Mililani needed extra innings to win the Oahu Interscholastic Association Junior Varsity Softball Championship in dramatic fashion over Pearl City, 6-5 in nine innings on Saturday, October 15 at Mililani High School.
Pearl City's Anuhea Lindsey-Rapoza suffered the loss in nine complete innings of work for the Lady Chargers. Mililani's Kylie Bello went the the distance for the Lady Trojans to earn the win and the championship.
Pearl City finished the regular and post season at 10-4. Mililani posted a 12-2 record.
Pearl City jumped on Mililani starting pitcher Kylie Bello in the top of the first inning scoring four runs for the early lead. Anuhea Lindsey-Rapoza stroked a triple to right right field to lead off the inning. Next batter Robi Kami drilled an RBI double to left field scoring Lindsey-Rapoza from third base. Makana Kekaulike got on first base after getting hit by a pitch. Angel Maikui-Jenks hit a 2 RBI triple scoring Kami from second and Kekaulike from first with no outs. Next batter Shaynee Sanford hit an RBI double to left-center field that scored Maikui-Jenks from third base. Naomi Hernandez-Hama layed down a sac bunt that pushed Sanford to third base. Natalie Kang lined out to the Mililani first baseman who caught Sanford for the third out of the inning. Pearl City went up 4-0.
Mililani scored one run in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double by Tori Baysa that scored Nicole Cox from second base.
In the bottom of the third inning, Pearl City centerfielder Ariela Bali made a spectacular over the head catch in deep centerfield for the third out to end a Mililani scoring threat that stranded two Mililani runners on base.
The Lady Trojans tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a throwing error to third base with bases loaded by Pearl City first baseman Makana Kekaulike.
Mililani broke the 4-4 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nicole Cox reached third base after hitting a fly ball to right field that was dropped. Cox would score the go ahead run on a pass ball at home plate.
Pearl City tied it up at 5-5 in the top of the seventh inning. Mililani pitcher Kylie Bello walked Natalie Kang with bases loaded and two outs scoring Kylie Hong from third base.
In the bottom of the 9th inning Pearl City pitcher Lindsey-Rapoza ran into trouble loading the bases with no outs. Mililani pushed the winning run across the plate on a bunt single by Leyna Tamaye that scored Kayla Magbeleta from third base.