Saint Louis Crusaders are baseball champions for first time since 2014

Saint Louis Crusaders are baseball champions for first time since 2014

May 11, 2025

 

The Saint Louis Crusaders pose for a photo after defeating Waiakea for the Division I championship. | Photo Credit: Rayden Aoki, Special to HSRN

Saint Louis Crusaders are baseball champions for first time since 2014

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MAY 11, 2025

WAILUKU – The koa trophy returns to the slopes of Kalaepohaku.

Saint Louis won its first baseball championship since 2014 with a 5-0 win over Waiakea in the Division I state title game Saturday night before a crowd of over 3,000 at Iron Maehara Stadium.

Lincoln Pang scattered three hits in a complete game effort with two strikeouts to help the Crusaders (15-6) claim the state crown.

Bruin Agbayani, son of Saint Louis head coach Benny Agbayani, was named the tournament’s most outstanding player after finishing the state tournament batting 8-for-14 with a double, two triples, a home run, five runs scored and three RBIs.

 

Saint Louis head coach Benny Agbayani shares a moment with son Bruin Agbayani after the Crusaders defeated Waiakea for the Division I championship. | Photo Credit: Rayden Aoki, Special to HSRN

Lincoln Pang was the winning pitcher for the Crusaders, who defeated Waiakea in shutout fashion. | Photo Credit: Rayden Aoki, Special to HSRN

Punahou powers past Kamehameha for 16th girls water polo state title

Punahou powers past Kamehameha for 16th girls water polo state title

May 11, 2025

The Punahou girls water polo team poses for a photo with the championship trophy after defeating Kamehameha for the state crown by a score of 12-3. | Photo Credit: CJ Caraang, special to HSRN

Punahou powers past Kamehameha for 16th girls water polo state title

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MAY 10, 2025

HONOLULU – Sprint out at the start and never look back.

The Punahou Buffanblu varsity girls water polo team completed the climb back atop the podium on Saturday night, charging past Kamehameha-Kapālama (13-5) in the 2025 Kyo-ya Hotels Girls Water Polo State Championships title match, 12-3. Synnove Robinson and Kailoa Kerber each recorded hat tricks for Punahou (17-0) as seven different players scored goals to claim the program’s 16th crown in the pool and first since 2022.

“We talk about [at the start] of the year, we have a theme for each year,” said legendary Punahou head coach Ken Smith, who has been at the helm for every single one of the Buffanblu’s titles. “Our theme this year was ‘The only easy day was yesterday’ and they really took that so to heart in every day that we trained.”

The 12 goals marked a season-low for the high-powered Punahou attack, which found the back of the net 254 times in total in 2025 and outscored opponents by an average of 11.7 goals per match. The defense, which held opponents to an average of 3.2 goals per match this year, was as stingy as ever as KSK was held completely scoreless after halftime.

Punahou junior Synnove Robinson lobs a shot over a Kamehameha defender in the girls water polo state championship game. | Photo credit: CJ Caraang, special to HSRN

“I don’t think that I’ve had a team that has trained so diligently, so consistently for such a long period of time and the results speak for themselves,” Smith said of his unbeaten Buffanblu. “There’s no secret to this thing, it’s just how hard you want to train, and they’ve just been so, so perfect about that.”

Robinson’s three scores put her up to 68 goals in total for her junior year, the most in the state and 14 more than the next closest scorer (Ava Carlson, KSK – 54), helping lead to an unbeaten year and her first state title in the pool. Kerber finished out a successful senior season as a key member of the team, scoring 30 goals in her final year in high school as she earned her second state championship.

“I really think our team put in a lot of work for this and it obviously paid off,” Robinson said after the match. “It feels great winning it, especially with this team.”

Junior Ava Aguilera tacked on a pair of goals for Punahou while Jayden Ching, Zoe Pang, Hope McCarren and Ceila Aguilera all chipped in with one goal each. The Buffanblu attack raced out of the gates, scoring five times in the opening six minutes as the defense suffocated Kamehameha’s attack and disrupted multiple transition breaks.

Leading 5-1 after the first period, Punahou continued the offensive onslaught with four more goals in the second frame while letting up a pair of scores to Kamehameha’s Kawena Neumann and Charlotte Nakagawa to go into halftime leading 9-3.

The defense turned up another level in the second half, holding the Warriors’ offense without a single goal as both Aguileras scored and Kerber completed her hat trick to provide some second-half insurance for Punahou.

Punahou’s Kailoa Kerber fires a shot over a Kamehameha defender. She would be one of two Buffanblu players to record a hat trick in the win. | Photo credit: CJ Caraang, special to HSRN

The dominant victory provided a dose of payback for the past two state championship meetings between the programs, each going to Kamehameha-Kapālama. Robinson, a part of both teams that previously fell but not in high school for the Buffanblu’s 2022 state title win over KSK, wanted to help bring the program back atop the totem pole.

“Our water polo office is filled with all photos of like past state champs and great water polo athletes that have come out of Punahou,” Robinson said of the team’s motivation to go above and beyond. “Being reminded of that every day, it makes you really want to make those people proud and just put in extra work to get back to that. The past two years, it definitely taught us that we needed to come together as a team and work harder and we have done that, and it definitely work out for us.”

Robinson was selected as the HHSAA Girls Water Polo Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player while Ava Aguilera, Hope McCarren, Kerber and goalkeeper Reia Kimi all made the All-Tournament team for Punahou. For Kamehameha-Kapālama, standout senior scorer Ava Carlson made the All-Tournament team alongside teammates Laikuakamahina Wong and goalkeeper Taua Kimsel.

Mid-Pacific freshman Lehiwa McElheny rounded out the All-Tournament team and was the lone selection outside of KSK and Punahou.

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.

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.