Warriors' senior pitcher Codie Paiva and Na Alii utliity Vesi Liilii came up big for their respective teams in postseason play. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Codie Paiva, Kamehameha baseball
Codie Paiva knew it would take his team's best effort against the state's top prospect Friday night.

Despite his best effort, Paiva's Kamehameha baseball team came up just short in an epic 10-inning semifinal against eventual-champion Campbell during last week's Wally Yonamine Foundation/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I State Championships at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Warriors, led by Paiva's four-hitter, battled toe-to-toe with Sabers' ace Ian Kahaloa, who entered the state tournament without having allowed an earned run all season.

"He kept talking to the rest of the team the day of the game, before we left the school and on the bus about how these are the things we've got to to do," Kamehameha coach Tom Perkins said. "Even though they were things we've been working on all year, he just grabbed the kids and pulled them all together after we had our meeting and he got them fired up."

Paiva was preparing to pitch the biggest game of his prep career, but wanted to ensure the Warriors were ready for Kahaloa, who has been scouting by all 30 Major League teams.

"(Paiva) would say, ‘It's Ian pitching, we've got to be ready for 95 miles per hour,' and even though we had been prepping for a while, for his teammates to see the way he was fired up and how he wanted it so bad … it was just amazing," Perkins said of the lanky 6-foot-5 senior right-hander.

Kahaloa was as good as advertised, striking out 15 Warriors without giving up a walk in a complete-game win, but Paiva was nearly as good. He allowed just two runs (one unearned) with four strikeouts against two walks and also went the distance.

"He did a great job," Perkins said. "He pitched a heck of a game. He was just on it. It was an amazing job he did. That was his best performance of the year, the whole team it was their best performance. Everybody left it out on the field. They put their best foot forward and Codie led the way for them."

Perkins thinks that Paiva, who signed as a third baseman with Loyola Marymount, is talented enough to pitch at the next level.

"I think he could, especially if he puts on a little bit more muscle and weight," Perkins said. "Once he sets his mind to things he can get it done. He can be very focused and he always gives 100 percent everyday at practice. He's a tough competitor and I think he's going to be terrific for (LMU)."

Paiva, an All-Hawaii selection at third base last year, registered a team-high 51 innings pitched this season. After limited appearances on the mound last year, he went 4-3 with a 1.37 earned run average in 2015.

"I think a lot of the boys felt that, with him pitching, we had a great chance no matter who we were playing," Perkins said. "It didn't always turn out that way, but if we didn't win, it was always a close game with him pitching. Ironically, I think he had more losses than anybody on our team, but his ERA spoke for itself. The the team, he was a source of inspiration and he was a good leader for the kids."

At the plate he wasn't too shabby either. Paiva batted .339 (21 of 62), drove in 15 runs and scored 13 times. In the Warriors' four state-tournament games, he went 5 of 13 (.385) from the plate with four RBI.

"He worked hard in the cage and our coaches worked hard with him on hitting," Perkins said. "He spends a lot of time on his own hitting. For me, I believe that when you're pitching a game, that's the focus that we need from you for that game, and yet while he's pitching he did a great job getting himself on base, getting hits and doing what he had to do. He did a great job offensively."

Paiva, one of nine seniors on the team who will graduate next month, went through three different head coaches in as many years. His sophomore year was Vern Ramie's final year at the Kapalama Campus. As a junior, Paiva was under the tutelage of Billy Pieper before being reunited with Perkins, who had long served as intermediate coach before taking over the varsity job this spring.

"I think every coach had a little bit of something to give to him and I think he grasped the things that would work for him," Perkins said. "I think this year was just a culmination of putting all those things together and just trusting in what we were trying to do and it worked out for him."

-Kalani Takase

Female Athlete of the Week: Vesi Liilii, Aiea softball
The Liilii family can boast two player of the week awards this week.

Aiea's Vesi Liilii made a couple of big plays in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II title game to help Na Alii claim their first league crown in school history with a 10-8 win over three-time defending champion Nanakuli. Liilii's cousin, Leisha, earned Big West Field player of the week honors as a member of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine softball team. 

Liilii, a transfer from Iolani, has played a handful of roles for the Aiea softball team this year. Her ability to play multiple positions has helped Na Alii overcome an anterior cruciate ligament injury to Raisa Strom-Okimoto, an All-Hawaii selection in 2014, in the preseason.

"She's made a big impact," first-year Aiea coach Alan Higuchi said on Liilii. "She's a very versatile player. She can play in the outfield and all the infield positions. Right now I have her at first base. She's a capable player that has a good arm, a quick release and a quick glove."

The junior utility has also seen time in the pitching circle, sporting a 2-1 record in 20 innings pitched. Her most recent win came in a 13-1 victory over Kalaheo in the semifinals.

Against opposing pitchers Liilii has been a force to be reckoned with. As Na Alii's leadoff hitter, Liilii has racked up 16 RBIs and a 0.380 batting average, both of which are team-highs. 

"She's been one of our stronger hitters as far as average and power," said Higuchi. 

Higuchi also described Liilii as a player that every coach would love to have.

"They call her a coaches' player," he said. "She's very hard working. She listens to instructions and puts out her best effort on a daily basis. She gets along with her teammates and is respectful of everybody. I think that reflects highly on the guidance of her parents. I've coached her since she was 7-years-old and she's been that way even from a young age." 

Aiea jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the Golden Hawks in the opening inning before giving up two runs in the bottom of the third. Liilii's two-out triple in the top of the fourth drove in two runs to put Na Alii up 4-2. She would score on a wild pitch to make it 5-2 heading into the bottom of the frame.

"It's always big to keep momentum on your side," said Higuchi. "Anytime you can answer back when someone body scores on you — that's critical at any time in the game."

The Golden Hawks scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-5 lead, their first of the contest. Aiea plated two runs in the sixth to tie things up at 7-all. Liilii got her second hit of the game in the top of the seventh, and would score the go-ahead run to put Aiea ahead, 8-7. Nanakuli got a run in the bottom of the inning to force extras, but could not answer a 2 RBI double from Taira Shibata as Aiea won the game in eight innings, 10-8.

Na Alii will enjoy a first round bye in the Data House/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II Softball Championships and will face the winner between Molokai and Saint Francis in a 5:00 p.m. semifinal at McKinley Wednesday.

-Michael Lasquero

BASEBALL
Nawai Ah Yen, Baldwin — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple and three RBI in a win over Waiakea and batted 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored in a win over Hilo

Kawena Alo-Kaonohi, Baldwin — Struck out seven batters, walked one and allowed one hit in five scoreless innings pitched in a win over Waiakea

Nick Anthony, Hilo — Hit a grand slam in a win over Moanalua

Blayze Arcano-Llacuna, Campbell — Batted 3 for 4 with a stolen base in a win over Mid-Pacific

Micah Chinen, Mililani — Struck out three batters, walked none and allowed three hits in a complete-game shutout win over Baldwin

Ladd Ah Choy, Kamehameha — Allowed one hit in 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in a win over Hilo

Hinalea Cortez, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI in a loss to Kauai

Emmett Covello, Kaiser — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles and three RBI in a loss to Kamehameha

Ty De Sa, Mililani — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBI in a loss to Mid-PAcific

Kobey Dias, Kauai — Batted 3 for 3 with three runs scored in a win over Konawaena

Koa Eastlack, Mililani — Struck out eight batters, walked three and allowed one run on three hits in a complete-game win over Pearl City

Patrick Esteban, Kauai — Batted 2 for 3 with three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Konawaena

Brandon Henderson, Kamehameha — Drove in three runs in a win over Kaiser

Michael Hooper, Baldwin — Batted 2 for 2 with three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Waiakea

Tanner Inouye, Moanalua — Allowed one run on four hits in six innings pitched in a win over Maui

Micah Jio, Maui — Tripled and drove in three runs in a tie against Pearl City

Ian Kahaloa, Campbell — Batted 2 for 4 and struck out 15 batters, walked none and allowed one run on five hits in 10 innings pitched in a win over Kamehameha

Codi Kamakana, Molokai — Batted 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored in a win over Konawaena

Jarred Kaneshiro, Maryknoll — Allowed three runs (all unearned) on three hits in a complete-game win over Kauai

Kila Kapihe, Campbell — Struck out six batters, walked three and allowed two unearned runs on three hits in a complete-game win over Moanalua

Nohea Keahi, Baldwin — Batted 2 for 2 with a walk and three runs scored in a win over Waiakea

Cal Koga, Kauai — Struck out five batters, walked one and allowed one run on two hits in five innings pitched in a win over Konawaena

Jansen Kudaishi, Aiea — Allowed one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched in a win over Pac-Five

Mykah Kuratani, Kapolei — Batted 4 for 4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in a loss to Maryknoll

Dylan Madamba, Aiea — Batted 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored in a win over Pac-Five and allowed one run on three hits in a complete-game win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Jacob Maekawa, Mid-Pacific — Batted 2 for 4 with a double, RBI, a stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Waiakea

Orion Miyasato-Farias, Baldwin — Batted 3 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored in a win over Waiakea

Jarrin Morikawa, Mililani — Batted 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI in a win over Pearl City

Joshua Muneno, Maryknoll — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, walk, three RBI and a run scored in a win over Aiea

Jaryn Nakamoto, Aiea — Doubled and drove in three runs in a win over Pac-Five

Andrew Oasay, Moanalua — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, double, RBI and a run scored in a win over Maui

Gehrig Octavio, Waiakea — Batted 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored in a loss to Mid-Pacific

Shane Ogata, Kauai — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, double, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Konawaena and batted 3 for 4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Alexander Oley, Mid-Pacific — Batted 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored in a win over Mililani

Tryzen Patricio, Campbell — Batted 2 for 3 and drove in the winning run in a win over Mid-Pacific

Malu Peralta, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Struck out five batters, walked one and allowed one run on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched in a win over Molokai

Aaron Renaud, Kauai — Batted 2 for 4 with a double, walk, two RBI and a run scored in a win over Konawaena

Shadd Santos, Baldwin — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, double, RBI and two runs scored in a win over Hilo

Noah Shackles, Mid-Pacific — Batted 3 for 4 with an RBI in a loss to Campbell

Dewayne Sprinkel, Campbell — Hit a two-run home run in a win over Mid-Pacific

Matt Tsutomi, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, four RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kailua

Kaenakea Victorino, Molokai — Batted 3 for 3 with a double in a win over Konawaena

Tyler Yamaguchi, Mid-Pacific — Batted 4 for 4 with a triple and five RBI in a win over Waiakea and batted 2 for 3 with two RBI in a win over Mililani

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Daniel Beaton, Kalaheo — Had 14 digs, eight kills, two aces, two assists and one block in a win over Lahainluna

Ansen Cabanilla, Lahainaluna — Had 36 assists, five digs, one kill and an ace in a loss to Kalaheo

Naone Cannon, Kamehameha — Had 10 kills, 10 digs and an ace in a loss to Moanalua

Bradley Comilla, Hilo — Had 17 kills and eight digs in a win over Kahuku

Karson Cruz, Moanalua — Had 17 kills, three blocks and two digs in a win over Kamehameha

Tomas Drebelbis, Lahainaluna — Had 12 kills, 14 digs and four aces in a loss to Kalaheo

Makoa Filikitonga, Lahainaluna — Had 11 kills, 10 digs, one block, one assist and an ace in a loss to Kalaheo

Sili Fuiava, Mililani — Had 18 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and an ace in a loss to Waianae and had 10 kills and 13 digs in a win over Waipahu

Kupaa Harrison, Kalaheo — Had 42 assists, five kills, five digs, three blocks and an ace in a win over Lahainaluna and had 13 assists, 13 digs, three kills, two blocks and an ace in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Zach Kagehiro, Moanalua — Had 36 assists, 12 digs and three aces in a win over Kamehameha

Nayton Kuresa, Waianae — Had 15 kills, four blocks, three digs and two assists in a win over Mililani

Zavier Lieb, Mililani — Had 50 assists, 15 digs and two kills in a loss to Waianae

Kahiau Machado, Kamehameha — Had 23 kills and 21 digs in a loss to Moanalua

Izaiah Manrique, King Kekaulike — Had 35 assists, one dig, a block and an ace in a win over Hilo

Austin Matautia, Moanalua — Had 35 kills, 13 digs, one block and an ace in a win over Kamehameha

Jahren Muliagatele, Waianae — Had 56 assists, nine digs, one kill and one block in a win over Mililani

Jonah Poe, Waianae — Had 16 digs and one ace in a win over Mililani

Naia Singlehurst, Kalaheo — Had 25 kills, eight digs and an ace in a win over Lahaianluna

Will Stanley, Punahou — Had 10 kills, 10 assists, three digs an a block in a win over Waianae

Don Thompson, King Kekaulike — Had 15 kills and three blocks in a win over Hilo

GIRLS WATER POLO
Leyla Anderson, Baldwin — Scored three goals in a loss to Kaiser

Payton Bosque, Kamehameha — Scored three goals in a win over Kahuku

Taylor Brooks, Roosevelt — Scored four goals in a win over Baldwin

Kyla Fox, Kaiser — Scored three goals in a win over Konawaena and scored three goals in a win over Baldwin

Kelly Fricke, Punahou — Scored four goals in a win over Roosevelt and scored three goals in a win over Kapolei

Jennifer Frommer, Kaiser — Scored three goals in a win over Konawaena

Leilani Herrera, Kapolei — Scored three goals in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Kahea Kahaulelio, Kahuku — Scored four goals in a win over Kalani

Nohea Kahaulelio, Kahuku — Scored four goals in a win over Kalani

Kolby Kahahawai, Kamehameha — Scored three goals in a win over Lahainaluna and scored four goals in a win over Kahuku

Katelyn Kubo, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored four goals in a win over Lahainaluna

Lalelei Mataafa, Lahainaluna — Scored three goals in a loss to Kamehameha and scored four goals in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Cayla Moore, Kamehameha — Scored three goals in a win over Kaiser

Halia Nahale-a, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored six goals in a win over Roosevelt and scored six goals in a win over Lahainaluna

Lisa Namatame, Kalani — Scored five goals in a loss to Kahuku

Indie Pyzel, Kahuku — Scored four goals in a win over Kalani

Maya Sinclair, Baldwin — Scored three goals in a win over Leilehua

Bailey Walters, Konawaena — Scored four goals in a loss to Kaiser

Mailani Wendt, Kapolei — Scored three goals in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Pua Wong, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored three goals in a win over Lahainaluna

GOLF
Spencer Dunaway, Kamehameha — Shot a 5-under par 139 to win the individual boys' state title at the Waikoloa Kings' Course

Mariel Galdiano, Punahou — Shot a 4-under par 140 to win her third consecutive individual girls' state title and helped her team win its third straight team crown at the Waikoloa Kings' Course

JUDO
Cole Chandler, Mid-Pacific — Won the boys' 145-pound weight class at the HHSAA state championships for his third individual title

Sabrina Hollins, Waipahu — Won the girls' 220-pound weight class at the HHSAA state championships for her second individual title

Kristen Kojima, Roosevelt — Won the girls' 115-pound weight class at the HHSAA state championships for her second individual title and helped her team to its first team title

Kekua Marumoto, Kapolei — Won the boys' 161-pound weight class at the HHSAA state championships for his second individual title and helped his team to its second straight team title

Jordan Ng, Iolani — Won the boys' 121-pound weight class at the HHSAA state championships for his third individual title

Kari Okubo, Aiea — Won the girls' 154-pound weight class at the HHSAA state championships for her second individual title

Zorich Palimoo, Moanalua — Won the boys' 198-pound weight class at the HHSAA state championships for his second individual title

SOFTBALL
Azure Agricula-McCormick, Waialua — Doubled, drew three walks, drove in four runs and scored once in a win over Farrington

Christel Agtina, Waialua — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBI and four runs scored in a win over Farrington

Seli Aholelei, Kaiser — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, triple, three RBI and three runs scored and allowed one run on four hits in a complete-game win over Kapolei and batted 3 for 4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored and allowed one run on three hits in a complete-game win over Pearl City

Kylie-Ann Bello, Mililani — Hit a grand slam and scored twice in a win over Kaiser

Hope Casarez, Pearl City — Batted 3 for 3 with two triples, a double, two walks and five runs scored in a win over McKinley

Kaipo Castillo, Farrington — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored in a loss to Waialua

Tristan Cozo, Mililani — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBI in a win over Kaiser

Andrea Dicion, Waialua — Batted 2 for 5 with a walk, two RBI and three runs scored in a win over Farrington

Elisa Favela, Campbell — Allowed one hit in four innings pitched in a win over Leilehua and tossed a one-hitter with five strikeouts and two walks in a five-inning win over Pearl City

Kristin Frost, Pearl City — Struck out seven batters, walked one and did not allow a hit in four innings pitched in a win over McKinley

Shaycelynn Hoohuli, Kapolei — Batted 3 for 4 with three runs scored in a win over Leilehua

Asia Igafo, Castle — Scattered eight hits and allowed one run in a complete-game win over Waipahu

Kristen Ishii, Mililani — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and run scored in a win over Kaiser

Tyanna Kaaialii, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 2 with a home run, three RBI, two walks and two runs scored in a win over McKinley and struck out 11 batters, walked three and allowed two runs on two hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched in a win over Kailua

Lili Kaimi, Kapolei — Batted 2 for 4 with three RBI in a win over Leilehua

Sadie Kapaku-You, Kapolei — Allowed one hit in five innings pitched in a win over Roosevelt

Aubree Kim, Mililani — Struck out 13 batters, walked none and allowed two runs on two hits in a complete-game win over Castle and struck out 13 batters with five walks and allowed one run on one hit in a six-inning win over Kaiser

Taylyn Kimura, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 4 with a walk, two RBI and four runs scored in a win over McKinley

Tiani Lastimosa, Kailua — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run and two runs scored in a loss to Leilehua

Chelsea Lobitos, Leilehua — Hit a home run, drove in four runs and drew a walk in a win over Moanalua

Sierra Mariano, Campbell — Batted 4 for 4 with a home run, two doubles, five RBI and three runs scored in a win over Leilehua

Rainelle Matsuoka, Kaiser — Batted 2 for 4 with a triple, walk, two RBI and a run scored in a win over Kapolei

Caragh Morris, Campbell — Batted 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored in a win over Pearl City

Darian Obara, Pearl City — Drove in a pair of runs, drew a walk and scored four times in a win over McKinley and batted 3 for 4 with two RBI in a win over Kailua

Chardonnay Pantastico, Campbell — Batted 2 for 2 with a triple, double, three RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Pearl City

Sala Pedebone, Kapolei — Doubled and drove in four runs in a win over Roosevelt

Dallas Pollard-Brownell, Kapolei — Doubled, drove in three runs and scored twice in a win over Leilehua

Merilis Rivera, Mililani — Batted 3 for 3 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in a win over Castle

Chasity Stalcup, Leilehua — Struck out five batters without a walk and allowed three runs (two unearned) on six hits in a complete-game win over Moanalua

Elyse Tsutsui, Kaiser — Batted 3 for 4 with a run scored in a win over Pearl City

Selena Victoria, Waialua — Batted 4 for 4 with two home runs, a walk, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over Farrington

Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored in a win over McKinley

Brooke Yasuda, Mililani — Batted 2 for 2 with two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Castle

TENNIS
Skyla Alcon, Mid-Pacific — Won the girls' singles draw at the HHSAA state championships for her second straight title (won doubles crown last year)

Kawika Lam, Punahou — Won the boys' singles draw at the HHSAA state championships for his third straight individual title