Big seventh inning powers Kalani over host Moanalua, 10-6

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 13, 2024

HONOLULU — It’s not over till it’s over.

Visiting Kalani exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh to stun Moanalua on senior day, 10-6, in the final OIA Division-I East softball game of the regular season.

“They never (gave) up to the very end,” said Kalani coach Iris Stremick. “Keep fighting, keep battling, even though energy is up against them.”

The victory helped the Falcons improve to 10-2 as they secured a first round bye in the 12-team league playoffs. They are assured of at least the East’s No. 2 seed and can finish as high as No. 1 with a Kaiser (9-2) loss to Castle (6-5) next Tuesday.

Naomi Stremick (3-1) earned the win in the circle for Kalani pitching three innings in relief of starter Kadie Carpio. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and had the go-ahead two RBI single in the top of the seventh to give the Falcons a 7-5 lead.

Ashlyn Sera also drove in two runs, including a solo home run to cut the lead to 5-4 in the seventh while Haley Ching scored three times with a home run of her own to round out the top batters for Kalani.

Malia Taga and Taryn Kimura each notched two hits to lead Na Menehune (9-3) in the loss.