players in the same tournament as Nakoa-Chung. Those three sat out the game, and have since returned post-quarantine.
“I dropped the ball on that one. I addressed the team on Saturday. That had nothing to do with our coach or the girl,” Maryknoll Athletic Director Ben Valle said. “There’s been a lot of changes this year. That was my fault. I forgot we voted on a five-day waiting period rule. I still thought every school governed itself.”
For the most part, each ILH school has taken its own steps toward safety and protocols for sports.
“I didn’t balk at it,” said Valle, who is also league coordinator for baseball. “The rule is the rule.”
Nakoa-Chung has been dominant since returning. After the ‘Iolani game — a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts — she threw a four-hitter with six strikeouts in the Spartans’ 11-1 win over Kamehameha on Saturday.
Revised ILH softball standings:
Kamehameha 5-2
Maryknoll 4-1
‘Iolani 4-2
Mid-Pacific 3-3
Punahou 2-4
Sacred Hearts 0-6
Always moving forward
In the wake of Campbell’s 10-0 rout, and pitcher Taryn Irimata’s perfect game, it is worth noting that Kapolei Charter will bounce back. KC has two competitive pitchers and got some good cuts at the plate against the uber-skilled Irimata. Unlike 2019, when KC’s squad made an immediate impact in the OIA West, this year’s team has some new players to the sport.
“Kapolei Charter should be all right with the coaching they have and the athletes they have. It’s hard that they don’t really have a field of their own at the school, but wherever they’re practicing, they’ve been doing all right,” Campbell coach Shag Hermosura said. “They’ll come along in the future, if not this year. They’re really working hard with their kids.”
Kapolei Charter coach Garrick Asato is patient.
“It’s back to the drawing board,” he said.
Is this rule also in effect for OIA players too ?
That Maryknoll team is stacked.
How did they manage to attract that many elite players to that program?
They look to be good for many years to come.