#1 Seed Goes Down – All OIA Final

Dave Kawada
for Hawaii Digital Sports

Division I

Mililani Trojan head coach Rose Antonio had one key for tonight’s game versus #1 seed Iolani.

“We need to get timely hitting.  Our pitching and defense will do alright.”

How about 13 hits and 10 runs.  I think that took care of the “timely hitting” request.  Pitcher Kishti Kamaka pitched a complete game, 2-hit shut out and the defense behind her committed no errors.  The Trojans defeated the Raiders 10-0 and move on to play Roosevelt tomorrow in an all-OIA finals.

That is good coaching.  She asked, and her players were more than willing to produce. Third baseman Celina Garces went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI’s to lead the Lady Trojans into their 5th consecutive Division I championship game.  Mililani won the state title in 2005 but have finished as runner-ups the last 3 years.

They no doubt want to end that streak in a very positive way.

Roosevelt proved why they are the OIA champions by shutting out the Baldwin Bears 3-0.  Roughrider pitcher Lianna Bajarin also pitched a gem of a game, allowing only 2 hits and striking out 11.

the Championship game looks to be a pitcher’s duel in a low scoring afair.  Possibly going into extra innings.  So arrive early in case the game goes by quick.  Or plan for a long night if it goes into overtime.  The stage is set for an intriguin state championship game.

Division II

The North Shore is most likely playing their music loudly in every car and home – and it is not because of Kahuku.  Waialua will be playing for their first ever state championship tomorrow against Kauai inthe D-II title game at UH Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Kauai defeated Kaiser 7-3 earlier in the day.

On a day of stellar pitching performances, Bulldog starter Marissa Keao allowed only 2 hits and struck out 7 enroute to a 2-0 shutout win and the opporunity to make history. 

Waialua, not a school to have dominated any sport since the days of the rural OIA, has struggled even more so since the shutdown of the last operating sugar mill on Oahu back in the late ’90’s.  Enrollment has decreased over the last 10 years and their athletic teams at best wuld have brief sparks of momentum.  In the end making any post season run in any sport was slim.

But the ladies of softball are going to carry the town on their shoulders with the hopes of bringing home the school’s first piece of hardware that may read “State Champion”.  Regardless of the resuly, here is hoping that this team is recognized as a special group for making in this far into the state tournament.

Hope and excitement is always a good thing.