By Paul Honda
Editor
HondaReport.com
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004

HONOLULU—They aren’t exactly the “Hoosiers” of film lore, but the University Junior Rainbows are perhaps more impressive.

Behind a one-hitter by Jessica Ghazali and a resounding 3-for-3 performance at the plate by Mandy Yoshizu, the Junior ‘Bows zapped Kalaheo, 10-0, to capture the Division II softball state championship last night.

The 10-run rule shortened the game to five innings.

“I knew we could do it. I’m happy our offense came through, and our defense played big,” said Ghazali, a tall sophomore who was well aware that the game was being televised live. “I was so nervous all day, but I know how to pitch. I knew my team would ready.”

A capacity crowd sat through a dose of drizzles from above at Rainbow Wahine Stadium as Ghazali turned in one of her best pitching outings of the season, if not the best.

“Their pitcher’s great. Their team is really polished,” Kalaheo manager Alan Cofran said.

The Junior ‘Bows were elated. “It’s our senior year and we were really excited,” Yoshizu said of the five seniors on the team.

University, technically known as Education Lab School, has an enrollment of about 200. Still, the school has a proud softball tradition, and first-year head coach Randy Oyama has the fortune of guiding the school to its first state softball title since 1979.

The Junior Rainbows won the title under Corinne Chang that year.

“They’ve been hitting well the last month-and-a-half,” Oyama said of his team’s 10-hit attack.

University (10-7) gave Interscholastic League of Honolulu foes trouble this season. The Jr. ‘Bows gave the upper echelon scares, and they upset Iolani last week to qualify for the league’s Division II state berth.

They blanked Honoka’a 5-0 Friday to reach the tournament final.

Kalaheo (7-7), which edged Lanai 5-3 Friday, struggled at the plate against Ghazali. The sophomore struck out four and issued just one walk. The Junior Rainbows provided plenty of support in more ways than one. They led 3-0 after two innings before exploding for seven runs in the third.

Yoshizu was a sparkplug, drilling a two-out, opposite-field triple down the left-field line in the first inning. That scored Richie-Ann Titcomb, who had led off with a single.

Cara Hasegawa followed with a ground ball to third, where a rundown of Yoshizu ensued. After four throws by the Mustangs, Yoshizu wa tagged out at third.

Ku’ulei Padeken slapped a single to right moments later, but first baseman Kaliko Serrao fired a perfect throw home to catcher DeAnn Horswill, who tagged Hasegawa out at the plate to end the inning.

The Mustangs put two runners in scoring position in the top of the second, but University’s defense came through. Jasmine Nahipaa grounded out to short, and Yoshizu, the first baseman, fired a bullet home to nail Kepa for the third out.

The ‘Bows got to Kepa, Kalaheo’s starting pitcher, for two more runs in the bottom of the second. After Ghazali walked and Reesene Choy singled to left, Titcomb delivered a two-out single to right, scoring both baserunners for a 3-0 Junior ‘Bow lead.

University batted through the order and beyond in the third. Yoshizu led off with a triple to left and came in to score on Hasegawa’s groundout. Choy doubled to left, bringing in pinch-runner Johanna Javier, giving University a 5-0 lead.

Dory Baga followed with a line drive that ricocheted off Kepa’s left leg and into right field, just under the glove of second baseman Keikilani Gager. Choy scored on the bizarre play for a 6-0 Junior ‘Bow lead.

After Layla Lariosa singled to load the bases, Serrao, Kalaheo’s first baseman, replaced Kepa on the mound. Neither sophomore fared well. Serrao threw three wild pitches and hit batter Rachel Pacarro. Along with another Kalaheo error, the Junior ‘Bows added four more runs before the inning was finally over.

Horswill ended Ghazali’s no-hit bid with a one-out single in the fourth.

For Oyama, a former University of Hawaii at Manoa first baseman, the adjustment from coaching baseball to softball has been unique.

“It’s been interesting. I’ve adjusted my technique, and we’ve resolved a lot of things,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot.”

Apparently, the Junior Rainbows have learned, too.

“She had a strong tournament,” Oyama said of Ghazali. “She struggled early in the season. It’s more a frame of mind. She has to believe more in herself. She has outstanding stuff and her talent is limitless.”

Ghazali seems to be grasping the potential in her ability.

“Last year, I had a strong start. This year, I didn’t stress my pitches like I should have,” she said. She stuck with her riser and curveball last night, keeping the Mustangs off-balance.

Replacing Yoshizu and her Ichiro-like productivity will be a formidable task.

“She has the sweetest swing on the team. She’s very slight but has lots of power,” Oyama said of the senior. “She batted over .500. She was a returning ILH all-star, but it never got to her head. She just worked really hard, and that’s why she’s a captain.”

Yoshizu’s experience certainly played a part in her success at the plate.

“The first time up, I was looking for an outside pitch,” she said of the first-inning triple. “The second tie, I was looking for a change-up. She threw one on the first pitch for a ball, and then she threw another one.”

That would up as another triple to left. “I like to hit to the opposite field,” Yoshizu said.

Cofran believes his young Mustangs can continue their success into the future.

“We had a helluva good season. I’m proud of how we played and got here. I’m super proud of our team and staff,” he said. “We’ll be all right next season. We’ve won our first (OIA) banner for softball, so I’m pretty pleased.”

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