The BIIF announced its accolades for baseball and softball this week, honoring the isle’s top performers of the 2023 season.
Division II players received First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention selections — while Division I players received either First Team or Honorable mention, due to the fact that there are only four BIIF DI schools (Waiakea, Hilo, Kealakehe and Keaau).
Softball
Topping the list of Softball accolades were DI Player of the Year Kaylee Aiona — of Waiakea High School — and DII Player of the Year Emily Hora, of Kamehameha Schools – Hawaii. The pair each helped lead their respective teams to BIIF Championship titles this Spring.
Aiona, a graduating senior, was one of the Warriors’ most consistent batters and infielders. Her most noteworthy day at the plate was a late season outing against Kealakehe, during which she went three-for-four — hitting two doubles and a three-run homer to bat in four runs total.
Hora, an incoming senior, was KSH’s starting pitcher. During the two-game BIIF championship series against Honokaa, she pitched all 14 innings and surrendered just two earned runs. Her performance at the HHSAA State Championship tournament helped earn her a ScoringLive All-Hawaii Second Team Selection.
Both Waiakea and KSH each also accounted for a large portion of their divisions’ First Team selections. Aiona’s teammates Keani Kaneshiro, Tehani Chinen and Darci-lyn Kaina joined her on the All-BIIF DI First Team.
Five other DI First Team selections represented Hilo High — Dahlia Gangano, Hope Barclay, Kawehi Agustin, Mackenzie Valentin and Kuuipo Kalipi. Chesney Palos, of Kealakehe, was the only First Team selection not from Waiakea or Hilo.
Hora was joined on the All-BIIF DII First Team by teammates Napua Ho, Tia Tanimoto and Kahiwa Ili.
Five Kohala High School players were named to the DII First Team — Sydnie Marquez, Camille Fuertes, Faith Alejandro Cazimero, Jaylah Kekoa and Savannah Kupukaa. The final selection was Honokaa junior Malie Espejo.
Baseball
Player of the Year accolades for Division I and Division II baseball were awarded to Hilo’s Devin Saltiban and Honokaa’s Aiden Joaquin, respectively. Both are graduating seniors.
Aiden Joaquin gained acclaim far and wide for his prowess at the plate, leading the state with five home runs during the regular season. This was his second year in a row being named BIIF DII Player of the Year.
Joaquin also signed a letter of intent to play for the Rainbow Warriors and was an All-Hawaii First Team pick — the only player on ScoringLive’s DII First Team whose team didn’t make it to the state playoffs.
Saltiban was one of the most formidable batters on the isle, hitting a homer during the BIIF championship series in front of a crowd of hundreds. He will enter the 2023 MLB Draft as the No. 182 overall prospect, and also has the option to play for UH-Manoa. Saltiban was also a ScoringLive All-Hawaii First Team selection.
Alongside Saltiban on the All-BIIF DI First Team were teammates Journey Leialoha, Kameron Agpalza, Legend Lancaster and Jayden Geraci. Waiakea’s Devin Garza, Isaiah Justo, Joshua Ward and Kaleb Wada were the remaining First Team selections.
All-BIIF DII First Team selections included KSH’s Kydyn Nakamura, Dylan Hanson and Kaohu Kawelu — Konawaena’s Kaupu ‘AJ’ Blanco, Charlie Kuwada, Trez Uemoto, Taven Hiraishi and Maika Akamu — and Pahoa’s Shane Sale-Silva.
• • •
DII Softball Second Team
Jayline Salvador, Kohala
Lesley Gomes, Pahoa
Brandi Hoopai, Honokaa
Kawena Alatini, Pahoa
Kailee Wagner, Kamehameha
Iliana Kaiamakini, Honokaa
Sunny Akau, Honokaa
Kawena Alatini, Pahoa
Malie Espejo, Honokaa
Aaliyah Cawagas, Honokaa
• • •
DII Baseball Second Team
Kinohi Lindsey, Honokaa
Josyah Umeda, Honokaa
Tripp Kahsen, Pahoa
He’olu Bertelmann-Makanani, Honokaa
Hudson Mangold, HPA
Liwai Correa, Kamehameha
Jaeden Meyer, Konawaena
Noah Palea, Kamehameha
Dominic Christensen, Kamehameha
• • •
DI Softball Honorable Mentions
Waiakea — Korri Fernandez, Kaitlyn Miura, Leiakawai Tavares Turalde, Lexi Santiago, Jhayda Turner and Madisen Kodani.
Hilo — Lei Soller, Kira Alameda, Madison Waiki and Kiana Agpalza.
Kealakehe — Nikke Fabia, Tylanna Abraham, Caitlyn Nakamura, Rihanna Joaquin and Freda Tosie.
Keaau — Lilia Kaupu, Kysha Carvalho, Jaeley Salazar, Jaimie Lynn Santos and Tiani Kaupu.
• • •
DII Softball Honorable Mentions
Kohala — Kaneesha Santiago, Trinity-Lee Keawe, Kalani Valenzuela and Lluvia Cornejo.
Honokaa — Charla Pajimola, Tati Lapinid and Kailana Kanekoa.
Konawaena — Kiani Enos, Haikela ‘Joey’ Hiraishi, Alexa Tayamen and Makayla Mata.
Ka‘u — Candance Keohuloa, Shania Silva and Tyra Wong Yuen.
Pahoa — Rieshel Haili and Jezney Chang.
KSH — Rebekah Sipinga and Rhian Ogawa
• • •
DI Baseball Honorable Mentions
Kealakehe— Josh Likiaska, Alson Ioseph, Kioni Isasaki, Colby Gamez, Zesden Tolentino and Marheo Kelen.
Waiakea — Toren Segovia, Ivor Brooks, Clemson Julian, Kaleb Wada and Loren Iwata.
Hilo — MeKenna Wakakuwa
Keaau – Treysten Carvalho-Leopoldino
• • •
DII Baseball Honorable Mentions
Honokaa — Gabe Key and Isaac DeRego.
HPA — Krystof Kalina and Arel Urbanozo.
Kohala — Trycen Alejandro, Skyler Caravalho, Isaiah Castillo and Hezekiah Wilson.
Ka‘u — Pomai Kajiwara-Ke, Riley Koch, Jycetin Mukini and Caleb Crook.
Konawaena — Kolt Baptista.
Pahoa — Max Potter.
