Kapolei softball seniors ink commitments to play at the next level

Kapolei softball seniors ink commitments to play at the next level

Nov 13, 2024

 

Kapolei softball seniors ink commitments to play at the next level

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 13, 2024

WAIKIKI — A quartet of Kapolei softball seniors enjoyed a special moment together Wednesday morning.

The Hurricanes’ Kendalyn Cordeiro-Felise, Kandi Malama-Ahlo, Hayden Imai and Kaylisa Nakoa were among 49 student-athletes that put pen to paper at the annual Hawai’i State National Letter of Intent Signing Day at the Honolulu Elks Lodge.

“Honestly it’s really a surreal feeling being able to share this moment with them,” said Cordeiro-Felise, who will play at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.

“We all wanted it cause we’re all seniors so we all wanted to have our last time together before we go off to college in different states,” said Malama-Ahlo, who signed with California State University, Bakersfield.

Imai will play at Eastern Arizona College while Nakoa signed with Menlo College (Atherton, Calif.). The four players were part of a 2024 squad that reached the OIA Division I final and state quarterfinals in the spring.

“I’m very happy for this years class and their commitment to college and playing at the next level,” Kapolei coach Enson Queypo said. “These girls are built with high character and are very respectful people. They will be great assets to their respective colleges.”

For Cordeiro-Felise, Wednesday morning was a validation of all her hard work and choices that she had to make for her softball career.

She spent her freshman and sophomore year and played with two older sisters at Waipahu, who competes in Division II, before transferring to Kapolei as a junior.

The move up to D1 did not hinder Cordeiro-Felise as she batted .500 with 29 hits, 22 runs scored, 13 RBIs, nine doubles and two home runs and was named second team All-OIA D1 West at catcher, which was a loaded position last season.

“This moment means a lot,” Cordeiro-Felise said after signing her letter of intent. “Going to a different place and also moving schools changing from a D2 to a D1 and going from a different setting to a more competitive setting, it was a lot and I think it was the right choice to further my softball career.”

Saint Martin’s has a lot of students and athletes from Hawai’i and was a campus that Cordeiro-Felise knew she wanted to be a part of early on in her journey.

“I went there my freshman year and I just fell in love with the place and the coaching. They’re really good coaching and I think that’s where I’m meant to be,” said Cordeiro-Felise.

She said she is planning on majoring in kinesiology and hopes to become an athletic trainer or a physical therapist some day.

For Malama-Ahlo, location mattered with selecting her college team.

“I liked it because it was close to home and it wasn’t like a big school, it was like small, it wasn’t too big for me. I felt comfortable with my decision,” Malama-Ahlo, said of CSU-Bakersfield.

“I’m excited to start my next chapter of life and I just can’t wait to see what happens to me and how my future pans out.”

Malama-Ahlo, who will major in business management, was a second-team All-OIA D1 West selection as pitcher in 2024. She led the state in innings pitched at 100 while also finishing in a tie for the second-most hits in the state (33) and batting .550.

She is eager for one more season with the Hurricanes before going to play for the Roadrunners.

“I feel like we just have to be more confident this year. I feel like we have to work harder more than we worked last year and I feel like we just need to have more fun.”

Kapolei infielder Hayden Imai and pitcher Kandi Malama-Ahlo meet in the circle during the 2024 OIA Division I title game.

Imai was also a second team selection while Nakoa earned honorable mention honors.

Queypo added that all four Kapolei seniors are versatile players.

“Kandi is a great hitter and can also play in the outfield as well as pitch. Hayden is very versatile and can play any position you put her at. Kendall is a plug-and-play athlete. Kaylisa is a great infielder that can play anywhere you need her to play.”

Kapolei’s Kaylis Nakoa poses for a photo during the signing day event at the Honolulu Elks Lodge.

Pagan keeps Kailua-to-HPU baseball pipeline going

Pagan keeps Kailua-to-HPU baseball pipeline going

Nov 13, 2024

 

Pagan keeps Kailua-to-HPU baseball pipeline going

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 13, 2024

WAIKIKI — From a Surfrider to a Shark.

Kailua senior Rayvin Pagan inked his commitment to play for the Hawai’i Pacific University baseball team Wednesday morning at the Honolulu Elks Lodge in the annual Hawai’i state National Letter of Intent Signing Day.

The 6-foot utility player follows in the footsteps of 2024 All-OIA Division I-East Player of the Year Kaimana Burgo, who is currently playing fall ball with the Sharks. Both Pagan and Burgo helped the Surfriders claim their 15th league title in April.

“First of all, glory and thanks to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Pagan. “I just wanted to stay home. I love the weather, I love the coaches and I didn’t want to leave this island. I want to thank my dad, my mom, grandmas, my two grandpas, my uncles, aunties, cousins, my friends and everybody that supported me.”

The all-time HPU leader in career saves that is currently on the Sharks’ roster in Ryan Inouye, is also a Kailua alumnus.

“It’s great, I can play with the boys, feel like Kailua High School again,” Pagan said of playing with former teammates at the collegiate level.

Pagan earned second team All-OIA D1 East honors as a first baseman earlier this year after starting off on a tear before finishing with a .267 batting average. His best game came in a 9-1 win over Moanalua on March 30 when he drove in three runs and had a home run.

The Sharks are projecting to use him as a pitcher on the next level. Pagan wasn’t use much (six innings pitched) at that position with a deep pitching staff in 2024, but as a sophomore he went 3-0 in 18 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts and a 1.96 ERA against four walks and 14 hits given up.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Rayvin and his family to HPU,” Sharks coach Dane Fujinaka said. “HPU has had a lot of success with players from Kailua. Former players Kale Sumner, Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo and current players Ryan Inouye and Kaimana Burgo have all made their mark at HPU.”

Kailua has won its last nine OIA titles under alumnus and former University of Hawai’i player Corey Ishigo, whose teams usually have a “us against the world” mentality.

It’s a mindset that Fujinaka is excited to have in the clubhouse.“I know Kailua boys are coached hard and are tough, making it very easy to coach them when they get to us. Rayvin checks every box and we are pumped to continue to have that Kailua pipeline.”

Kailua’s Rayvin Pagan (center) poses for a photo Wednesday morning at the signing day event.

Moanalua’s Kyler Shojinaga (center) will also play for the HPU Sharks baseball team after his high school career.

Shojinaga bolsters HPU infield for class of 2025

Another future HPU baseball player that also took part in the signing day event was Moanalua’s Kyler Shojinaga.

He spent his sophomore season at Mid-Pacific and saw some time at pitcher, but Fujinaka says he will play in the infield when he joins the Sharks’ roster.

“Kyler was our first 2025 commit. We offered him as early as we possibly could. Just his focus and dedication alone separates him from his peers. Kyler’s defense is game changing. He’s as sure handed of a shortstop as we’ve ever had here at HPU. Look for a gold glove at some point in Kyler’s career here at HPU.”

Top seeds in HHSAA state football tournaments all reached 2023 final

Top seeds in HHSAA state football tournaments all reached 2023 final

Nov 12, 2024

 

Top seeds in HHSAA state football tournaments all reached 2023 final

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 12, 2024

The 2024 First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships kick off this weekend with a pair of Open Division semifinal games at Mililani’s John Kauinana Stadium on Friday.

Kahuku, the winner of the past three state titles, is the top seed in the Open Division’s four-team bracket after knocking off previously unbeaten Campbell in the OIA championship, 33-15.

The Red Raiders will take on OIA third-place finisher Mililani in the first semifinal at 4 p.m. on Friday in a rematch of last year’s state title game. It will be the third time the two teams have met this year, with each side winning one matchup.

ILH champion Saint Louis is the No. 2 seed in the tournament after a two-year hiatus. The Crusaders will face OIA runner-up Campbell in the second semifinal at John Kauinana Stadium.

The two winners of the Open Division semifinal will have a week off before playing each other on Friday, Nov. 29 at the University of Hawai’i’s Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex in Manoa.

The opening round of the Division I and Division II six-team brackets begin on Saturday while the top two seeds in each tourney have byes.

Konawaena, who has reached the state final in the past two years and won it all in 2022, is the No. 1 seed in D1 and will host the winner between fifth-seeded Leilehua of the OIA and fourth-seeded Lahainaluna of the MIL.

The Mules and Lunas’ opening round matchup is slated for 7 p.m. this Saturday at Sue D. Cooley Stadium in west Maui. The winner will travel to Konawaena next Friday.

Also with a first round bye in the D1 slate is Damien, who is seeded second. The Monarchs will host the winner between third-seeded Kapa’a of the KIF and OIA runner-up Kailua.

The game between the Warriors and Surfriders will be at 2 p.m. at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in east Kauai.

In D2, the top-seeded team is MIL champion Kamehameha-Maui, who has reached the state final in two of the previous three years. It will play its first game of the state tournament on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Kana’iaupuni Stadium.

Taking on the top-seeded team will be the winner between fourth-seeded Roosevelt and fifth-seeded Kamehameha-Hawai’i in a rematch of an opening round matchup last year. Kickoff between the Rough Riders and Warriors is slated for 6:30 p.m. this Saturday at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.

Kauai, who is making its first state tournament appearance since 2017, is the No. 2 seed in the D2 tournament.

The winner between third-seeded Pac-Five and Kaiser, which will take place on Saturday in a 6:30 p.m. contest at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium, will move on to face the Red Raiders on Nov. 23. Game time for the semifinal match that Kauai will participate in is slated for 2 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium.

Leilehua gets revenge on Kailua for first OIA title in 17 years

Leilehua gets revenge on Kailua for first OIA title in 17 years

Nov 9, 2024

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian Bautista/Scoring Live

Leilehua gets revenge on Kailua for first OIA title in 17 years

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 9, 2024

KALIHI – The Mules have reached the mountain top of the OIA again. 

Behind a big second quarter, Leilehua (9-3, 8-1 league) avenged its lone loss from the league slate and dispatched Kailua (6-6, 6-3 league) in the OIA Division I championship on Saturday at Farrington High School, 38-21. The OIA coronation is the fifth in Mules’ program history, first since the 2007 season and extended Leilehua’s win streak to eight. 

Cameron Keeve led the way for Leilehua, carrying the rock 29 times for 180 yards and a touchdown in the win. Mules’ junior quarterback Bennett Strobel completed 14 of his 30 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns while being intercepted once. 

It appeared like it was going be a defensive battle in the early going, seeing Kailua be forced to punt on the game’s first drive and Leilehua’s field goal try slice wide after Surfriders’ defensive lineman Benjamin Honebein recorded his 13th sack of the season to push the Mules back in a scoreless first quarter. 

The Mules got the scoring started in the second quarter, seeing kicker Rodel Alano cash in from 22 yards out to give the Mules a 3-0 lead with 8:13 to play in the first half. Leilehua added on five minutes later, seeing Talon Tarpley bring in a 10-yard touchdown from Strobel after a fumble recovery by Braden Liua gave the ball to the Mules deep in Kailua territory. 

The avalanche continued by Leilehua on the ensuing kickoff, surprising everybody with an onside kick that was recovered by Zaeven Newman to give the Mules the ball back with three minutes before halftime. Leilehua worked quickly to add on before the break, seeing 5-foot-8, 260-pound Keola Seumanutafa-Bryant power his way into the end zone with nine ticks left on the clock to make it a 17-0 lead at the half. 

Kailua finally found success after the break as they got on the board with 5:05 left in the third quarter when quarterback Isaiah Keaunui-Demello found Honebein for a six-yard score, the third consecutive week that Honebein has brought in a touchdown for the Surfriders. Romeo Ortiz intercepted Strobel just a few plays later, giving the ball right back to Kailua inside Leilehua territory. 

The Surfriders capitalized on the next play as Demello floated a perfect ball into the arms of Isaiah Kaiu for a 31-yard touchdown, the second Kailua touchdown in 11 seconds of game action, making it a 17-14 deficit with 4:54 left in the third quarter. 

Seeing the momentum quickly swinging in Kailua’s favor, the top-seeded Mules looked as though they would get a much-needed answer on the next drive. A big return on the kickoff and a facemask penalty called against the Surfriders put Leilehua inside the Kailua 15-yard line in a blink. 

The Surfriders defense had other plans, holding strong to force the Mules to settle for a field goal attempt from under 35 yards and seeing Rodel Alano’s second miss of the night keep the Kailua deficit at three with just over a minute left in the third quarter. 

The actual answer for the Mules came from the defense as Chaystin Senas intercepted Demello and returned it 35 yards to the house to extend the lead back to two scores for Leilehua with 48 seconds left in the third, 24-14.

The top-seeded Mules tacked on a big insurance touchdown with 7:32 left to play as Strobel hit Tarpley for a 4-yard score, the second connection of the night between the two standouts. While Kailua continued to fight as Demello and Kaiu hooked up for their second touchdown of the evening with 5:04 left in regulation, the effort would fall short as Liua intercepted Demello with less than three minutes to play and Cameron Keeve ran 62 yards for the final score of the night. 

The Leilehua defense led the charge in the OIA Division I championship victory, forcing four turnovers while completely shutting down the Kailua running game. Braden Liua tallied a sack, fumble recovery and interception for the Mules while Chaystin Senas had a pair of picks in the win. 

Isaiah Keaunui-Demello ended the rollercoaster night with three touchdowns and three interceptions for Kailua, completing 22-of-36 pass attempts for 246 of the Surfriders’ 292 yards of total offense. Isaiah Kaiu’s two receptions each went for scores as he tallied another 54 yards receiving while Aizek Kaanoi led Kailua with 60 yards on four catches. 

Leilehua sophomore Romeo Tubon chipped in seven receptions for 77 yards to lead the Mules’ pass catchers while Taron Tarpley had five catches for 44 yards and two touchdowns. 

Both squads now shift focus to the 2024 HHSAA/First Hawaiian Bank Division I Championship tournament that kicks off next week. The OIA-champion Leilehua Mules will travel to Lahainaluna (6-4, 6-2 league) next Saturday for the first round of the state tournament while OIA-runner up Kailua visits KIF-champion Kapaa (6-2, 6-0 league) on the same day. 

Roosevelt rips apart Kaiser to repeat as OIA Division II champions

Roosevelt rips apart Kaiser to repeat as OIA Division II champions

Nov 9, 2024

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian Bautista / ScoringLive

Roosevelt rips apart Kaiser to repeat as OIA Division II champions

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 9, 2024

KALIHI – Rough Riders reign supreme. 

For the fourth straight week, second-seeded Roosevelt (9-2) put up a crooked number on the scoreboard as they completed their OIA title defense with a 34-3 win over the top-seeded Kaiser Cougars in the 2024 OIA Division II Championship. 

The night started off bumpy for Roosevelt as they saw a bad snap lead to a lost fumble on the first possession of the game, giving the ball to Kaiser inside their own 10. The Rough Riders’ defense held strong though, keeping Kaiser to a field goal despite the Cougars being gifted a goal-to-go chance. 

Roosevelt spent little time moping after the game-opening turnover, quickly marching down the field with a scoring drive of their own. After connecting on a deep ball the play before, Rough Riders quarterback Ioane Kamanao connected with Jahsiah Souza-Armstead for a touchdown to give Roosevelt a 7-3 lead with 8:04 left in the first quarter. 

After being forced to punt following the touchdown, the Kaiser defense produced another big play as Zane Shinkawa intercepted Kamanao after another strong Roosevelt drive to keep it at 7-3. The takeaway did not lead to points for the Cougars, seeing the offensive struggles continue through the first quarter. 

The game turned totally in favor of the Rough Riders after offsetting penalties erased another Shinkawa interception for Kaiser and gave another chance deep in Cougars’ territory to the Roosevelt offense. Needing to come in for Kamanao after the starter’s helmet came off during the offsetting penalty play, backup Roosevelt QB Kaeo Bush fired his lone pass of the night into the chest of Williama Aarona for a 10-yard touchdown with 9:32 left to play in the second quarter to make it a 14-3 advantage. 

The Rough Riders defense continued to stymie the Cougars offense, holding Kaiser scoreless for the remainder of the half as Journey DePeralta added a pair of field goals from 29 and 36 yards out to give Roosevelt a 20-3 lead going into the midway break. 

Things worsened for Kaiser to begin the second half, fumbling the opening kickoff back to Roosevelt and seeing Kamanao connect with Souza-Armstead again for a 41-yard touchdown strike just 21 seconds into the third quarter to make it a 27-3 cushion. 

The second-seeded Rough Riders all but put the game on ice on the next drive as Izaiah Nakamura intercepted Kaiser quarterback BJ Rezentes and returned it 49 yards to the house to make it 34 unanswered points for Roosevelt as they rolled on to become the first OIA Division II program to win back-to-back titles in state history. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Rayden Aoki / ScoringLive

Ioane Kamanao finished the night 19-of-37 passing for 316 yards and two touchdowns, getting intercepted in the win for the Rough Riders. Roosevelt lost the turnover battle, giving the ball away four times and only taking it away twice, and dominated the Kaiser Cougars anyway on route to the third OIA Division II title in program history. 

Jahsiah Souza-Armstead turned in a legendary performance, catching six passes for 101 yards and both touchdowns from Kamanao in the win for Roosevelt. The junior was ejected later in the second half due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. 

Keawe Davis led all receivers with seven receptions for 114 yards for the Rough Riders while the defense racked up five sacks to go along with the two takeaways. 

Tia Nuuhiwa-Santos led the way for the Kaiser defense, tallying nine tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries for the Cougars. Sophomore running back Brady Kim added eight carries for 50 yards on the ground for Kaiser, who mustered 97 total yards of offense throughout the night. 

Both teams clinched spots in the 2024 First Hawaiian Bank Division II Championship tournament after their respective OIA semifinal victories. Roosevelt will play host to BIIF Division II champion KS-Hawaii (11-1, 10-0 league) in the first round of the state playoffs on November 16 while Kaiser will return to Farrington High School to take on the third-seeded PAC-5 Wolfpack (6-1, 4-1 league) on the same night. 

Kahuku Red Raiders reign supreme in the OIA Open Division

Kahuku Red Raiders reign supreme in the OIA Open Division

Nov 9, 2024

 

Kahuku pose for a photo after winning the OIA Open Division championship over Campbell Friday night. | Michael Lasquero, HSRN

KAHUKU RED RAIDERS REIGN SUPREME IN THE OIA OPEN DIVISION

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 9, 2024

The title returns to the North Shore.

No. 3 Kahuku got contributions from all three phases of the game to surge ahead of previously unbeaten No. 1 Campbell, 33-15, to win the OIA Open Division championship Friday night at Skippa Diaz Stadium.

It was the Red Raiders’ league-leading 30th league crown in program history.

“I’m just grateful that our players and our coaches are just dedicated all year long and to win an OIA championship just shows that they have the reward for their hard work all offseason. I’m very proud of them and proud of my coaches and players,” Kahuku coach Sterling Carvalho said.

Junior quarterback Matai Fuiava, a midseason transfer from St. John Bosco, threw for a modest 162 yards, but delivered when it mattered most with three touchdown passes to three different receivers. All of his scoring throws came on third down as Fuiava took home HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, presented by Timmy T’s Sandwich Shop.

Fuiava joined the team in mid-October and played his first game of the year with Kahuku on Oct. 19 in a 21-13 loss to the Sabers. He said was a lot more comfortable the second time around.

“Oh man, a lot more prepared (this time). The first time we played them, I think I only ran about five plays and then the break, or the bye week and the Mililani game I was able to get into the playbook and open up the playbook a lot more,” said Fuiava.

The Kahuku defense also did its thing by holding the Sabers to a season-low 15 points. Four different players recorded sacks for the Red Raiders with Malaki Soliai-Tui leading the way with 10 total tackles.

“I gotta give this whole game to the defense. They held the best team to 15 points and man, they kept getting us (on offense) back on the field even though we weren’t doing as good as we should have, but I give it to the defense,” Fuiava said.

Kahuku’s defense also forced the Campbell offense and the state’s all-time leading passer in Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to take three field goals in the red zone.

“If we force them into field goals, our defense is doing their job. You know, you cannot stop (Sagapolutele), you just can kind of contain him at times and that’s what our defense did. They made big plays, (Campbell) was able to move the ball, but our defense at the end of the night, they stood tough, they stood tall,” Carvalho said.

Jadyn Parker’s 36-yard field goal with 3:47 to go in the third quarter, his third of the game, extended Campbell’s halftime lead to 15-11.

But it was all Kahuku the rest of the way.

The Red Raiders’ took their first lead of the game with 12 seconds left in the period on Fuiava’s 65-yard TD pass to Aiden Manutai, which jumpstarted 22 unanswered points to end the contest.

Malosi Fiatoa scored on an 18-yard run early in the fourth quarter before Fuiava
tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Mana Carvalho and a bad snap out of the back of the end zone resulted in a safety.

Both teams have already locked up a spot in next week’s state tournament.

“It was a great feeling to be able to beat them and get our revenge, but hey, it’s not over. We’re gonna see them in states again — we all know that — so we can’t be satisfied with this little OIA championship, we gotta get states,” Fuiava said.