KAILUA-KONA — Kamehameha-Hawaii escaped Kohala in Wednesday’s DII championship at Kealakehe by a score of 8-7. The Warriors finished the conference season 8-3, while the Cowgirls ended at 9-2.
KSH got on the board first in the opening inning, when Alaula Wong secured an RBI line-out to go up 1-0. After Kohala tied things up shortly after, the Lady Warriors took the lead once again after Wong launched an RBI double, followed by Kaohinani Christensen logged an RBI groundout to go up two runs.
Kalia Marquez helped the Cowgirls get in front after smacking a two-run double. A Lady Warriors’ fielding error also gave Kohala another run.
But KSH soon got the lead back again, as Kealohi Ili and Layla Masaoka each hit a one-run single. Marquez answered back once more after hitting another two-run double to help the black and gold take the 6-5 lead in the fourth inning.
Naiya Avenue tied things up after chipping in an RBI groundout in the fifth, but Kohala scored again after Loryn-Rose Carvalho logged an RBI single to take the 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth.
But the Lady Warriors soon put the final nail in the coffin in the seventh after Mya Domingo-Bautista singled to left, which brought in a run. Shortly after, the Cowgirls committed an error, giving KSH another run to take the 8-7 lead. From there, the Lady Warriors never looked back.
Olaa Brown earned the win for KSH in the circle, allowing six hits and seven runs while striking out six. She also walked 10 batters. Brown leads her team in innings pitched (24.6), wins (four) and strikeouts (14).
Ili led the Lady Warriors in hits with three, followed by Christensen and Domingo-Bautista with two each. Masaoka and Awong each had one hit.
Marquez led Kohala in hits with two, along with a game-high four RBI. Teammates Carvalho, Mahea Pang, Saydee Kawai and Kailani Valenzuela-Conte logged one hit apiece.
Marquez also pitched in the circle, allowing nine hits and eight runs while striking out two. Marquez leads the black and gold in hits (21), doubles (seven), innings pitched (54.2), wins (nine) and strikeouts (52).
As of Thursday evening, both teams are still awaiting their state opponent. Pahoa will additionally play in the DII state tournament after clinching the BIIF DII third-place game over Honoka‘a on Friday.
Hilo 4, Waiakea 1
Hilo softball wasn’t going to let an opportunity to finish the conference season unbeaten slip by.
The Vik Queens beat Waiakea 4-1 in the one-game Central Pacific Bank/Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I Softball Championship on Wednesday at Kealakehe High School, finishing the year 11-0 heading into next week’s state tournament.
The Lady Warriors fell to 8-4.
Hilo ace Molly Davi had yet another dominant performance in the circle, allowing just two hits and one run while striking 12 batters through 7.0 innings. Through 11 games, Davi has posted a 0.00 ERA with 153 strikeouts — by far the most in the state. She has struck out 10-or-more batters in 10 games.
Offensively, Hilo got on the board in the second inning once Jeyla Bettis launched a two-run double and teammate Madison Waiki smacked a one-run single. The Vik Queens scored their final run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Waiki led the team with two hits, while Bettis, Mackenzie Valentin and Kylie Kaniaupio each had one. She also stole three bases in the outing.
Valentin leads the team in hits (21), RBI (16), doubles (three) and home runs (six).
Hilo has out-scored opponents 94-10 in 2025.
Waiakea failed to produce much offense, only logging two hits — one from Tehani Chinen and the other from Kaelyn Sewake.
Kaitlyn Miura was in the circle for the Lady Warriors, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out four across 6.0 innings. Miura leads her team in innings pitched (36.0), wins (four) and strikeouts (50).
Upcoming matchups are yet to be determined (as of Thursday evening).
