Waiakea was three outs away from pulling off a big upset at the HHSAA softball tournament Wednesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
But Mililani showed its championship-caliber resolve and rallied past the Warriors 4-3, scoring the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh inning.
The Warriors have won the last four BIIF Division I titles, but at states it’s been a reversal of fortune. They last advanced to the semifinals in 2008.
That team eventually placed fourth, falling to Campbell in the third-place game. The Sabers won their first state title in 2010 and have captured the last three.
Mililani has emerged as the second strongest program. The Trojans finished state runner-up last year and in 2015. They were third in 2016 and last won a state championship in 2014.
The OIA’s two best teams have replaced the dominance of the old ILH powers: Punahou (2013, state title), Mid-Pacific (2011-12), and Kamehameha-Kapalama (2008).
Waiakea’s state track record isn’t a good one. In 2009, Mililani defeated the Warriors 5-3 in the quarterfinals on its way to a state crown. The BIIF champs took fifth.
In 2010 and ’11, Waiakea took a two-game exit both times. The Warriors didn’t reach states the next three years. In 2015 and ’16, they went two and out.
Last season, Waiakea placed sixth, losing to Kamehameha-Kapalama 9-3 in the quarterfinals, beating Maui 6-1 in consolation and falling to Maryknoll 8-3.
At Rainbow Wahine stadium, Waiakea sophomore Halee Sweat was in pretty good shape through six innings.
She held the Trojans to seven hits, threw scoreless ball from the second to the fifth innings, and Warriors led 3-2.
Mililani’s No. 8 hitter Kayla Bello led off the seventh with a single. Then the Trojans had a bunt single and groundout to put runners into scoring position.
Cherise Mori followed with a two-run single and 4-3 lead, but as the home team the Warriors had the last at-bat.
Cheyenne Ardona got a strikeout, allowed a single, then Waiakea lined into a double play to end the game.
Sweat took a tough loss. In seven innings, she allowed four runs on 10 hits and no walks. She struck out only one, which meant the Trojans often hit the ball.
The Warriors committed two errors, which didn’t lead to any unearned runs.
Shailey Moses batted 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Waiakea scored two runs off a pair of Trojan errors.
Ardona is a 6-foot-3 senior and probably better known for her basketball skills. But she made a world of difference in the softball pitching circle. She threw a six-hitter, allowed three runs (two unearned), walked three and struck out nine.
She pitched shutout ball from the fifth to the seventh innings, giving the Trojans enough time to mount a comeback and another shot at a state title.
Division II
• Kamehameha 11, Honokaa 1: Brooke Baptiste fired a two-hitter with three walks and nine strikeouts in the six-inning TKO win.
Taylor Sullivan batted 3 for 4 with two RBIs, Trinity Spencer went 3 for 3, and Kuulei Ili had two RBIs for the Warriors (19-3).
Destynee Carvalho pitched 4 2/3 innings in the loss. Tehani Espensa finished with one inning.
• Kohala 9, Aiea 1: Cowgirls junior ace Mikayla Kekoa fired a four-hitter in a complete-game gem of precision. She walked none and whiffed nine.
Kohala’s top four hitters created major damage. Symphony Kauanoe went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, Kail Tabiolo-Amaral was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Kekoa batted 3 for 3, and cleanup batter Kuui Kaholoaa-Mokiao went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Cheylin Imai added two RBIs for the Cowgirls (13-7), who pounded out 13 hits in the time-limited game at McKinley High.
Kehau Arke didn’t record an out, gave up four runs and took the loss for the Na Alii (11-7), the defending state champion.
Baseball
Division I
• Waiakea 6, Campbell 2: David Nakamura pitched 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball with three walks and four strikeouts at Les Murakami Stadium.
Nakamura threw 105 pitches and is ineligible to pitch for the rest of the tournament. Devin Midel recorded two outs for the save.
“As always, my team had my back, which enabled me to have confidence to challenge the Saber batters,” Nakamura said. “I have played with a few of the Campbell boys and know that they can hit. We brought our bats and having a lead for the whole game helped all of us believe in ourselves.”
Kalai Rosario batted 3 for 4 with three RBIs, Nakamura went 1 for 2 with two RBIs, Casey Yamauchi 2 for 4, and Safea Villaruz-Mauai was 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Warriors.
Sabers ace Jamin Kalaola went three innings and gave up three runs in the loss.
No. 3 seed Waiakea faces No. 2 seed and ILH champion Mid-Pacific in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Golf
It was no surprise that Waiakea senior Kaley Saludares finished strong and as the BIIF’s top golfer at the state championships on Wednesday.
After an opening 78, she shot a second-round 3-over 75 for a 154 total to place 18th and three spots from bringing home a state medal. (The Top 15 earn medals.)
Last year, Saludares was fifth at states. As a sophomore, she was 19th and 34th as a freshman. Last season, Saludares had a first-round 79 and followed with a 77.
Punahou senior and defending state champion Claire Choi repeated with a 2-under 70 for a 143 total and two-shot victory at Turtle Bay Resort.
Iolani senior and first-round leader Kamie Hamada shot a 6-over 78 to finish with a 150 total and seven shots back.
Punahou won its sixth straight championship with a 452 total. Iolani was second at 453 and Waiakea seventh at 479.
Several of the top finishers won’t be back next year. They’re seniors and have signed to play college golf.
Choi signed with Santa Clara, Hamada with New Mexico and Saludares with Concordia (Portlant). Third-place finisher and Kaiser senior Malia Nam (USC) had a 73 for a 146 total.
Maui High junior Reese Guzman placed runner-up with a 72 for a 145 total. She’ll be a favorite for the state title next year.
Other BIIF golfers were Waiakea’s Kailey Oki, 80—158; Waiakea’s Lacey Uchida, 78—159; Waiakea’s Kaelyn Uchida, 79—160; Waiakea’s Jillian Mitsuda, 80—164; Waiakea’s Tia Kualii, 80—144; Waiakea’s Mari Ebersole, 83—166; Hilo’s Chanelle Hwang, 87—168; and Christian Liberty’s Jaeda Yamasaki, 94—186.
Softball
Mililani 100 001 2 — 4 10 2
Waiakea 002 100 0 — 3 6 2
Honokaa 000 100 — 1 2 3
Kamehameha 320 132 — 11 12 0
Aiea 000 001 — 1 4 2
Kohala 402 210 — 9 13 1
Baseball
Campbell 001 010 0 — 2 4 0
Waiakea 102 003 x — 6 9 3