Resurgent Mililani stops Pearl City behind Pagampao's pitching
Mar. 5—Junior Makayla Pagampao scattered four hits in 41 /3 innings and socked a two-run double as No. 4 Mililani posted a 10-0 TKO win over Pearl City in five innings on Saturday morning.
Junior Makayla Pagampao scattered four hits in 41 /3 innings and socked a two-run double as No. 4 Mililani posted a 10-0 TKO win over Pearl City in five innings on Saturday morning.
Pagampao struck out five and walked one, while first baseman Kolbi Kochi belted a two-run home run in a four-run fifth inning for Mililani, which bounced back from a regular-season opening 11-5 loss to No. 3 Waianae on Thursday. Kochi was hit by a pitch three times, all below the waist, before finally taking a cut.
"I know it couldn't happen a fourth time. I was just see ball, hit ball, " the junior said. "I just swung at a ball that didn't hit me."
Eight of the nine Trojans in the starting lineup got on base at least once against Pearl City pitcher Grace Kikuchi.
"I feel really good today. My kids did really well, holding them to zero runs. Our pitching hit the spots, defense made plays and when we had opportunities, we hit and scored when we needed to, " Mililani coach Rose Antonio said.
Pagampao was in command in the circle, using her breaking ball and pitching to contact.
"I feel good. I feel proud of myself today. My curve balls were really working today, " she said.
The visitors got on Pearl City's purple scoreboard with two runs in the first inning. With two outs, Kochi was hit by pitch and Kaui Garcia walked. Pagampao sent the next pitch to right-center for a double, scoring Kochi and courtesy runner Madeline Armenti.
In the top of the third, Kochi and Garcia were hit by a pitch with one out. After Pagampao flew out to center, Sunni Kahanu singled up the middle, scoring Kochi from second base for a 3-0 Mililani lead.
In the fourth frame, Amber Aniya's fly ball was dropped in center field by Abby Aribal. Aniya hustled to third base on the play and scored on a bunt single by Aubri Nakashima to give the visitors a 4-0 lead. Nakashima stole second base and came home on a double to center by Taryn Hirano.
Hirano advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Kamryn Aoki, then scored on a wild pitch as Mililani opened a six-run cushion.
In the fifth frame, Aniya drew a one-out walk and went to third base on a single by Nakashima. Aniya came home while Nakashima stole second base, and Nakashima continued on to third base on a throwing error. After Hirano grounded out, Aoki doubled to center, bringing Nakashima home for an 8-0 lead.
Kochi then followed with a towering blast over the left-field fence.
"They're a good hitting team, so we had to make a lot of adjustments. We're also down four players who are out sick, " Pearl City coach Erin Barros said. "Two of them starters. It made a little bit of difference, but we still have girls that we depend on. We just needed a little bit more. Left too many girls on base."
Mililani (10-1-1 overall ) does not play again until March 14 against Leilehua. Pearl City, 0-2 in league play, will play at Campbell on Tuesday.
