Maui Sabers Moves on to Quarterfinals, Defeats Leilehua 6-5

The 2017 DataHouse/HHSAA Softball State Championships began yesterday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium and McKinley High School.

Maui High softball player Nawai Kaupe shows her support for the team, following a triple hit in the 10th inning. Photo from OC16 broadcast.

The Maui High Sabers defeated the Leilehua Mules yesterday 6-5 in 8 innings.

In last nights action, Leilehua took an early one run lead in the bottom of the second. The Sabers immediately responded back after Ai singled to left to start the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. At the next at bat, Fukushima was hit by pitch with two runners on base. Kaupe singled to right field with two runs scored. Kaupe stole second and advanced to third and eventually scored due to a wild pitch. Sabers 3 – Mules 1

Top of the 4th: Prieto started the inning with a single to right field and stole second. Lay-Fuentes grounded out to ss and Prieto advanced to third. Cornelio singled down the middle and Prieto scored. Sabers 4 – Mules 1

The Mules responded at the bottom of the fourth with one run scored. Sabers 4 – Mule 2

At the top of the 6th inning Prieto reached on a throwing error by the short stop and then stole second base. Prieto stole third and ended up scoring on a wild pitch. Sabers 5 – Mules 2

The Mules would tie the game at the bottom of the 6th with three runs scored. Sabers 5 – Mules 5

Kaupe would solidify a Sabers win with a home run to left field. Sabers win 6 – 5.

Kaupe had two runs, two hits and three RBIs in last nights game. Prieto had two runs and one hit. Cornelio had one hit and one RBI. Ai had one run and one hit.

The Sabers will now play No. 1 ranked Mililani this afternoon at 4:30 p.m., the game will be aired on OC16.

Mililani has finished in the top three in the state tournament the past three years in a row, winning the state championship most recently in 2014. This is the second year in a row the Maui Sabers have made it to state.

The winner of the Maui/Mililani game will move on to the semifinals tomorrow night and will take on the winner of the Waiakea/KS-Kapalama game at 7 p.m.