The latter half of this week saw the conclusion of the BIIF Softball Division I and Division II Semifinals.
Hilo High School and Waiakea High School each swept their series — with the No.3 seeded Vikings beating No. 2 Kealakehe High School in two straight games and the No. 1 Warriors defeating No. 4 Kea‘au High School, also in two straight games.
Hilo and Waiakea will face off against each other in the BIIF Division I Championship series, which will begin Thursday at Kealakehe High School.
By winning their semifinal series, both teams have earned a bid in the HHSAA DI State playoff bracket. State playoffs will begin May 2 on Oahu.
In BIIF Division II semifinal action, No. 1 seed Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i defeated No. 4 Konawaena High School in two straight outings to secure its BIIF DII Championship berth and a spot in the HHSAA DII State playoffs.
No. 2 Honoka‘a and No. 3 Kohala battled back and forth into Game Three, in which the Dragons emerged victorious.
KSH and Honoka‘a will play against each other at the BIIF DII Championship next week, which will also be held at Kealakehe HS
This year, the HHSAA will allow three teams from BIIF DII into the HHSAA DII State playoff bracket. KSH and Honoka‘a will each receive a berth — and Konwaena and Kohala will play a play-in game on Saturday the 29th to determine which one of them will also go to state.
DI: No. 1 WAIAKEA vs No. 4 KEA‘AU
Game 1 score: WHS 17 – KaHS 7, Game 2 score: WHS 15 – KaHS 2
The Warriors defeated the Cougars in straight matches, winning the first game at home and the second at Kea‘au HS.
Waiakea will now have a shot at winning the BIIF title for the first time since 2018.
DI: No. 2 KEALAKEHE vs. No. 3 HILO
Game 1 score: HHS 9 – KkHS 6
The Vikings kicked off the series with a road victory.
Hilo came out hot and established its dominance with four runs in the top of the first inning.
Kawehi Augustin led off with a single, but was caught stealing second before Kiana Agpalza also singled on a ground ball. After Madison Waiki also singled, a flyout put the frame in jeopardy for the Vikings — but another single by Mackenzie Valentin batted Agpalza in and a double by Kuuipo Kalipi sent Waiki home. Hope Barclay then singled on a ground ball to left field, batting in Valentin — and courtesy runner Mya-Lisa Justo was batted in by Zaydee Amar’s single.
The Waveriders responded with one run in the bottom frame, when Freeda Tosie scored on a wild pitch after getting on base via walk and advancing on passed balls.
The Vikings plated another run in the top second and one in the top third while shutting Kealakehe out, then put up three runs in the top fourth to take a 9-1 lead.
The Waveriders reduced their deficit to 9-4 in the bottom fourth. Tilani Taketa led with a single, then Tylanna Abraham reached on an error after hitting a fly ball to center field. After a strikeout by Kalipi and a flyout, Caitlyn Nakamura doubled to bat in Taketa and Abraham. Tosie walked, then Chesney Palos hit a fly ball to bat in Nakamura and reach on an error.
Kealakehe plated two more runs in the bottom fifth, but both teams went scoreless for the remainder of the outing.
Barclay led the Vikings in the box, going four-for-four to score a run and bat two in.
Kalipi pitched all seven innings — surrendering two earned runs on six hits and nine walks while striking out eight.
Nakamura went two-for-four to lead Kealakehe, scoring a run and batting in four.
Game 2 score: HHS 10 – KkHS 0
Hilo trounced the Waveriders in a five-inning affair on Friday at Walter Victor Baseball Complex, ending Kealakehe’s shot at a second straight BIIF Championship title.
The Vikings came out even hotter than the last game, plating six runs in the bottom first.
Hilo achieved the victory through plate discipline, base hits and taking advantage of errors. None of its lineup hit anything other than singles and just four of its runs were earned.
Augustin led the Vikings at the plate, going one-for-two with a walk to score two runs.
Kalipi pitched the first four innings and surrendered three hits and two walks while striking out three. Kapri Decanto-Garo relieved Kalipi to take the last inning on the mound, and allowed one walk and no hits — striking out two.
DII: No. 1 KSH vs. No. 4 KONAWAENA
Game 1 score: KSH 16 – KoHS 0
The Warriors won Game One at home in three innings, plating a massive 13 runs in the bottom first.
Kaylee Wagner hit two homers, one for three runs and one for two.
Kahiwa Ili also shined at the plate, going two-for-two with a walk to score two runs and bat in four.
Napua Ho scored three runs, singling once and reaching on HBP’s twice.
On the mound, Emily Hora allowed none on base in three-and-a-half innings.
Game 2 score: KSH 28 – KoHS 1
The Wildcats were routed on their own turf in Game Two, which was another three-inning affair.
Ili had a gargantuan day at the plate, going four-for-four with a walk — hitting a homer and scoring five runs while batting in nine.
Konawaena’s only run was scored by Alexa Tayamen.
DII: No. 2 HONOKA‘A vs. No. 3 KOHALA
Game 1 score: HnHS 4 – KhHS 3
Game 2 score: KhHS 9 – HnHS 3
Game 3 score: HnHS 6 – KhHS 5
The Cowgirls will host Konawaena on Saturday for the HHSAA third-berth play-in.