Mililani Trojans add fifth softball championship to collection

HONOLULU – Trojan town is still title town.

Mililani successfully defending its Division I softball crown with a power-infused 10-7 win over Maryknoll in the championship game Friday night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Trojans brought home their fifth overall title and fourth under coach Rose Antonio by cranking out home runs at will to repeat as state champions.

Four different players hit one over the fence for Mililani, who won its final 10 games and finished with a 15-1 record. Eight of the Trojans’ wins were shortened games in TKO fashion due to the 10-run mercy-rule, which included a 19-5 semifinal win over Punahou the night before.

“We were just really excited about this season because we knew we had something and we knew we had a lot of power and we were just excited to show that off,” said sophomore shortstop Kahiau Aina, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.

Sophomore pitcher Hinano Bautista was another all-tournament team selection thanks to her two-way ability at the plate and in the circle, but also didn’t need to do it all on her own as fellow sophomore Taylor Adriano was clutch in relief for Bautista on back-to-back nights.

Adriano earned the win pitching five innings in relief agains the Buffanblu and helped record the final out against the Spartans to pick up the save and an all-tournament team selection.

“In this game you always have to be ready,” Adriano said. “It’s a very unpredictable game and anything can happen at anytime so being ready is one of the most important things that this game has to come with. It’s a part of the mindset.”

Maryknoll (14-5) held a brief 1-0 lead after the first inning before the Trojans started to bust out the bats.

The left-handed hitting Bautista got things started for the Trojans with a solo shot to right field to tie the game in the bottom of the second inning. Aina gave Mililani the lead for good with a three-run homer over the left field fence to make it 4-1 after two innings.

Oklahoma-bound Ori Mailo had a solo home run of her own to give the Trojans a 5-3 lead before No. 9 hitter Kodie Ancheta’s grand slam gave Mililani a six-run advantage after the third.

“Kodie has grown so much from the preseason,” Adriano said of Ancheta. “Her confidence level has gone up so much and it’s crazy how one person can go from so unconfident to how confident she is with her bat and the way she carries herself is amazing.”

Having multiple contributors on this year’s championship squad is a testament to Antonio and her coaching staff making sure everyone was ready.

“We told the girls that we need all of you,” said Antonio. “We didn’t get here in this position by just one, two or three players. We needed everyone.”

Mililani’s Kahiau Aina (centered) embraces a teammate after the Trojans defeated Maryknoll for the Division I softball championship.

Mililani sophomore Taylor Adriano pitched the final out to record the save for the Trojans.

Mililani junior Ori Mailo will graduate high school in December and early enroll at the University of Oklahoma next Spring.

Mililani softball head coach has led the program to four state championships.