Mililani and Kauai Get Over the Hump to Win Title

Dave Kawada
for Hawaii Digital Sports

PHOTOS:
By Jay Metzger of www.metzphotography.com–  Click on Gallery below:

Mililani 6, Roosevelt 2 Data House DI HHSAA State Championship Game

In the Division I Championship Game, Mililani came in with the history of success in softball as an OIA power.  They won the title on 2005 and are in their 5th consecutive championship game.  After 3 straight runner up finishes, these girls, especially the seniors, were looking to come away with the title of champion.

Their opponent, the Roosevelt Lady Roughriders, had a break out year with a 16-1 record and the #2 seed in the tournament.  They finally broke through the OIA powers of Kailua and Mililani to win the OIA and play in their first state championship game since 1986.

In Division II there were some striking parallels.

The Kauai Red Raiders came into the tournament with the history of success in softball as a KIF power.  They were making their 3rd consecutive D-II championship game and after 2 straight runner-up finishes, these girls, especially the seniors,  were looking to come away with the title of champion.

Their opponent, the Waialua Lady Bulldogs, had a break out year with a 13-1-1 record and the #2 seed in the tournament.  They were making school history by becoming the first team from to compete for a state championship.

Each team had dominant pitching.  Something had to give.

Division I
The Lady Trojan bats that came alive in last night’s semi final win over Iolani, maintained their heat as they tagged Roosevelt starter Lianna Bajarin for 11 hits enroute to a 6-2 victory, and their first state championship since 2005.  More important to head coach Rose Antonio and the seniors, they could finally take the “bridesmaid” moniker away as they finally became the bride.

After the game the players put a wedding veil on Antonio.  That streak, although good and bad depending on where you are coming from, was definatley on the minds of all the Trojan softball family.

Starting pitcher Kishty Kamaka scattered 7 hits ina complete game victory and concluded one of the strongest 4 game pitching performances in tournament history.  Coming into the final game, she had won the previous 3 games allowing only 10 hits and maintaining an ERA of .74.

Courtney Senas kept her hot bat on the burner, going 3 for 3 with a walk, RBI, and scoring 3 runs.

Division II
This game became what many expected – a pitcher’s duel.  Ironically this may have been the first time that both pitchers are daughters of their respective head coach, Darrell Borrero for Kauai, and Jay Keao for Waialua.

The only run of the game came in the 6th inning as Alyssa Carvalho scored on a double by Jessica Iwata.  Iwata will be playing for the University of Hawaii next season.

Kauai’a Waialana Borrero allowed only 2 hits and struck out 6 while her counterpart Marissa Keao scattered 4 hits and struck out 7.

The most refreshing site came at the conclusion of the game with the reactions from both teams.  For Kauai, the relief and excitement was evident as they would be one of only a handfull of outerisland teams, from any sport, to bring home a state championship.  They were ecstatic to finally get over the hump after 3 years.

For Waialua, as the final out was registered, there were only smiles on the girls’ faces as they came out from the dugout.  They had done what no other Waialua athletic team had done in over 2 generations – play extremely well and advance far into the post season.  Excitement was never greater in this small north shore town and these girls knew that they had established a legacy for themselves.  Everyone will remember the team that made it to the state championship game.

For complete box scores and consolation scores, go to the official HHSAA softball website.