Raiders cruise into quarters

LIHU‘E — With little resistance, the Kaua‘i Red Raiders took the first step in repeating as Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II softball champions with an 11-1, six-inning win in Tuesday’s opening round against Molokai at the Central O‘ahu Regional Park.

Kaua‘i, which came into the tournament unseeded, advances into the quarterfinal round to take on the No. 1 seed, Kalani High School. That matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight.

Kaua‘i got going early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to set the tone. Molokai came back with a run in the third and held the Raiders scoreless in the bottom half as the girls held a 3-1 lead heading into the fourth inning.

After a scoreless top half, Kaua‘i got back on the board in the bottom half with two more runs and a 5-1 lead.

Raider pitcher Naja Pungan continued to stifle Molokai as her team got the bats going. Four more runs in the fifth busted the game open and gave Kaua‘i a 9-1 cushion.

Blanking Molokai in the top of the sixth, Kaua‘i put an end to the festivities with two runs in the bottom half, implementing the 10-run rule.

Pungan got the win on the mound, giving up one run on seven hits. She also went 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and two RBIs.

Tia Obrero had a huge day at the dish, going 4 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs. Randee Layosa was 2 for 4 with three runs, Melia Aki went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs and Waileia Kanealii was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Waimea High School is in action tonight after receiving a first-round bye as the tournament’s No. 2 seed. The Lady Menehune will take on Kalaheo, which played its way into the quarterfinals with a 9-1 win over Kamehameha-Hawai‘i, Tuesday.

The Waimea-Kalaheo game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Today’s winners will advance to the semifinals, which will be played at the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, Thursday.

Results and bracket information can be found at www.sportshigh.com.