MILILANI, Hawaii — The first time through the order of the 2023 Oahu Interscholastic Association West Division softball season, something is evident to Mililani coach Rose Antonio.
“Taryn is the best in the state in pitching,” the veteran coach said Tuesday afternoon.
Antonio was referring to Taryn Irimata, Campbell’s senior ace, who moments earlier tossed a complete game against one of the juggernauts in the West for the second time in four days. Irimata, by her own acknowledgment, was tired in the late innings but still managed to finish off an 11-3 win at the Trojans’ field.
Irimata, who in November signed to play for the University of Nevada for the 2024 season, mitigated seven hits and one walk, striking out seven, as Campbell completed a 5-0 run through the first half of the West schedule. The second half begins on Saturday.
“I don’t think we really say we’re the team to beat, because we know on a given day anybody can beat anybody,” Irimata said. “But we continue to work hard at practice and pick each other up. That’s the main thing.”
Coming off a 7-0 defeat of up-and-coming Waianae, the Sabers got to Trojans starter Erika Wannomae immediately, forcing Antonio to make a change after just two outs were recorded. Makayla Pagampao came in and lasted 5 1/3 but the damage was done; it was 5-0 after a half-inning and 10-0 after the top of the fourth.
Meanwhile, Irimata went through the Mililani order methodically, with the exceptions being a three-run homer given up to Trojans catcher Kaui Garcia in the fourth inning, and some close calls near the centerfield fence in the fifth and seventh.
Mililani (3-2) had put up double-figure runs in each game during its three-game winning streak, including a wild 14-13 comeback against Kapolei on Saturday.
“I kind of just had to think to myself, that was just one (lapse),” Irimata said. “We were still up, and I knew that the only way I can help the team is to not get down and pick myself up. I knew my team always has my back, whether it’s defense or offense. That really helps knowing they’re there to pick me up.”
Campbell coach Michael “Shag” Hermosura thought Irimata would be ready two games from now, for the March 30 game at Kapolei. Campbell faces Leilehua at McKinley on Saturday.
“It’s been a battle,” Hermosura said. “I don’t agree with the scheduling because we can’t get to do what we want to do in the past like we did, in the weight room, (and) two or three days’ rest. Other than that, it is what it is. We just gotta adjust.”
Sophia Alo went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Sabers. Leadoff hitter Quinn Waiki was 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and Nanea Pantastico was 2-for-4 with two runs scored as Campbell compiled 16 hits.
Even after trailing 10-0 and being under threat of an early, mercy-rule finish, Mililani, which has just two seniors, did not quit against the pitcher that Antonio believes is tops because of her ability to mix pitches; several of Irimata’s strikeouts came on molasses-slow changeups that Trojan batters were so far out in front of they couldn’t help but smile as they headed back to the dugout.
But in a righty-on-righty matchup, Garcia fouled off five or six pitches on a full count until she finally launched one well over the fence to the left-center.
“She showed some discipline and fight, and that’s what we needed,” Antonio said. “That’s great to see our players do—make adjustments as we go along and just don’t give up. Keep fighting. She hit the ball out, and it was like, it’s awesome. Great confidence booster for our kids.”
Hermosura noticed Irimata was “laboring” late in the game, so he moved his best outfielder, Kaiana Kong, from right to center, anticipating some more balls than usual would head that way.
It proved prescient as Kong robbed Taryn Hirano of a home run among three balls hit her way in the last three innings. In the fifth, Kong snagged it over her left shoulder just as she ran into the fence and had to keep it in her glove on the far side of the barrier as she regained her balance.
Amber Aniya also hit one that was inches of leaving play – it hit on the top of the fence and caromed back into play – and Hirano lined a deep one to Kong to end the game.
Campbell practiced fielding balls against the wall at similar dimensions to Mililani’s field leading up to the game, thinking it could come in handy, Hermosura said.
Antonio took some solace in the fact that her young team didn’t roll over.
“They’ve got to be happy about that, hitting against the best pitcher in the state,” Antonio said. “That’s a confidence booster in itself.”
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.