HONOLULU — The Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) baseball and softball tournaments continued Wednesday on Oahu with several Big Island teams competing for state glory. Action will continue today at the same sites, as Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i baseballcontinues to impress in the DII tournament.
BASEBALL: KSH 7, RADFORD 1
After trailing for almost four whole innings, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) powerhouse — the Warriors baseball team — set its bats ablaze in the bottom fourth to pound Radford High and take the lead.
The Rams got on the board in the top first as a bases-loaded balk gave Zyon Telles a free trip home.
Though KSH fielded a nearly-airtight defense going forward, the Warriors struggled to get one base for three frames — notching no hits and only reaching twice, on a walk and a HBP.
It all fell apart for the Rams in the bottom fourth as Shiloh Santos smacked a two-run homer over right field. Soon after, Keagan Pacheco and Elijah Okano hit back-to-back RBI doubles to put the Warriors ahead 4-1.
The Warriors added another run in the fifth, when Noah Palea singled to bat in Koahu Kawelu. KSH came back for more in the bottom sixth, plating another pair as Braden Gomes scored on a passed ball and Dominic Christensen’s sacrifice fly sent Justin Kubojiri home.
Santos got the start on the mound and lasted 3.33 innings, striking out six while surrendering an earned run on a hit and two walks. Palea took over for Santos and tossed a squeaky-clean 2.66 innings, allowing no Rams on base while striking out six. Santos and Palea combined for an almost-immaculate fourth inning, then Santos sent Radford down in three in the top fifth for back-to-back three-up, three-down frames.
Gomes closed out the match, striking out two and walking one while allowing no hits in the top seventh.
Tonight, the Warriors will take on Kauai High (11-3) in the semifinals.
WAIANAE 4, KONA 0
Konawaena baseball’s season came to an end Wednesday morning against Oahu powerhouse Waianae, who is the No. 1 seed in the DII tournament. The Seariders beat the Wildcats 4-0 at Pearl City High School.
Although Kona outdid Waianae in hits 7-6, the Wildcats could not find the momentum to reach home plate. The Seariders finally found life in fourth inning, where they scored all four of their runs.
Catcher Kyson Rosa led Waianae with two hits — both being singles. Teammates Chasten Rice, Rico Gazelle, Samstyn Quel and Meycid Moses also added one hit apiece.
Rice was also the Seariders’ lone pitcher on the mound, going all seven innings while striking out six in his shutout.
Kona had two batters log two hits each — right fielder Kainoa Lorenzo and center fielder A.J. Blanco. The Wildcats’ three remaining base hits came from catcher Maika Akamu, left fielder Kolt Baptista and shortstop Hayden Nishida with one apiece.
Kona’s two pitchers were Kahiau Rivera and Koa Nakagawa.
The Wildcats finished 2024 with a second-place finish in BIIF Division II and 9-6 overall record. Kona’s strongest stretch of the season came in late March through mid-April, where it won seven straight games.
Waianae will play in the semifinal game at 1 p.m. this afternoon at Les Murakami.
BALDWIN 5, HILO 4
A five-run top sixth inning put distance between the Bears and Hilo, and the Vikings fell just short of cutting it as they made a second-round exit from the DI baseball state championship on Wednesday at Les Murakami Stadium.
Hilo made three fielding errors during the top sixth to surrender five runs on three hits.
In the bottom sixth, Legend Lancaster doubled to bat in Kamren Agpalza for the Vikings’ first run, but it would be their only score on the frame.
With their tournament run on the line, Hilo rallied for three runs in the bottom seventh. Talus Sato led off with a walk, then — after the next batter struck out — Jarren Sakamoto and Kao Marzo each singled to load the bases. Kamren Agpalza was hit by a pitch, sending Sato home — then after a foul out, Zion Palea walked after a full count to push in another run. The Vikings continued to capitalize on their plate discipline, as Dylan Villanueva walked for another run.
With the bases still loaded and the tying run within reach, Baldwin closer Isaac Imamura struck out a Hilo batter to earn the save and win the game.
The BIIF champions’ season is over, as the HHSAA announced Tuesday that all consolation games would be cancelled due to inclement weather. Hilo’s final record stands at 14-2.
MAUI 6, WAIAKEA 4
Much like its BIIF rival, Hilo, Waiakea High suffered a second-round exit from the DI tourney due to allowing its opponent five runs in one frame.
The Warriors took on No. 2 seed and Maui Interscholatic League (MIL) champion Maui High and fell 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon in Honolulu.
Waiakea got on the board first in the top third when Teysen Tamiya reached home on a throwing error by the Sabers’ shortstop — who recovered a groundball hit by Isaiah Justo and was attempting to throw to first.
However, the Warriors’ merriment quickly turned to misery as Maui plated five runs on five hits and three errors in the bottom third.
Waiakea continually attempted to get back within striking distance, but fell short each time. The Warriors mounted an effort in the top fifth that yielded two runs — as Ivor Brooks walked with the bases loaded to send Jonah Banasan home and Justo grounded into a fielders choice to bat in Tamiya. The Sabers responded again, plating another run in the bottom fifth to re-widen the gap.
With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Kaleb Wada hit one of his signature doubles down the left field line to bat in Justo — who had singled on a groundball and advanced to second on a throwing error. A tie was within reach, but WHS’ next two batters went down on a groundout and a lineout.
The BIIF DI runners-up will close out at 13-5 as they return home.
SOFTBALL: CAMPBELL 16, KEALAKEHE 1
Fourth-seeded Kealakehe softball’s magical season ended Wednesday night in the Division I quarterfinals against Campbell, falling 16-1 in five innings.
The Sabers got off to a quick 1-0 start at the top of the first with a solo home run from Quinn Waiki, and the Waveriders evened the score in the third inning. But at the top of the fourth inning, Campbell began to break away.
The Sabers scored 11 more runs in the frame, and four more after that in the top of the fifth to clinch the mercy rule. In sum, Campbell collected 14 hits to Kealakehe’s four.
The Sabers were led by Waiki, who smacked another home run to center field in the fourth inning. In addition to Waiki’s two homers, Skylynne Gonzalez hit a grand slam at the top of the fifth to put the nail in the coffin.
Campbell additionally had strong performances from third baseman Nanea Pantastico, first baseman Sophie Alo, catcher Breena Malama and designated hitter Cailey Morris — who all logged at least two hits each. Center fielder Kayla Whaley, utilities Taileen Asoau and Shyla Gabrillo and pitcher Kaienna Fuentes-Arrellano tallied one hit each for the Sabers.
Fuentes-Arrellano was also the game’s winning pitcher — going three innings, allowing one run and striking out five.
Kealakehe was led by catcher Malia Polimino, shortstop Rihanna Joaquin, third baseman Freeda Tosie and left fielder Katherine Keizer with one base hit each. Emalia Emmsley and Caitlyn Nakamura pitched in the circle for the blue and white.
Campbell will move onto the semifinals today, while the Waveriders’ season has ended. Kealakehe finished 2024 at 13-2 overall and a BIIF DI title. Run-ruling opponents seven times this season, the Waveriders’ won 11 straight games to begin the year.
WAIMEA 15, KSH 3
After starting slow and briefly maintaining a lead, No. 3 seed KS-Hawai‘i softball suffered a rout at the hands of Kauai underdog Waimea High in DII state tourney action on Wednesday evening at McKinley High.
The affair lasted just five innings, as the Menehune pulled away in the fifth to deal the Warriors a run-rule loss.
It was Waimea’s second straight TKO victory, as the Menehune crushed Kailua High 21-1 on Tuesday.
The BIIF DII champions closed out the season at 11-3, the loss to Waimea being their first in nearly two months.
Other games
To read the result for Tuesday night’s DII state playoff matchup between BIIF team Kohala and No. 1-seeded Kapaa, please see the paper later this week.