Vikings Softball Remains Unbeaten in Win over Pahoa

After falling behind early, the Hilo High Vikings regrouped quickly and got some help from Pahoa’s defense in a 9-2 win over the Daggers on Tuesday.

Pahoa got on the board in the top half of the first inning, when Kayla Bernel smacked a double to left field with two outs in the inning, putting the visitors on top early. But, the Vikings didn’t wait long to send a reply. After a leadoff double from Shyanne Higa-Gonsalves, Aliesa Kaneshiro brought her home two batters later with a single to shallow right field, tying the game. Courtesy runner Sydnee Yokota later scored on a wild pitch, and Caitlyn Price drove in Fantacie Keahilihau-Kuamoo with a single bouncing through the middle of the diamond, making it 3-1 in favor of Hilo.

Hilo pitcher Ashlyn Kaneshiro ran into some trouble in the third inning, walking Jade Sumoba and Ranchell Berinobis to start the inning. Kaneshiro only allowed one of those runners to score, when senior Beautiful Wilson grounded into a fielders choice, scoring Sumoba to cut the Hilo lead in half.

Once again, the Vikings gave an answer to their opponents score, as Price drove in another run on a groundball out to first base, scoring Keahilihau-Kuamoo, who, standing at second base smartly turned the corner at third on the slow-developing defensive play and came home to score, making it 4-2 Vikings.

From there, the Vikings were able to cruise ahead. Keahilihau-Kuamoo smacked a two-run triple to deep center field to extend the Vikings lead in the fourth. Then in the fifth, a fielding error by Pahoa second baseman Macey Mokuhali’i scored two runs to make it 8-2. Another error, this time by Randi Lee Berinobis in misplaying a fly ball to right field, scored one more run to make it 9-2.

Kaneshiro took the win for the Vikings, pitching five innings of five-hit baseball, scattering two runs along the way. Wendilyn Simmons pitched the final two innings for the Vikings, setting down all six batters she faced, including two on strikeouts.

Senior Erin Martinez took the loss for the Daggers. Martinez pitched four innings, allowing six runs on the afternoon while striking out three. Wilson finished up the final two innings for Pahoa. Both pitchers endured miscues in the infield as Pahoa committed 14 defensive errors in the game.

Pahoa (2-3) will host Kea’au on Thursday afternoon, while the Vikings (4-0) will face Waiakea High. Both teams are 4-0 on the season.

Pahoa 101 000 0 – 2 5 14

Hilo 301 221 x – 9 6 1