Mililani completes back-to-back quest, rolls by Moanalua for D1 OIA crown

HONOLULU – Dynastic dynamos.  

The Mililani varsity softball team completed its bid for back-to-back OIA Division I crowns, securing a run-rule victory over Moanalua Na Menehune (10-4) in six innings on Friday at McKinley High School. The win marked the Trojans’ 13th championship in program history, the second-most among all OIA schools in softball and trailing only Kailua’s 14 league titles. 

The defending Division I state champions, Mililani (12-1) rolled through the OIA Division I tournament with run-rule wins over Waianae and Kalani in the quarterfinals and semifinals on Wednesday and Thursday as they posted 33 runs while allowing only four in the two contests. Friday’s game was no different, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before adding another four-spot in the bottom of the fifth. 

Hinano Bautista spun a gem for the Trojans, earning the victory after going a complete 6.0 innings while allowing five hits with seven strikeouts and only one walk, holding Na Menehune scoreless for the first time all year. Seven different Mililani players brought runs home as the defending OIA and HHSAA Division I champions flexed their might through six frames. 

Moanalua center fielder Hunter Jackson turned in a strong effort for the fourth-seeded Na Menehune, going 2-for-3 with a double in the loss. Moanalua mustered five hits in total as the program’s search for its first OIA title on the softball diamond continued despite surprising upsets over Campbell and OIA Division I East regular season leader Kaiser. 

Kamryn Aoki finished the deal for Mililani in the bottom of the sixth, roping an RBI base hit down the third baseline with the bases juiced to toll into run-rule ending territory. Aoki went 2-for-5 on the night in all, driving in the game-ending run as Mililani looked the part of a state champion ready to defend its crown. 

Both teams will continue playing next week, already having clinched spots in the 2025 DataHouse/HHSAA Division I Softball Championship tournament. The state tournament will begin on May 6 and run through May 9 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium and McKinley High School.