The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) softball and baseball season continued over the weekend across the island. The season resumes today in Kea‘au. See the paper all week for updates.
Kealakehe 14, Kea‘au 3
Kealakehe softball got back on track after falling to Waiakea earlier in the week, routing the visiting Kea‘au Lady Cougars 14-3 on Saturday in Kailua-Kona. The Lady Waveriders improved to 2-1 in the early season, while Kea‘au remained winless at 0-2.
Kealakehe posted 12 hits to the Lady’ Cougars’ one. The visitors also committed 11 errors, while the blue and white had three.
Lady ‘Rider Emalia Emmsley highlighted the winners with her brilliancy at the plate and in the circle. Emmsley logged a game-high four hits in five at-bats — tripling in the fourth inning, doubling in the first inning and singling in the fifth and second. Pitching the full 6.0 innings, Emmsley allowed one hit and three runs while striking out eight. She was named the game’s winning pitcher.
So far this season, Emmsley leads the team in doubles, triples, innings pitched and strikeouts.
Emmsley’s teammate, shortstop Rihanna Joaquin, added three hits and two RBI — including a double.
Lady ‘Rider second baseman Saige Telles smacked two more hits, while center fielder Zuleika Isiisaki, right fielder Jaida Valeho and left fielder Hiiaka Alapai had one each.
The Lady Cougars’ only hit came from first baseman Serenetee Kepano at the top of the first, singling to score a run.
Leila Chapman was given the loss as Kea‘au’s pitcher, allowing 12 hits and 14 runs while striking out five.
Kealakehe has out-scored opponents 43-26 through three matchups in 2025. The Lady ‘Riders next test awaits in Hilo town — set to rematch the Lady Warriors at 11 a.m. Saturday at Waiakea High School.
The Lady Cougars will seek their first win at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hilo High, slated to play the Lady Vikings.
Honoka‘a 11, Kohala 1
Honoka‘a baseball collected its fourth and fifth win of the season after sweeping Kohala in Saturday’s doubleheader in Honoka‘a town.
In the final game of the day, the Dragons won 11-1, posting nine hits to the Cowboys’ two. Honoka‘a’s entire lineup — pitcher Jayden Salazar, center fielder Josyah Umeda, catcher Isaac Derego, second baseman Chrys Coelho, third baseman Kiakahi Lindsey, shortstop Ezekiel Hood, first baseman Donovan Valera, right fielder John Lindsey and left fielder Noah Erwin — all had one hit each.
Salazar was the game’s winning pitcher, throwing for 3.0 innings while striking out four and allowing no runs. So far in 2025, Salazar leads his team in hits, runs, RBI, triples, innings pitched, wins and strikeouts. Hood and Umeda also saw brief time on the mound.
Kohala centerfielder Isaac Salvador-Libron and catcher Wyatt Rabang each ahd one hit, while right fielder Jayden Hook drove in the team’s lone run. Kaua Reyes started on the mound for the Cowboys, lasting three innings while giving up three hits and four runs. Salvador-Libron and Hezekiah Wilson additionally pitched, with Wilson striking out five.
The first matchup of the day was a closer competition, but Honoka‘a again prevailed to win 4-3. Derego started in this game, going 6.0 innings and striking out 10. Kaimana Nakamura started for Kohala, lasting 89 pitches while allowing five hits and three runs. He struck out and walked five batters each.
Salazar and Coelho led the Dragons in hits with two each, while Derego and Valera added one apiece.
Salvador-Libron, Wilson, Reyes and Rabang each tallied one hit for the Cowboys.
Now at 5-1 overall, Honoka‘a has out-scored opponents 47-17. The Dragons’ next test will be against Pahoa at 11 a.m. Saturday in Honoka‘a town. Kohala is still winless at 0-3, but has a chance to redeem itself with its 3 p.m. Wednesday matchup against Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea.
Waiakea 1, Kona 0
Waiakea baseball won its third straight game after a narrow 1-0 win over Konawaena on Saturday in Hilo town. The Wildcats fell to 3-2.
The Warriors (3-1) were led by senior third baseman Teysen Tamiya, who singled in the second inning to drive in a run. Senior shortstop teammate Ivor Brooks, senior designated hitter Boston Kobayashi, sophomore catcher Tycen Baruela and sophomore right fielder Kysen Honda rounded out Waiakea’s five hits.
Junior Jerrell Alston was awarded the game’s winning pitcher — throwing for 5.6 innings, allowing one hit while striking out seven. Junior closer Hurley Soong was given the save after striking out two and allowing no hits across the final 24 pitches of the afternoon.
Catcher Maika Akamu went 1-for-2, notching Kona’s lone hit. Kahiau Rivera was given the loss on the mound, allowing five hits and a run across 5.3 innings — striking out three. Koa Nakagawa also briefly pitched for the Wildcats.
The Warriors will aim to keep their streak alive with its next test against Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i at 3 p.m. this afternoon in Kea‘au. Kona will try to get back in the win column against KSH in its next game Thursday at 3 p.m. in Kea‘au.
Kealakehe 7, Kea‘au 3
Kealakehe baseball trailed a run after the first inning, but stormed back to ultimately win 7-3 over Kea‘au, logging its first win of 2025 on Saturday in Kailua-Kona. The Waveriders had dropped the previous three games. The Cougars remained winless at 0-4.
Kea‘au got on the board first after Kealakehe committed an error, setting up the Cougars to score two runs on a passed ball.
Kea‘au returned the favor at the bottom of the first inning, committing an error that gave the Waveriders their first run of the afternoon. More errors gave Kealakehe the 3-2 lead in the third inning, and the blue and white then never gave the lead up.
Despite the win, the ‘Riders had three less hits than their opponent with two — one from Rome Joaquin and the other from shortstop Kaden Telles. However, Kealakehe was off to the races on the diamond, stealing six bases.
Joaquin was given the nod for winning pitcher, striking out eight while allowing three runs across 108 pitches. Joaquin currently leads the team in hits, runs, innings pitched, wins and strikeouts.
Left fielder John Ramos led the Cougars with two hits, while third baseman Mikah Ibanez, catcher Luke Brophy and shortstop Rupert Gomes Cabral logged one apiece. Like the ‘Riders, Kea‘au also stole six bases.
Scott Ebesuno-Tahara pitched 5.6 innings while allowing six runs for the Cougars — also striking out seven. He was named the game’s losing pitcher. Bullpen teammate Elson Kalawe also briefly saw time on the mound.
Kealakehe (1-3) next faces Waiakea at 1 p.m. Saturday in Hilo, hoping to continue its newly-found winning habits. Kea‘au will attempt to get its first win against Hilo, slated to face the Vikings at 1 p.m. Wednesday on the road.
Waiakea 12, Kona 2
Waiakea softball won its third straight game after a 12-2 rout of Konawaena on Saturday afternoon in Hilo town. Improving to 3-1 in the early season, the Lady Warriors logged 16 hits to the Lady Wildcats’ (0-3) two.
Junior second baseman Keani Kaneshiro and catcher Kaelyn Sewake led the winners with three hits each, including Sewake hitting two doubles with six RBI. Senior first baseman Tehani Chinen, junior center fielder Meghan Spencer and senior pitcher Kaitlyn Miura added two each for Waiakea. Senior shortstop teammate Lexi Santiago, senior designated hitter Jayda Kaimi, senior third baseman Enea Luther and right fielder K. Hataoka had one hit each.
Miura was the game’s winning pitcher, throwing for 6.0 innings and allowing two hits, two runs while striking out 11. Miura currently leads her team in innings pitched, wins and strikeouts.
Leilani Lebrun-Ward and Sunny Taketa tallied the Lady Wildcats’ two hits. Lebrun-Ward was Kona’s pitcher in the circle, allowing 16 hits and 12 runs in the loss.
The Lady Warriors will look to keep their streak alive with its next match against Kealakehe at 11 a.m. Saturday in Hilo town. The Lady Wildcats’ next game is to be determined.
Kohala 19, Honoka‘a 5
Kohala softball had another dominant performance, amassing 19 runs in five innings to trounce the hosting Lady Dragons on Saturday in Honoka‘a town. The Cowgirls jumped to 2-0, while the Lady Dragons suffered their first loss to drop to 1-1.
Honoka‘a got on the board in the first inning to lead early, but Kohala exploded for nine runs at the top of the second and never looked back.
Cowgirls senior left fielder Mahea Pang led the black and gold with three hits and three RBI, followed by senior pitcher Kalia Marquez with two. Senior first baseman Faith Alejandro-Cazimero, senior third baseman Zanaiyah Murai, freshman designated hitter Raine Cazimero and sophomore center fielder Sydnie Marquez logged one hit each for the Cowgirls.
Kalia Marquez also pitched in the circle for Kohala, going all five innings while allowing six hits, five runs and striking out five in the win. She leads her team in innings pitched, wins and strikeouts.
For Honoka‘a, senior center fielder Brandi Hoopai and junior first baseman Keilee Dacquel each posted two hits to lead the group. Junior catcher Jaycia Silva and junior shortstop Kanai Tolentino added one hit apiece. Tolentino was the team’s losing pitcher, allowing nine runs and five hits across the first two innings. Junior Kayliah Kauahi also saw time on the mound, allowing 10 runs.
In their hot start to 2024, the Cowgirls have out-scored opponents 49-14. Kohala and Honoka‘a’s next matchup is to be announced.
