The 2024 All-BIIF baseball and softball teams were released earlier this week. Stars from all across the island were recognized for their individual play and leadership in helping their teams throughout the spring season.
Baseball
Defending Division II state champion Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i dominated the BIIF DII selections, along with Andrew Correa taking home Coach of the Year honors after a 16-1 overall season. The Warriors beat Damien for the HHSAA crown in mid May — their first since 2016.
KSH pitcher and outfielder Shiloh Santos won Player of the Year. In the state title game, Santos showed his valuable versatility — hitting 2-for-4 with two RBI and pitching five innings. Santos was also named ScoringLive’s All-Hawaii Player of the Year while being named on the site’s first-team list.
Santos’ teammates — outfielder Kamaka Ili, first baseman Noah Palea, second baseman Justin Kubojiri, shortstop Kaohu Kawelu, third baseman Braden Gomes and utility Liwai Correa — were named to the BIIF’s first team. Palea, Kawelu, Kubojiri and Gomes were additionally named to ScoringLive’s first team, while Ili made second team.
Konawaena made up the rest of the All-BIIF Division II team, as the Wildcats finished 9-4 in league play and 9-6 overall — finishing runner-up to KSH in the BIIF DI tournament and falling to Waianae in the state quarterfinals. Outfielder Kolt Baptista and catcher Maika Akamu were honored.
Over in the BIIF Division I All-BIIF list, Hilo dominated the selections — as coach Baba Lancaster was named Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to a 14-1 record in league play and 14-2 overall. Hilo won BIIF Division I over Waiakea in three games in early May. The Vikings then fell to state champion Baldwin in the state quarterfinals.
Outfielder Cole Hatayama, outfielder Jarren Sakamoto, outfielder Koa Marzo Jr., first baseman Dylan Villanueva, second baseman Kamren Agpalza, shortstop Legend Lancaster and catcher Zion Palea were honored for the Vikings.
Waiakea took up the rest of the list, as ace Loren Iwata was named BIIF DI Player of the Year. Iwata also earned the All-Hawaii nod. After finishing second in the BIIF, the Warriors edged Iolani 1-0 in the opening round of the state tournament before falling to Maui in the quarterfinals.
Iwata’s teammates — third baseman Isaiah Justo and utility Kaleb Wada — were also honored on the list.
Softball
Kealakehe took up the majority of the DI First Team All-Softball list, as the Waveriders finished 13-1 in the league and 13-2 overall — winning the BIIF DI title over Waiakea in three games. The blue and white were eliminated by Campbell in the state quarterfinals.
Kealakehe’s high-powered offense excited fans all season, scoring 188 runs in 15 games. Head coach Jerry Hiraishi was named Coach of the Year in the division.
‘Riders’ two-way superstar Emalia Emmsley, who possessed brilliance in her batting and in the circle, won Player of the Year for BIIF Division I. Emmsley led her team in doubles (10), innings pitched (60.3), wins (11) and strikeouts (64).
Emmsley’s teammate, slugger shortstop Rihanna Joaquin, also made the team. Joaquin led Kealakehe in hits (26), runs (33), RBI (29), triples (five) and home runs (three). The other ‘Riders honored were outfielder Caitlyn Nakamura, outfielder Saige Telles, third baseman Freeda Tosie and catcher Malia Polimino.
Other selections in the DI list included Hilo second baseman Kawehi Agustin, utility Mackenzie Valentin and Kea‘au outfielder Lilia Kaupu.
KS-Hawai‘i took up a chunk of BIIF DII’s honorees, as seven Warriors were selected to the team. Emily Hora led the way for KSH, taking home Player of the Year honors after masterful pitching performances throughout last season. The Warriors’ alum led her team in innings pitches, strikeouts and wins.
Hora’s teammates — outfielder Mya Domingo Bautista, first baseman Kailee Wagner, second baseman Rhian Ogawa, shortstop Kealohi Ili, third baseman Rebekah Sipinga and catcher Ka‘ohinani Christensen — made the All-BIIF team.
KSH additionally made the state DII tournament, falling to Waimea in the quarterfinals.
Other state-tournament-qualifying teams, Kohala and Konawaena, had selections to the team as well. Cowgirls outfielder Mahea Pang, Wildcats outfielder Emily Murray and utility Jerzie Lopez were honored.
Honorable mentions
Baseball – DI
• Marheo Kelen, Kealakehe
• Elijah Sunderman, Kealakehe
• Kernel Daniel, Kealakehe
• Micah Ibanez, Kea‘au
• Zesden Tolentine, Kealakehe
• Clemson Julian, Waiakea
• Kaden Telles, Kealakehe
• Victor Fernandez, Kea‘au
• Teysen Tamiya, Waiakea
• Alson Ioseph, Kealakehe
• Rupert Gomes-Cabral, Kea‘au
• Ivor Brooks, Waiakea
• Rome Joaquin, Kealakehe
• Logan Schluteter, Hilo
• Robert Lucas Medeiros Kea‘au
• Jayden Geraci, Hilo
• Colby Gamez, Kealakehe
• Joel Neves, Kea‘au
• Talus “Kameanui” Sato, Hilo
Baseball – DII
• Keegan Pacheco, Kamehameha
• Kainoa Lorenzo, Konawaena
• AJ Blanco, Konawaena
• Josyah Umeda, Honoka’a
• Jaestin Karasuda, Ka’u
• Tripp Kahsen, Pahoa
• Jaeden Meyer, Konawaena
• Alex Goodman, HPA
• Devin Alpin, Ka’u
• Donivan Lynch, Pahoa
• Tate Garana, Konawaena
• Isaac Salvador-Libron, Kohala
• Hayden Nishida, Konawaena
• Nishiki Iwai, HPA
• Jayden Salazar, Honoka’a
• Kainoa Smith, Konawaena
• Heolu Bertelman-Makanani, Honoka’a
• Koa Nakagawa, Konawaena
• Hezekiah Wilson, Kohala
• Issac DeRego, Honoka’a
• Caleb Crook, Ka’u
• Dominic Christensen, Kamehameha
• Ian Beck, Ka’u
• Maxwell Potter, Pahoa
• Lex Ni, HPA
Softball – DI
• Katherine Keizer, Kealakehe
• Leikieleonaona Soller, Hilo
• Kelsi Clarke, Kealakehe
• Reyna Pettypool, Kea’au
• Kayleigh Nakamura, Kealakehe
• Keani Kaneshiro, Waiakea
• Jaeley Salazar, Kea’au
• Madison Waiki, Hilo
• Kysha Carvalho, Kea’au
• Tiani Kaupu, Kea’au
• Aaliyah Iiams, Kea’au
• Jaida Valeho, Kealakehe
• Jayda Kaimi, Waiakea
Softball – DII
• Brandi Hoopai, Honoka’a
• Faith Alejandro-Cazimero, Kohala
• Camile Fuertes, Kohala
• Jamaica Moses, Konawaena
• Kailani Valenzuela-Conte, Kohala
• Ka’imi Johnson, Honoka’a
• Kaneesha Santiago, Kohala
• Alexa Tayamen, Konawaena
• Leilani LeBrun-Ward, Konawaena
• Kalia Marquez, Kohala
• Jaylyan Ka’awaloa, Pahoa
• Jezney Chang, Pahoa
• Kana’i Tolentino, Honoka’a
• Sunny Taketa, Konawaena
• Kaililia Thompson-Ua, Kamehameha
• Daysha Tayan, Kohala