By Paul Honda
Editor
HondaReport.com
Friday, January 30, 2004

(Note: See the original publication of this story in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004.)

MILILANI—When the going gets tough, the Kalaheo Mustangs whoop it up and have a laugh.

That approach may not work for most softball teams, but it's a winning recipe for Kalaheo. The Mustangs rallied with a three-run sixth inning to edge ‘Aiea, 3-2, yesterday afternoon to capture the O’ahu Interscholastic Association's Division II championship.

“This feels great. It's fantastic,” Kalaheo head coach Alan Cofran said.

The Mustangs are making a habit of close wins in comeback fashion. They rallied to eke out a 5-4 win over Nanakuli Thursday in the playoff semifinal round.

“This team doesn't give up,” Cofran said. “They've worked so hard, and they're gelling right now.”

Rallying with a sense of joy comes naturally to the Mustangs. “We had fun. We're just confident about that,” said Keikilani Gager, who came through with a big RBI single for Kalaheo.

Winning pitcher Kaliko Kepa, who helped get Kalaheo rally at the plate, wasn't surprised by the dramatic flavor. “We just had to pull through. We relax, have fun, and that's how we pull through,” the sophomore said.

Kalaheo's win overshadowed a good performance by ‘Aiea. Pitcher Ashley Sato, who went the distance, was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Jamie Rosario also was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Kalaheo (6-6) managed just one base hit through five innings and saw ‘Aiea take a 2-0 lead. The Mustangs returned to the dugout after the rough frame and sang up a storm.

Sato set Kalaheo down in order, fanning two Mustangs, in the bottom of the fifth. However, Kalaheo's bats began to sing in the sixth.

Kerstyn Tsuruda and Deann Horswill opened the inning with consecutive singles, and Kepa came through with an RBI single to left, scoring Tsuruda. Moments later, Gager got enough of a Sato pitch to single up the middle.

“I was looking for a hole on the field. She threw a lot of slow and fast pitches,” said Gager, a junior. “The pitch I hit was a little slow.”

Gager's clutch hit allowed Horswill to score, and the game was tied at 2. Sato struck out Kaliko Serrao, but Jasmine Nahipa'a tapped a single to right, and Kepa raced home with the go-ahead run.

Nahipa'a wasn't even aware that her hit gave her team the lead. “Really? I was waiting for the perfect one. It was just there,” the freshman said. “It didn't go as far as I wanted, but it was good enough.”

Sato whiffed Tina Acevedo and Kamala Kau to end the inning, but the damage was done.

Kepa, who pitched all seven innings, allowed a leadoff single in the seventh to Kristen Watabu, and Sato reached base on an infield throwing error. Kepa remained strong, however, and got the next three outs to send her team to the inaugural Division II state softball championships.

“Kalaheo came through with their bats,” ‘Aiea head coach Moritsugu said. “They had their big hitters come up, and we couldn't anything about that.”

For ‘Aiea, a program on the uprise, there's plenty to be thankful for after a 5-7 season. “We've got a lot of possibilities,” Moritsugu said. “Our pitcher is coming back, and a lot of our key position players are coming back. It's definitely something to build on.”

Learning to compete is another big plus. “We've learned to play hard. The team has really improved to get that attitude,” Moritsugu added.

A scoreless battle through four innings was rather lopsided. ‘Aiea had five base hits by then, making a two-run fifth almost anti-climatic.

Sato's bloop double down the right-field line brought home Darci Yoichisake. Rosario followed with a single that glanced off the glove of Kalaheo's second baseman, bringing home Sato from third base with Na Alii's second run.

All that remained was Kalaheo's remarkable comeback.

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