The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) softball semifinals continued Wednesday on both sides of the isle. Action will resume this morning in Hilo town.
Kohala storms back, completes sweep
A rain delay didn’t slow first-seeded Kohala softball down.
Down 7-0 before Game 1 of the DII semis was called in the third inning due to inclement weather, the Cowgirls marched back when play resumed Thursday — winning 19-14 over No. 4 Pahoa. The black and gold had a one-run third inning, three-run fourth, two-run sixth and sixth-run ninth in the comeback victory.
Kailani Valenzuela-Conte led all batters with four hits and four RBI, including a home run. Teammate Faith Alejandro-Cazimero added three hits, while Kalia Marquez and Loryn-Rose Carvalho each logged two. Mahea Pang, Saydee Kawai, Raine Cazimero and Mele Cazimero rounded out the rest of Kohala’s 15 hits with one apiece.
Marquez got the win in the circle after allowing six hits while striking out seven. Alejandro-Cazimero pitched the last 3.3 innings to seal the deal.
The Lady Dragons posted 10 hits and committed five errors.
Immediately following the conclusion of Game 1, Game 2 began, with the Cowgirls winning again 13-9 to advance to the championship series. Valenzuela-Conte and Marquez each led the winners with two hits, while Alejandro-Cazimero, Kawai and Malie Karratti had one hit apiece.
Marquez was back on the mound — this time going all 7.0 innings while striking out eight. She was awarded the win, improving to 9-1 with a 3.11 ERA. Marquez leads her team in hits (19), doubles (five), innings pitched (47.2), wins and strikeouts (50).
Now at 9-1 on the season, Kohala will take on east-side rival Kamehameha-Hawaii in the championship next week. The Cowgirls’ lone loss this season came against the Lady Warriors on April 18, where they fell 14-13. Overall, the teams are 1-1 against each other in 2025.
The Lady Daggers’ season ends at 3-6.
Hilo blanks Kea‘au again
First-seeded Hilo softball shut out No. 4 Kea‘au in Game 2 of the DI semifinals Thursday, winning 17-0 in four innings to advance to the DI championship series. In the two-game series win, the Vik Queens out-scored the Lady Cougars 29-0 in nine total innings.
Of Hilo’s 18 hits, Madison Waiki led the way with three homers and five RBI. She leads the Vik Queens in runs (20) and home runs (six).
Waiki’s teammates — Kaylie Caceres, Mackenzie Valentin and Molly Davi — each had three hits. Vaiqueen Porter added two more, while Raelee Pacheco, Kylie Kaniaupio, Zaydee Amar and Maluhia Hamada rounded out the rest of the Vik Queens’ hits with one each.
Davi put together another masterful performance in the circle, allowing just two hits and no runs while striking out nine. Davi holds a 10-0 record with a 0.00 ERA and a state-leading 141 strikeouts.
Reyna Pettypool and M. Valencia recorded the Lady Cougars’ only two hits. Tiani Kaupu pitched for Kea‘au, giving up 18 hits and 17 runs while striking out four.
Hilo moved to 10-0 on the season, out-scoring opponents 90-9. The Vik Queens will await the winner of No. 2 Waiakea and No. 3 Kealakehe before they learn who their championship opponent will be.
Kea‘au ended its season at 2-8.
KSH rolls to sweep
No. 2 KSH softball advanced to next week’s championship series after completing the sweep over No. 3 Honoka‘a on Thursday in Kea‘au — blasting the visitors 21-4 after four innings. The Lady Warriors’ bats were hot from the very beginning, scoring eight runs in the first, five in the second and eight more in the third inning.
KSH posted 14 hits to the Lady Dragons’ five. Kealohi Ili finished with a game-high four hits and seven RBI, including a home run. Ili leads the Lady Warriors in hits (17), runs (19), RBI (22), triples (four) and home runs (five). She is also batting an impressive .773 on the season.
Ili’s teammate Layla Masaoka added three hits, while Kaililia Thompson-Ua and Kae-Lee Rapozo had two each. Alaula Awong, Mya Domingo-Bautista and Caroline Newman rounded out the rest of KSH’s base hits with one apiece.
Olaa Brown was the only Lady Warrior in the circle, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out a pair in the win. Brown has a 3-0 record this season.
Keira Agdeppa led Honoka‘a’s bats with two hits and three RBI, including a homer. Agdeppa batted .550 this season for the Lady Dragons, leading the group in hits (11), runs (12), RBI (11) and home runs (two). Her teammates — Brandi Hoopai, Jaycia Silva and Danica Valera — each logged one hit each.
Agdeppa was also Honoka‘a’s lone pitcher.
KSH moved to 7-3 on the season, and will take on first seed Kohala for the DII title. The Lady Dragons’ season ended at 3-6.
‘Riders bats get hot in Hilo
Third-seeded Kealakehe softball and No. 2 Waiakea squared off in Game 1 of the DI semis on Thursday in Hilo, and the Lady Waveriders’ bats got hot at the perfect time.
With the game tied 10-10, Kealakehe scored 11 runs at the top of the fifth inning to cruise to a 21-11 victory. It was the Lady ‘Riders first win over the Lady Warriors this season.
Rhianna Joaquin led Kealakehe with four RBI, including a home run. Teammate Emalia Emmsley added three hits, while Freeda Tosie, Katherine Keizer, Halia Akamu and Saige Telles all had one hit each.
Emmsley was the Lady ‘Riders sole pitcher, earning the win. She leads the team in hits (16), triples (one), innings pitched (45.0), wins (four) and strikeouts (44). Emmsley has a 4-4 record in the circle with a 3.58 ERA.
Lexi Santiago led Waiakea in hits with three, while teammate Kaitlyn Miura had two of her own. Keani Kaneshiro, Tehani Chinen, Meghan Spencer, Kaelyn Sewake and Rmi Dekoning rounded out the rest of the Lady Warriors’ base hits with one each.
Spencer and Miura shared the circle in the pitching department.
With Kealakehe improving to 5-4 and Waiakea falling to 6-3, Game 2 of the series will be held at 10 a.m. this morning in Hilo. The Lady ‘Riders will aim to advance to the title series.
