KEALAKEHE — Kealakehe softball had rolled over teams in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) all season, but on Tuesday afternoon at the Waveriders’ home field, it had a problem.
No. 1-seeded Kealakehe trailed 11-7 at the bottom of the seventh inning against No. 2 Waiakea in part two of Game 3 of the best-of-three BIIF Division I Championship series, and an island title was on the line.
The two teams originally met Monday at Walter Victor to decide the series, but a rainout at the bottom of the fourth inning called for a make-up at Kealakehe High School the following day. The game resumed in the top of the fifth, tied 5-5.
The Waveriders scored the first two runs of the afternoon after left fielder Katherine Keizer logged a two-run double, but the Warriors had plans of bouncing back. Waiakea responded with a six-run inning to go up four runs at the top of the sixth — sparked from two Kealakehe errors, a Meghan Spencer RBI single, a Kaitlyn Miura RBI ground out and a Jayda Kaimi RBI double.
With the Warriors just three outs away from securing a second straight BIIF DI title, the Waveriders found life again. Center fielder Caitlyn Nakamura smacked a line-drive triple to left field to drive home sibling Kayleigh Nakamura. After a couple of Kealakehe players were struck by pitches, the Waveriders found themselves in an opportunistic bases-loaded situation. Catcher Malia Polimino was walked, forcing another Kealakehe run to cut Waiakea’s lead to two.
After the Warriors made a pitching change with one out, Waveriders’ shortstop Rihanna Joaquin lined a single to center field to score Keizer — keeping the bases loaded. After Emalia Emmsley was walked in the ensuing at-bat, Saige Telles crossed home plate to tie the game.
Freeda Tosie struck out next, but Kayleigh Nakamura was beamed by a pitch in the following at-bat — automatically sending home Polimino in the walk-off run for Kealakehe to win 12-11.
“The girls strove to win and didn’t give up, so I am very proud of them for that,” ‘Riders coach Jerry Hiraishi told West Hawaii Today postgame.
Keizer finished with three hits to lead both teams, while Joaquin and Emmsley had two hits apiece for the Waveriders. Teammates Tosie, Caitlyn Nakamura and Kayleigh Nakamura made up for the rest of Kealakehe’s hits with one each. Emmsley was the game’s winning pitcher — going seven innings and giving up six runs across Monday and Tuesday’s intervals.
Waiakea finished with seven hits — three shy of its competition. Shortstop Lexi Santiago led the group with two hits, followed by first baseman Tehani Chinen, left fielder Spencer, catcher Jhayda Rose Turner, center fielder Maddie Kodani and designated hitter Kaimi with one apiece. The team went through two pitchers — Miura and Spencer.
After bouncing back from a 23-3 Game 1 loss and winning the next two, the Waveriders finished the 2024 BIIF season nothing short of dominant — going 13-1 and outscoring opponents 187-65. They’ve secured a spot in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) Division I tournament, slated to begin Tuesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium and McKinley High School on Oahu. Kealakehe has yet to receive its first-round opponent.
Regardless of who the ‘Riders get, Hiraishi has had his team ready all season. While winning the BIIF was quite an accomplishment, he has emphasized the importance of setting their sights higher to the girls since the season began in early March.
The best way to do that? By trying to go far in the state tournament.
“I’ve tried to instill in them that we can’t be satisfied with just winning BIIFs,” Hiraishi explained. “We have to strive to get to the next level, and Honolulu will have some good tests for us.”
The Warriors, who also had another successful season, will join Kealakehe next week in the state tournament. Expected to be lower than the Waveriders in the seedings, Waiakea also has yet to learn of its first state playoff opponent.
Vikings break through, win DI
Some victories take years to manifest.
Hilo High’s baseball team got to experience its dream come true, as the Vikings recovered from a 1-0 series hole to rout rival Waiakea two games in a row in the Central Pacific Bank/BIIF Division I finals on Monday — winning their first BIIF DI title against Waiakea since before the pandemic, and preventing the Warriors from another repeat title.
After suffering a first-round loss of 9-4 on Saturday morning, the Vikings crushed the Warriors 15-0 in five innings later in the evening and returned on Monday to dominate Waiakea again, 8-3.
It was an exceptional and unusual chapter in a perennial rivalry which usually consists of tightly-contested, low-scoring affairs.
“I dont think that ever happened before between the both of us,” Hilo head coach Baba Lancaster said.”I think it was the first time.
“The boys hit the ball and executed how we planned to. The knew how to put the ball down, they bunted when they had to and got the hits that we needed.”
Saturday’s evening game was where Hilo gained its momentum. After a disappointing, big loss in the morning, the Vikings had had enough — and got it together.
“I told the boys ‘I’m glad we got the loss now,’” Lancaster said. “They didn’t like that feeling, and they stepped up. All praise to the boys, they worked hard and came out victorious.
“Our underclassmen wanted it so bad for the seniors, it was a great team win.”
Waiakea head coach Chris Honda commended the Vikings for their performance thoughout the whole series.
“Hilo played very well,” he said. “They’re a good team. I was proud of our boys — they kept their heads up and continued to compete every inning, every day.
“I think we played OK. Hilo hit the ball well, put the ball in play and limited their errors — which I think was big for their success — and they out-hit us every game.”
In Monday’s game three — Hilo drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning, as shortstop Legend Lancaster hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field for an RBI, driving in Jarren Sakamoto.
Next, catcher Zion Palea doubled a line drive to left field to bat in Kamren Agpalza. After a flyout, Hilo entered the second inning ahead 2-0.
Two looking strikeouts by Hilo pitcher Jayden Geraci and a flyout sent the Warriors down in four at-bats in the top second.
“I gotta hand it to our pitchers,” Lancaster said. “In the 15-0 game, Koa Marzo pitched a hell of a game, (on Monday) Geraci pitched a hell of a game.”
In the bottom second, Sakamoto sacrifice bunted to drive in Logan Schlueter — a courtesy runner for Geraci — to plate Hilo’s third run. Next, Koa Marzo singled to bat in Cole Hatayama before the end of the inning.
Waiakea was shut out again in the top fourth, and Hilo returned to bolster its lead. Facing two outs, Sakamoto singled on a ground ball to right field and batted in Schlueter. Waiakea pitcher Jerell Alston struck out a batter looking, ending the frame.
The trend persisted, as the Warriors failed to score in the top fifth and Hilo scored again in the subsequent frame. With one out and runners on first and third in the bottom fifth, Geraci sacrifice bunted to drive in Agpalza. Talus Sato stepped up to the plate with two outs, and worked a 1-2 count to a 3-2 as Legend Lancaster scored on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch allowed Dylan Villanueva to score and walked Sato. WHS’ Conor Wallace sent a batter down swinging to end the frame.
Waiakea rallied for its first three runs in the top sixth. Caleb Wada doubled on a line drive to left field, batting in Jesse Inouye. In the next at-bat, first-baseman Clemson Julian doubled on a first-pitch line drive to deep right field — sending Wada and Ivor Brooks home. A batter lined out to third base for WHS’ second out, then the following batter flew out to second base.
Hilo was unable to increase its score in the bottom sixth. With two outs and runners on first and second in the top seventh, the Vikings put Marzo on the mound. An HBP loaded the bases, but the following batter grounded out to seal Hilo’s victory.
Hilo will await seeding in the DI state championship, while Waiakea will host OIA sixth-place finisher Kalani High for a state play-in game at 3 p.m. on Friday.