Mililani sneaks past Kaiser for OIA crown behind late-inning heroics

HONOLULU – One night was perfection. 

The next night felt like it again. 

The Mililani varsity baseball team clinched the fifth league title in program history on Saturday night, clipping Kaiser in the OIA Division I championship game at Hans L’Orange Park in Waipahu, 2-1. Senior pitcher Kaleb Wada tossed a complete game one-hitter, allowing just four total baserunners across seven innings just one night after teammate Kai Hirayama threw a perfect game in the semifinals. 

The Trojans have won four of the six OIA Division I titles since 2018, bringing home hardware in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2025. There were no tournaments in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After the first 12 batters were set down in order for Kaiser, the Cougars broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning. Right fielder Caleb Hamasaki socked a double and moved to third on an E6, scoring with Jackson Wood’s sacrifice fly to give Kaiser a 1-0 lead. 

Mililani was quick to answer, seeing the first three batters reach after allowing the go-ahead run as Malosi Mataafa-Alferos singled, Koa Marzo dropped down a perfect bunt single and University of Hawai’i-commit Aukai Araujo-Waiau got hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. 

Sophomore first baseman Jonah Parker delivered the crushing blow – a well-struck RBI single right up the middle that scored the tying and eventual winning run for Mililani, making it 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth. 

Re-energized by the instant offensive response, Wada returned to form to sit down six of the final seven Kaiser batters (the lone base runner was a two-out HBP in the top of the seventh inning) and clinch Mililani’s fifth OIA baseball title in program history. 

Kaiser starting pitcher Kanai Pratt-Faitu was charged with the hard-luck loss despite throwing a gem himself, going 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six.  

Both teams will see their seasons continue next week on Maui, traveling to Iron Maehara Stadium and battling May 7-10 to decide the 2025 Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball Division I State Championship.