KEAAU — Kamehameha senior Makena Wagner’s best at-bat was a bases-loaded walk in the third inning because that symbolized coach Gary Ahu’s team philosophy. ADVERTISING KEAAU — Kamehameha senior Makena Wagner’s best at-bat was a bases-loaded walk in the third
KEAAU — Kamehameha senior Makena Wagner’s best at-bat was a bases-loaded walk in the third inning because that symbolized coach Gary Ahu’s team philosophy.
Wagner was part of a 10-hit parade as the Warriors defeated Kealakehe 12-2 in a six-inning TKO softball game on Saturday.
She went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Taylor Sullivan 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Mykala Tokunaga batted 1 for 3 with two RBIs to spark the Warriors (3-0).
Tokunaga fired a four-hitter, walked two and struck out nine. She was rolling along with a no-hitter until the fifth inning for the four-time defending BIIF Division II champions.
Her only major mistake was a hanging changeup in the sixth that Kealakehe No. 3 hitter Brei McLeod golfed over the left-center field fence for a two-run homer.
That was the lone highlight for the Division I Waveriders (2-1), who had a bad day on defense.
They committed six errors that led to a half-dozen unearned runs for Kiara Cantiberos, who went the distance in the loss.
Before each Kamehameha batter steps up to the plate, Ahu does a simple ritual, pointing to his eyes and his heart.
“That’s the eye of the tiger, to be aggressive,” Wagner said. “The other is heart and family, to leave it all on the field and play for your family, not yourself.
“I liked how we played as a team. We really do that every day, but today was evident with our hit-and-runs, and bunting. I took that bases loaded walk, instead of swinging and missing. That was important because we play for each other.”
It’s always a family affair for Wagner. Her dad Robert Wagner is an assistant coach and her mom Shelly helps run the scoreboard.
Unlike baseball, softball only needs one ace pitcher, and the Warriors have a reliable arm in Tokunaga, the three-time BIIF player of the year.
Last season, the Warriors advanced to the HHSAA state semifinals for the first time since 2009, when they had another big-time ace in Kiani Wong.
Nanakuli thumped Kamehameha 11-2, and the Golden Hawks eventually claimed their third straight championship.
The Golden Hawks graduated only one starter and will be a heavy favorite at states in May, but count on the Warriors being in the mix again.
They’re soaked in state experience, especially with four-year starters Wagner, Tokunaga and catcher Kekai Wong Yuen.
Outfielders Jessica Cameros and Elexis Emmsley, shortstop Kiarra Lincoln, and second baseman Taylor Sullivan are returning starters. Emmsley and Lincoln are juniors while Cameros and Sullivan are sophomores.
Third baseman Nevaeh Fukui-Stoos and designated player Brooke Baptiste are freshmen, so is Kuulei Ili, who had an RBI single as a pinch hitter in the fifth.
Meanwhile, the Waveriders are under a new coach in Loni Mercado, who took over for longtime coach Wes Takimoto.
Kealakehe has never won the BIIF Division I title but qualified for states as the league runner-up in 2000, ’02 and back-to-back years in 2010 and ’11.
Last year, the Waveriders fell to Waiakea in the best-of-three BIIF semifinals 14-13 and 19-11.
“That’s not the team we know,” Mercado said of her team’s defensive woes. “As long as we play together and work on our communication, we’ll do just fine. We have to stick together as a team. That’s our main focus.”
Tokunaga is the hardest thrower in the league, but she’s in Division II.
BIIF Division I runner-up Keaau graduated its ace Lohi Kamakea-Wong, the hardest thrower last year.
BIIF Division I champion Waiakea’s 19-13 slugfest win over Hilo on Wednesday suggests with a lack of flame-throwers teams will pile up hits.
Like baseball, the Waveriders are already in the four-team BIIF playoffs. They haven’t been to states in four years. That’s a long time to go hungry.
Shortstop Tavian Taketa, second baseman Verly DeCasa, catcher McLeod, first baseman Brittney Keaunui, third baseman Jami Tan, and pitcher Cantiberos are all returning starters.
Center fielder Kawehi Kahele is the cleanup hitter, and the other new starters are outfielders Zayanna Sanchez and Dez Garcia, a freshman and sophomore, respectively.
The good new for Mercado is her team is loaded with juniors: Cantiberos, DeCasa, McLeod, and Keaunui.
The only senior starters are Taketa and Kahele while Tan is a sophomore.
The engine behind Kealakehe’s offense is McLeod, who along with leadoff hitter Taketa and No. 2 batter DeCasa were the only ones not to strike out against Tokunaga.
“Brei works hard. At every practice, she’ll take extra cuts. She’s a good example,” Mercado said. “It’s just a matter of the players believing in themselves. The coaches and parents believe in them. They’ve got to know they have the skill-set. Once they realize that they’ll be a whole new team.
“I tease the girls, ‘You will only get what you give to the softball gods.’ They’ll go, ‘Oh coach, you’re so funny.’ Once we clinch working together, everything will fall into place.”
Kealakehe 000 002 — 2 4 6
Kamehameha 013 233 — 12 10 0
• Konawaena 18, Pahoa 4: Kaimana Joy Manzano had a big day at the plate as the Wildcats erupted for 11 runs in the fifth inning to win at Pahoa’s field and improve to 3-0
Konawaena belted 11 hits to back Sierra Amor, who struck out nine in five innings and didn’t allow an earned run after taking over for Tiani Lastimosa.
The Wildcats took advantage of seven Daggers errors and nine walks by Tiana Kapumau. Manzano was 4 for 5 with a home run, double, five RBIs and three runs scored, and Erin Bates was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
Amor tripled and scored three runs at the plate. In the circle she allowed just three hits and walked one.
Kapumau collected two hits for Pahoa (1-2).
Konawaena 102 4(11) – 18 11 3
Pahoa 300 10 – 4 3 7
• Waiakea 8, Kohala 3: Alyssa Hara struck out four in six innings, and Taylor Nishimura tripled among her three hits as the host Warriors improved to 3-0.
Mikayla Kekoa slammed a home run and finished with two hits for the Cowgirls (1-2). In the circle, the freshman struck out eight and walked three in six innings.
Hara walked only one.
Kohala 010 200 0 – 3 6 3
Waiakea 100 142 x – 8 8 1• Keaau 15, Hawaii Prep 5: The Cougars won at Shipman Park for their first win of the season, dropping Ka Makani to 0-4.
