Honolulu-native John Oda wins 65th annual Mid-Pacific Open

Honolulu-native John Oda wins 65th annual Mid-Pacific Open

John Oda of Honolulu poses for a photo after winning the 65th annual Mid-Pacific Open. Andrew Lee | Special to HSRN

Honolulu-native John Oda wins 65th annual Mid-Pacific Open

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 29, 2024

KAILUA — One year after coming in second place, John Oda is now the latest winner of the Mid-Pacific Open.

The Honolulu-native took home the grand prize of $15,000 by winning the professional flight of the 65th annual Mid-Pacific Open at the Mid-Pacific Country Club on Sunday.

Oda was consistent in the four-day tournament, posting scores of three under par in every round to finish with a score of 276 in the 72-hole competition.

Derek Chinen of Kaneohe won the championship flight after needing to win playoff hole to fend off James Whitworth and Katsuhiro Yamashita. The trio were tied with a score of 296 after four rounds.

Jose Elizaga of Honolulu won the A-Flight with a score of 331 while Ernest Barrett III won the B-Flight with a score of 340.

Casey Nakama won the senior professional tournament while Brandon Kop won the senior amateur competition.

Mililani softball hammers Kapolei, 13-2, to claim 12th OIA championship

Mililani softball hammers Kapolei, 13-2, to claim 12th OIA championship

Mililani softball hammers Kapolei, 13-2, to claim 12th OIA championship

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 28, 2024

HONOLULU — Trojan town is title town once again.

Mililani captured its first OIA softball title since 2017 with a 13-2 drubbing of Kapolei in the league’s Division I championship game at McKinley’s Tiger Softball Stadium Saturday night.

It was the Trojans’ 12th championship in school history as they scored 13 unanswered runs that was fueled by Makayla Pagampao’s three home runs.

Pagampao, who was selected as the ‘Yeah U Player of the Game,’ drove in six total runs in the win as the Trojans (14-1) won their 10th straight game since their lone loss to Campbell on March 16.

“I’m so happy for her,” pitcher Hinano Bautista said of Pagampao. “I’m just happy I got to have this opportunity, but just for her, hitting all of these home runs, that’s what made us pumped up to score those extra runs we got.”

The Hurricanes (9-7) took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of solo homers in the top of the first, but Pagampao’s three-run bomb in the bottom of the third gave Mililani the lead for good.

Pagampao’s second and third homers of the night were part of an eight-run bottom of the fifth inning. Her final long ball of the night ended the game with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.

“I’m pretty confident in my hitting and I know I work hard at it and go to all the lessons I can and just practice as much as I can, so I just saw the ball really well tonight — extra well,” said Pagampao, who will play for Hawai’i Pacific University next year.

Kaui Garcia and Sunni Kahanu also hit a home run for the Trojans in a game where there were seven total long balls.

But it was Mililani’s defense that kept the Trojans in the game after giving up two homers in the top of the first.

“After those two home runs we started playing defense,” said Mililani coach Rose Antonio. “Throughout the game we made the plays and the first couple innings we left runners on base and we didn’t press. We just had to be patient and disciplined and look for our pitch to hit and then manufacture runs and they saw the ball good tonight, a bunch of them.”

It was the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with the trojans outscoring the Hurricanes 46 to 4.

Kapolei was seeking its second league title in three years and fifth overall.

‘Aiea tops Radford, 7-1, to win third OIA Division II softball title 

‘Aiea tops Radford, 7-1, to win third OIA Division II softball title 

‘Aiea tops Radford, 7-1, to win third OIA Division II softball title 

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 28, 2024

HONOLULU — Another crown come homes to ‘Aiea.

Na Ali’i jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they pulled away from Radford, 7-1, to win the OIA Division II softball championship Saturday night at McKinley’s Tiger Softball Stadium.

It was ‘Aiea’s third league title in school history and its first since 2017 as Na Ali’i (15-1) ended league play with a 13-game winning streak.

“It’s amazing, it’s truly an honor to be a part of this team,” said pitcher Taja Souza, who was named the ‘Yeah U Player of the Game.’

Souza went the full seven innings in the win and allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out three. She improved to 10-0 in the circle and also batted 2-for-3 for a solid all-around performance.

“Her pitches were crisp, she was hitting her spots, making the pitches we called. It was awesome,” said ‘Aiea coach Alan Higuchi.

I think the last couple games she picked up the pace. It was something that was consistent throughout the year. Her last two or three starts, she started showing signs of that.”

Sisters CJ Peneueta and Nylove Peneueta led the way at the plate with five total hits and five RBIs.

‘Aiea’s lone loss of the season came against the Rams (13-3) on March 5.

“The first time we challenged them, it was a mental battle and I feel like we let them get to us,” said CJ Peneueta.

“Now we had more practice and more chemistry as a team and I feel this time around, we had more confidence and more trust in our teammates and ourselves.”

Radford was seeking its first-ever OIA title in school history.

Kailua Surfriders claim 15th OIA baseball title with 8-1 win over ‘Aiea Na Ali’i

Kailua Surfriders claim 15th OIA baseball title with 8-1 win over ‘Aiea Na Ali’i

Kailua Surfriders claim 15th OIA baseball title with 8-1 win over ‘Aiea Na Ali’i

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 27, 2024

HONOLULU — Kailua is back on top.

The Surfriders capitalized on ‘Aiea’s miscues to win the OIA Division I baseball championship, 8-1, at Les Murakami Stadium Friday night.

It was the 15th overall title in program history, the ninth under longtime coach Corey Ishigo.

“It’s the toughest one, the ninth one, for us,” said Ishigo.

Ishigo was emotional after the game and was swarmed by his players on multiple occasions.

“That’s my family,” he said. “I treat them like family and they’re all my kids.

“This team, we have great people on this team. I think it’s different than others, where they all have good grades — this is the first year nobody is on academic probation — and they’re great people too, off the field.”

Na Ali’i jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a run scored on an error, but it was all Kailua (13-2) from that point forward.

After the Surfriders tied it in the bottom of the second, they used a five-run rally in the third inning to take full control of the game. An interference call extended the inning for Kailua before Masao Minami hit a double to make it a 3-1 game. An ‘Aiea error and balk also led to runs for Kailua in the inning.

Jayden Hunt earned the win in relief of Kaalekahi Kuhaulua and was named the ‘Yeah U Player of the Game.’

“It feels amazing,” said Hunt, who improved to 6-0 on the year with an ERA of 0.77.

“This team is good. We got defense, you know, we work on everything. We work hard, practice doesn’t make perfect, but hey, it works.”

Kaimana Burgo and Minami each had two hits as the Surfriders tallied nine in the contest.

‘Aiea (12-3) was limited to just three hits in the loss.

Waianae wins OIA D2 baseball championship over Radford, 11-1

Waianae wins OIA D2 baseball championship over Radford, 11-1

Waianae wins OIA D2 baseball championship over Radford, 11-1

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 27, 2024

HONOLULU — Can’t spell Waianae without the ‘W.’

The Waianae baseball team dominated Radford in the OIA Division II championship game in a mercy-rule 11-1 victory Friday night at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Seariders (11-2) used an eight-run burst in the third inning to claim their seventh overall league title, their first since 2017.

“This is for our people right here, we wanted it from the beginning,” said Shysten Nagasako, the ‘Yeah U Player of the Game.’

Waianae entered the league tournament as the third seed after dropping a pair of extra-inning games to Kapolei and Kahuku in late March. The Seariders have gone on a nine-game winning streak since then.

“We never let that get us down,” said Waianae coach Ben McQuown, who became the sixth different coach to lead the Seariders to an OIA title.

“We told ourselves this is what we are playing for right there, the OIA championship. We are not playing for the regular season. We are playing for the postseason. I’m super proud of these boys.”

McQuown, a 2008 alumnus of Waianae, added that the win meant a lot for the community.

“It’s just something for our team and our community to be proud of. Not a lot of good things have been said about Waianae in the past year, so this is something that we can be proud of, a little shining light for our community.”

Nagasako led the way in the win going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and the first two RBIs of the game. He also pitched in all five innings while striking out five and walking none.

“Just throw strikes, don’t let no runs, no walks affect me,” he said. “Hitting wise, put the ball in play, battle, and everything will fall into place.”

Radford outhit Waianae in the game, 6 to 5, but the Seariders were able to cash in on eight total walks.

Zyon Telles registered two hits to lead the Rams (6-7) in the loss.