HONOLULU — Wind or no wind, Jenna Sniffen did her thing for the Maryknoll softball team in a key Interscholastic League of Honolulu matchup with Kamehameha on Tuesday.

The Spartans’ star hammered three home runs and drove in five to lead her team to a 9-4 win on a blustery day at the Warriors’ field. The teams entered the day tied atop the ILH standings; the victory gave Maryknoll (7-2) the regular-season tiebreaker as they improved to 2-1 in the head-to-head series.

“Just looking for pitches in the zone and something to drive hard,” said Sniffen, a University of Arizona-bound senior who drove the ball to all fields. “Nothing big, just tried to pull through for my team.”

Sniffen went 4-for-4 with three home runs and a double. After she hit balls over the fence to all fields – including straight into the wind in left – Kamehameha (6-3) opted to intentionally walk her in the top of the seventh, even with a Spartan already on first base.

“She’s a great player,” said Mark Lyman, coaching of the defending ILH champion Warriors. “She knows what to do with the ball when we give her something she can handle, and she’s just super strong, (and) was able to hit it into that wind and get it over a bunch of times. Yeah, hat’s off to her.”

Maryknoll coach John Uekawa said her double to left in the first might’ve carried over the fence on any other day, but the ball got caught up in the stiff breeze.

“She makes the plays, she does the right things,” Uekawa said. “She motivates everybody to become what she wants herself to be, which is … ‘hey, we’re all going to make mistakes. It’s what you do after.’”

The Spartans did make a few infield errors in the late innings, allowing the Warriors to bring across a couple of runs in the sixth.

Otherwise, it was a strong start for freshman pitcher Molly Davi, who went the distance on a six-hitter.

“Molly, she’s throwing a gem of a game, great game, and all we can do really is give her great defense and do our part as she does hers,” Sniffen said.

Right after recording the final out, Davi went over to give Sniffen a hug. Davi has shouldered much of the pitching load this season while Sniffen has focused on hitting.

Maryknoll pitcher Molly Davi (8) greeted Jenna Sniffen after getting out of an inning. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Freshman Sheyzhelle Iokia added a two-run homer in the sixth for Maryknoll. 

Uekawa said his state title team of 2022 seemed destined to go all the way, given its talent. This group, which features four freshman starters, will have to earn it.

“The bottom line to it all is, they don’t know how good they are,” Uekawa said. “But this team is really, really, really close. One of the most close teams I’ve ever had.”

Maryknoll has three games remaining in the ILH regular season. If it holds on for the regular-season title, it will secure the first of two ILH berths to the state tournament after missing out on states last year.

Maryknoll freshman Sheyzhelle Iokia signaled to teammates at home plate after she rounded third on her sixth-inning home run. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Jenna Sniffen fired a ball from third to first for an out. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Spartans freshman Molly Davi pitched a six-hitter for the victory. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kamehameha shortstop Mua Williams fielded a grounder. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Kamehameha ace Kiani Soller fired a pitch. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.