Radford makes history with first-ever boys volleyball state title

Radford makes history with first-ever boys volleyball state title

May 10, 2025

 

The Radford Rams pose for a photo after outlasting Kapa’a in five sets for the Division II boys volleyball state title. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista, Special to HSRN

Radford makes history with first-ever boys volleyball state title

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MAY 10, 2025

HONOLULU – For the first time in school history, the Radford Rams boys volleyball team is bringing home a state championship.

Behind a double-double performance of 25 kills and 25 digs by Keahi Kaneakua, Radford outlasted Kapa’a in five sets to win the Division II state crown Saturday night at Moanalua. Set scores were 25-20, 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-13.

Also key for the Rams (11-4) were Bezeiah Togafau and Jayden Miyahara with eight kills apiece and Micah Kalima-Keohohina with seven kills and 35 assists.

The Radford Rams boys volleyball team celebrates after a point over the Kapa’a Warriors. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista, Special to HSRN

It was just the third time that a team outside of the ILH has won the state title in Division II since the HHSAA classified divisions in 2006.

Four different players had double-digit kills for the Warriors (13-2), with Filisi Hunt finishing with a team-high 14 kills.

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Damien Monarchs make return to the top of Division II baseball

Damien Monarchs make return to the top of Division II baseball

May 10, 2025

 

The Damien Monarchs pose for a photo after winning the Division II state baseball championship over Kapa’a. | Photo credit: Michael Lasquero

Damien Monarchs make return to the top of Division II baseball

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MAY 10, 2025

HONOLULU – Call it a Damien dynasty.

The Monarchs captured their third Division II baseball state title in four years after holding off Kapa’a in the championship game Saturday afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium.

It was a return to glory for Damien, who fell in last year’s final to Kamehameha-Hawaii in mercy-rule fashion, 12-1.

“It was hard to experience that kind of feeling, but to win it now I think we had to go through that,” said senior Aaron Rapoza, who pitched the final inning to earn the save and most outstanding player honors for the tournament.

“It’s just a blessing to be out there. We had concerns at the beginning of the year of who was going to play what, but we all just grinded and we just played hard. We just found the groove, we always found a way to win.”

Three different pitchers combined to shutout the Warriors for the final six innings as all of the game’s scoring took place in the opening frame.

Senior Cade Lurito got things started for the Monarchs (12-5) in the win, freshman Tanaloa Seguancia then went three innings with four strikeouts before Rapoza came over from shortstop and tossed two strikeouts in the final frame.

The strong pitching and defense by Damien after the strong start helped the Monarchs hold on for the victory despite only netting two hits.

“This team worked hard all year,” said Damien coach Skyler Tengan, who coached the Monarchs to three of their four state titles. “It wasn’t pretty today, we had two hits all game, credit to the hard work that we do.”

Oddly enough, the Monarchs’ two hits didn’t factor into their three runs that they scored to start the game.

Rapozo drew a base on balls to leadoff the game and then two beaned batters loaded the bases. Ultimately a throwing error, a balk and a wild pitch would result in three runs for the Monarchs, their only scores of the game.

“Thank God we got those three runs in the first inning,” said Tengan. “Without it, it probably would have been a different game. We just take what they gave us.”

A leadoff double by Kaitin Mundon in the bottom of the first and a fielding error helped the Warriors (13-3) trim the lead, but Damien shutdown Kapa’a the rest of the way to earn the win.

The five seniors on the Damien Monarchs baseball team holds up the Koa Head trophy.

Damien senior Aaron Rapoza celebrates after the final out was made in the Division II state championship game.

Mililani Trojans add fifth softball championship to collection

Mililani Trojans add fifth softball championship to collection

May 9, 2025

 

The Mililani softball team poses for a photo after winning its second Division I state title in as many years. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero

Mililani Trojans add fifth softball championship to collection

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MAY 9, 2025

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.

Kapaa Warriors secures Division II softball dynasty

Kapaa Warriors secures Division II softball dynasty

May 9, 2025

 

The Kapa’a softball team poses for a photo after defeating Pearl City, 7-5, in the 2025 Division II softball state championship. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Kapaa Warriors secures Division II softball dynasty

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MAY 9, 2025

HONOLULU – There was no rebuild for the Kapa’a softball team in 2025.

The Warriors repeated as Division II state champions after rallying from a 3-0 deficit to turn back Pearl City, 7-5, in a battle of undefeated teams Friday night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Kapa’a also claimed its third state title in four years with the victory as the Warriors completed a perfect 15-0 season through league play and the postseason.

Junior Sienna Yamashita, who earned most outstanding player honors for the tournament, said her team’s title defense was special because this year’s squad was relatively new and only had three seniors.

“We lost a good bunch of seniors and we have nine freshmen, we have a couple of sophomores and just being able to get together and win another one is just everything to us,” said Yamashita.

The Chargers (13-1) jumped ahead early on with a leadoff home run by Phoenix Sky Lumabao in the top of the first. They extended the lead to 3-0 after a two-run homer by Haley Shinjo in the second.

Kapa’a got things going in the bottom of the third with four runs — three coming home on Jaicie Martinez’s triple — to take a 4-3 lead after three before Pearl City tied it at 4-all heading into the fifth.

The Warriors took the lead for good in the fifth when Welina Carvalho-Brede’s single was extended thanks to a fielding error that allowed Nahe Marshall to come home.

Kapa’a added two more runs in the sixth thanks to Martinez’s RBI single that scored Yamashita. Naylea Machado later drove in courtesy runner Kaui Kanahele to make it 7-4 heading into the seventh.

Kapa’a catcher Jaicie Martinez drove in four of the Warriors’ seven runs against Pearl City in the championship game. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Maile Oda made things interesting for the Chargers with a base hit that scored Lumabao, but was tagged out on the base paths to end the game.

“We know in any seven-inning game we’re in there to win it, it’s not how we start it’s definitely how we end,” Yamashita said.

Yamashita batted 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored in the win while Martinez drove in four of the Warriors’ seven runs. Andie Iglesia was also solid with a 3-for-3 performance and an RBI.

Kapa’a shortstop Sienna Yamashita records the penultimate out of the Division II softball championship in the top of the seventh inning.

Kapa’a senior pitcher Karlee-Rose Keale pitched a complete game to help the Warriors win back-to-back championships.

Campbell wins first-ever girls flag football state title on a prom-ising night

Campbell wins first-ever girls flag football state title on a prom-ising night

May 4, 2025

The Campbell Sabers girls flag football team pose for a photo after winning the first-ever state championship in the sport after a 6-0 win over Leilehua Saturday night. | Photo Credit: CJ Caraang, Special to HSRN

Campbell wins first-ever girls flag football state title on a prom-ising night

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MAY 4, 2025

MILILANI — As the quarterback of the Campbell girls flag football team, senior Maya Gonsalves is used to making decisions.

Her choices on Saturday night turned into a moment that will last for eternity.

Gonsalves and the Sabers became the first-ever Hawai’i girls flag football state champions after a 6-0 win over Leilehua at John Kauinana Stadium in the sport’s inaugural season that the state adopted it as an official sport in high school athletics.

The senior quarterback also was responsible for the only points of the game which came on a 33-yard scramble in the first quarter before the defense did the rest with the Sabers’ sixth shutout win of the year, their second in as many nights.

“It feels amazing to be a part of history and winning states for the first year ever for girls flag football,” said Gonsalves.

When Campbell (11-2) defeated Mililani, 14-0, on Friday in the semifinals of the Hawai’i Dental Service / HHSAA state tournament, the Sabers knew their roster for the championship was going to be thinner with the school’s senior prom being held that same night.

But Gonsalves, the lone senior in the Sabers’ starting lineup, had her priorities in order.

“This is very much important and I don’t regret the decision I made at all,” Gonsalves said about forgoing her senior prom.

“Knowing I came this far, I wasn’t going to bail out on my girls and we made each other proud.”

Gonsalves’ decision-making also gave the Sabers the necessary points needed to win the crown.

Campbell senior Maya Gonsalves celebrates in the end zone after scoring the state championship game’s only touchdown in the first quarter. | Photo Credit: CJ Caraang, Special to HSRN

Leilehua (10-3) played man coverage against Campbell early on in the championship game, which gave Gonsalves a prime opportunity to tuck the ball and run without no one accounting for her when she got sprung free away from the Mules’ pass rusher.

“It was a passing play, but when I went through my reads and seen that everything was covered, I checked the pukas (openings) and I took it home,” Gonsalves said.

Coach Will Naboa was ecstatic for his girls after the championship win.

“For these girls, it means everything because I know the work they put in, day in and day out, the long nights giving up stuff, sacrifice, for goodness sakes (Maya) had to sacrifice her senior prom, so there’s no one more deserving of this honor and title. Again, nobody can take this away from them, first-ever state champs.”

Sophomore Shaleah “Lala” Moore was named the tournament’s most outstanding player for the Sabers. In the championship game she recorded nine flag pulls, three for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.

Jaynalyn Sotelo (1) high fives Shaleah Moore (2) after Campbell made a stop on defense against Leilehua. | Photo Credit: CJ Caraang, Special to HSRN

“It feels amazing, I love this feeling, I love winning and I’m just so happy,” said Moore, who finished the four-day tournament with nine total sacks.

Jaynalyn Sotelo recorded two interceptions and Aiesha DeWeever had another in the championship win and was also named to the all-tournament team. Sotelo also had the game-sealing interception on the final play of the game.

“I can’t say anymore good things about our defense,” said Naboa. It’s not where we just stay stationary or basic zone. We have so many plays on defense just as much on offense and the way they’re able to adjust on the fly I think that’s what separates our team versus anybody else. We’re able to adjust the girls are able to communicate.”