Top Performers
Mililani's Otsuka, Kapolei's Kapaku-You lead top performers




Male Athlete of the Week: Tayler Otsuka, Mililani judo
The fourth time proved to be the charm for Tayler Otsuka.

Otsuka, a Mililani sophomore, finally knocked off nemesis Andre Pagurayan, of Kapolei, at a most opportune time Saturday. After three previous tries this season, Otsuka broke through in the title bout of the boys' 114-pound weight class at the Oahu Interscholastic Association individual judo championships at Leilehua's Paul T. Kobayashi Gymnasium.

It is Otsuka's first league title. He finished second in the OIA and the state at 108 pounds as a freshman last year, losing both matches to Andre's twin brother, Jayson, last year.

Mililani coach Alex Kikuyama said last year's runner-up finishes have fueled Otsuka's fire this season.

"I think so," Kikuyama said. "He definitely seems a lot more motivated this year. He's been a more complete player and more of a team player. A lot of that was coming together this year and that was good to see. As far as being a team contributor, I think he was probably our best 10-point player we had this season."

Kikuyama said Otsuka had closed the gap on Andre Pagurayan in each of their three previous matches.

"It got progressively better," Kikuyama said. "The first dual meet we played them, he lost in the first minute or so, but at team championships he tied him and then at Western's he lost by yuko (quarter-point)."

The judoka traded penalties — Otsuka for stalling and Pagurayan for a false attack — to even the match with about a minute left. Pagurayan was penalized for a kick, which put Otsuka head with just 20 seconds left. However, Otsuka was penalized just 10 seconds later for a false attack, which evened the match.

Kikuyama said it was a penalty he can live with.

"I think it was an ill-advised shot, but you also don't want to change your mindset," Kikuyama said. "We always tell the kids if you're up by a (penalty) and there's a little time up on clock, be smart, keep your hands up and move, but i think at the pace it was going at for that match, it had to keep going that way, especially how it came down to the wire and how Andre got his second penalty late in the match. Anything can happen in the last couple seconds."

Ultimately, Otsuka overcame the penalty by throwing Pagurayan with a right tai-otoshi (body drop) for a yuko just before the final buzzer.

"He made that last effort, went in for his throw and caught him for the yuko," Kikuyama said. "It all came down to those last seconds and he got the job done."

Kikuyama said Otsuka has taken his play to another level since the league team championships three weeks ago, where the Trojans made a surprising run to the OIA title match as the Western Division fourth seed.

"Tayler was playing well for us that whole day," Kikuyama said. "He got us 10 points in our first two matches against McKinley and Pearl City, but going into the finals match (against Kapolei), I wasn't too sure what was going to happen, but within the first minute or so of his match against Andre, I think that was the point he kind of turned the corner. It looks like he was setting the pace and being a lot more aggressive out there."

Otsuka is the top-seeded judoka in his weight class at Saturday's Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Championships. Matches will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.


Female Athlete of the Week: Sadie Kapaku-You, Kapolei softball
Kapolei junior pitcher Sadie Kapaku-You has learned over the years that she can't do it all on the diamond, but she certainly tried her best to shoulder the load for the Hurricanes last week.

Kapaku-You was instrumental to Kapolei's run to its first Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I softball title since winning back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005. The Hurricanes won four games in as many days, including one-run wins over defending state champion Campbell and another over two-time league titlist Mililani the following night.

Kapolei, which ascended to No. 1 in this week's ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Softball Power Rankings, was seeded third out of the Western Division despite finishing tied with the Trojans at 9-3 after the regular season. Ultimately, Mililani was awarded the second seed — and a first-round bye in the 12-team OIA tournament — after winning a tiebreaker coin flip.

"That kind of put a bad taste in their mouths to have that kind of a decision be made by a coin flip, but it is what it is," Hurricanes coach Tony Saffery said. "They just put that aside, put that on the shelf and had to just get back to work."

Kapolei cruised to five-inning wins over Kaimuki (12-2) in Wednesday's opening round and Kailua (14-2) in Thursday's quarterfinal round to set up Friday's semifinal showdown against Campbell, a team that had beaten the Hurricanes twice in the regular season.

Kapaku-You drove in two important insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning with a single to the gap that made it a 5-1 lead for Kapolei. Campbell tried to rally with two runs in the bottom of the frame and another in the seventh, but came up short.

"She's done a good job minimizing her pitch count and not trying to strike everybody out," Saffery said. "She's been trusting in her defense to handle the ball and make plays. It's something she's really grown into and has gotten a good handle on."

Saffery said Kapaku-You has matured mentally become a tougher pitcher.

"Last season she would take our errors to heart and she didn't take it out on her teammates, but she just expected out of them like they expect of her," Saffery said. "That was a fair thing to ask of her teammates. It was just how she asked sometimes that bent people the wrong way. At times she wore her emotions on her sleeve, but she's gotten better about that and has learned how to approach that better to get the best out of her teammates and in turn, they want to work harder for her."

Kapaku-You wasn't done after Friday's win, however. She went the distance yet again Saturday and battled Mililani ace Aubree Kim toe-to-toe. She scattered eight hits and all five of the runs she allowed were unearned, but it was with the bat that she made her biggest impact. Kapaku-You belted a grand slam in the top of the fourth that catapulted the Hurricanes ahead.

"The thing about her approach to hitting is she has an all-or-nothing swing and a lot of times she gets caught," Saffery said. "Her last two times up before that she grounded out and popped up, so she changed her approach. She stayed within herself, made a great swing. She didn't try to overawing or muscle the ball. She's really matured at the plate. It was the right pitch and she made the right choice."

Kapaku-You went 4-0 in the pitching circle last week to run her record to 11-3 on the year with an ERA of 1.71. She has allowed 37 runs on 88 hits in 94.0 innings pitched with 42 strikeouts against 21 walks.

At the plate, Kapaku-You went 5 of 14 last week and is now batting .353 with 18 hits and 23 RBI in 51 at-bats on the season.

Kapaku-You and the Hurricanes (13-3) will have a seeded berth and first-round bye in next week's DataHouse/Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Championships at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

BASEBALL
Kingsley Ballao, Maui — Batted 2 for 2 with a double, RBI and three runs scored in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Cole Cabrera, Punahou — Batted 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI in a win over Saint Louis

Josiah Factora, Hilo — Batted 3 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base in a loss to Waiakea

Noah Goss, Punahou — Doubled, walked, drove in a run and struck out five batters in 4 2/3 scoreless innings pitched in a win over Saint Louis

Richard Higa, Pac-Five — Batted 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored in a win over Damien

Joey Jarneski, Hilo — Batted 3 for 4 with a stolen base and two runs scored in a loss to Waiakea

Micah Jio, Maui — Batted 3 for 4 with two triples, five RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Jyrah Lalim, Maui — Batted 3 for 3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Jacob Maekawa, Mid-Pacific — Walked once, scored a run and threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in a win over Punahou

Brandon Miyasato, Pac-Five — Batted 2 for 3 with an RBI, stolen base and a run scored in a win over Damien

Ian Phillips, Saint Francis — Struck out 11, walked two and allowed three runs on three hits in a complete-game win over Pac-Five

Lee Tanaka, Pac-Five — Batted 2 for 2 with an RBI, a run scored and pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts and two runs allowed on four hits in a win over Damien

Keith Torres, Saint Louis — Batted 3 for 3 with a walk and an RBI in a loss to Punahou

Logan Williams, Punahou — Batted 3 for 4 with a triple and a double in a win over Saint Francis


BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Joziah Anakalea, Farrington — Had 21 digs, five aces and one assist in a win over Kaimuki

Isaac Liva, Mililani — Had 15 kills, 10 digs and two block assists in a win over Kahuku and had 21 kills and two block assists in a loss to Moanalua

Zavier Lieb, Mililani — Had 32 assists and seven digs in a win over Kahuku and had 42 assists, eight digs, three aces, three block assists, one block solo and a kill in a loss to Moanalua

Austin Matautia, Moanalua — Had 24 kills, seven digs, three aces and a block assist in a win over Waipahu and had 31 kills, six digs, four block assists, one block solo, one ace and an assist in a win over Mililani

Zach Miyamoto, Moanalua — Had 34 assists, three digs, two kills, two block assists and one solo block in a win over Waipahu and had 51 assists, five digs, four block assists, two aces and a kill in a win over Mililani

Elia Mose, Farrington — Had 11 kills, 10 digs, three aces and a block assist in a win over Kaimuki

Jeminae Solomua, Waipahu — Had 12 kills and six digs in a loss to Moanalua


GIRLS WATER POLO
Taylor Brooks, Roosevelt — Scored five goals in a win over Campbell and scored five goals in a win over Kaiser

Jasmine Charlton, Campbell — Scored four goals in a win over Moanalua

Kylie Iwamoto, Leilehua — Scored four goals in a win over Mililani and scored four goals in a win over Campbell

Charity Lopes, Kalani — Scored four goals in a loss to Kahuku

Nicolle Martinez, Leilehua — Scored four goals in a win over Mililani and scored four goals in a win over Campbell

Lisa Namatame, Kalani — Scored five goals in a win over Waialua

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

Annika Slattery, Kapolei — Scored five goals in a win over Campbell

Camryn Tabiolo, Moanalua — Scored six goals in a loss to Campbell

Izzy Walker, Kahuku — Scored six goals in a win over Kalani

Mailani Wendt, Kapolei — Scored seven goals in a win over Waialua

Lara Yasumi, Kaiser — Scored four goals in a win over Kapolei

Laura Young, Roosevelt — Scored four goals in a win over Campbell


GOLF
Trevor Hirata, Waiakea — Won third consecutive BIIF individual boys championship

Kaley Saludares, Waiakea — Won second consecutive BIIF individual girls championship


JUDO
Teniya Alo, Iolani — Won the girls' 129-pound weight class for her second straight ILH championship

Teshya Alo, Kamehameha — Won the girls' 139-pound weight class for her third ILH championship

Anthony Brett, Kapolei — Won the boys' 132-pound weight class for his second straight OIA championship

Jaclyn Fontanilla, Kamehameha — Won the girls' 154-pound weight class for her fourth straight ILH championship

Amanda Higa, Moanalua — Won the girls' 98-pound weight class for her second straight OIA championship

Macy Higa, Roosevelt — Won the girls' 115-pound weight class for her second straight OIA championship

Sienna Ho, Moanalua — Won the girls' 122-pound weight class for her second OIA championship

Bailey Hoshino, Punahou — Won the girls' 103-pound weight class for her second straight ILH championship

Hilinai Meyer, Kamehameha — Won the girls' 109-pound weight class for her third straight ILH championship

Nicolas Nakaoka, Punahou — Won the boys' 145-pound weight class for his second straight ILH championship

Frances Nosis, Damien — Won the girls' 220-pound weight class for her second straight ILH championship

Landon Obra, Damien — Won the boys' 108-pound weight class for his second straight ILH championship

KJ Pascua, Iolani — Won the boys' 178-pound weight class for his second straight ILH championship

Rodman Salangdron, Kapolei — Won the boys' 161-pound weight class for his second straight OIA championship

Menjam Tamang, Roosevelt — Won the girls' 103-pound weight class for her second straight OIA championship

Micah Tateyama, Kalani — Won the boys' 145-pound weight class for his second straight OIA championship

Lerod Tongi, Kahuku — Won the boys' 220-pound weight class for his second straight OIA championship

Dane Yamashiro, Iolani — Won the boys' 285-pound weight class for his second straight ILH championship


SOFTBALL
Aleia Agbayani, Iolani — Struck out five, walked one and allowed one unearned run on seven hits in a complete game win over Kamehameha

Christel Agtina, Waialua — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored in a loss to Farrington

Skye Ah Yat, Saint Francis — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run, three RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in a loss to Punahou

Seli Aholelei, Kaiser — Struck out eight, walked three and allowed one run on five hits in a complete-game win over Roosevelt

Jocelyn Alo, Campbell — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI in a win over Leilehua

Mahealani Calizo, Leilehua — Batted 2 for 4 with two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in a win over Castle

Kylie Carganilla, Farrington — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, five RBI and three runs scored in a win over Waialua

Logan Carlos, Maryknoll — Batted 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI in a win over Mid-Pacific

Kaipo Castillo, Farrington — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, four RBI and three runs scored in a win over Waialua

Danielle Cervantes, Campbell — Struck out eight, walked none and allowed three runs on six hits in six innings pitched in a win over Leilehua and struck out 10, walked three and allowed one earned run on three hits in a complete-game win over Pearl City

Alana Cobb-Adams, Kamehameha — Batted 2 for 4 with a stolen base in a loss to Iolani and batted 2 for 3 with a walk, two RBI, three stolen bases and two runs scored in a win over Mid-Pacific

Cydney Curran, Campbell — Batted 4 for 4 with a walk, RBI and two runs scored in a win over Leilehua

Jolie Fujita, Punahou — Batted 3 for 5 with three RBI in a win over Saint Francis

Kealaulaikalani Gier, Iolani — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles, two RBI and a stolen base in a win over Kamehameha

Nohea Hee, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, RBI and two runs scored in a win over Punahou

Tamia Hirano, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored in a win over Mid-Pacific

Shaycelynn Hoohuli, Kapolei — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kaimuki

Tyanna Kaaialii, Pearl City — Struck out six, walked two and allowed one run on no hits in four innings pitched in a win over Moanalua and struck out 14, walked two and threw a complete-game no-hitter in a win over Kaiser

Sadie Kapaku-You, Kapolei — Struck out five, walked one and allowed one earned run on five hits in five innings pitched in a win over Kaimuki

Ciena Kauhi, Kapolei — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, RBI, two stolen bases and two runs scored in a win over Kaimuki, batted 2 for 4 with two RBI, a stolen base a run scored in a win over Kailua and batted 2 for 3 with two runs scored in a win over Mililani

Kolbee Kealoha, Saint Francis — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in a win over Sacred Hearts

Aubree Kim, Mililani — Struck out 10, walked one and allowed one hit in five scoreless innings pitched in a win over Roosevelt and struck out nine, walked five and allowed three hits in a complete-game shutout win over Pearl City

Kamalei Labasan, Maryknoll — Batted 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a stolen base in a win over Mid-Pacific

Brandi Leong, Leilehua — Batted 5 for 7 with a home run, double, two RBI and four runs scored in a win over Kailua

Chelsea Lobitos, Leilehua — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Castle

Robi Lono, Kailua — Batted 4 for 6 with three doubles, a walk and four runs scored in a loss to Leilehua

Korrie Matsumura, Saint Francis — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored in a loss to Punahou

Kahilu McNicoll, Maryknoll — Struck out eight, walked three and did not allow a hit in six innings in a win over Mid-Pacific and struck out four, walked two and allowed four hits in a complete-game shutout win over Punahou

Tayzha Meyers, Kapolei — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and three runs scored in a win over Kaimuki

Staisa Micky, Leilehua — Batted 4 for 5 with a run scored and a stolen base in a win over Kailua

Elyse Nakamoto, Punahou — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run, walk, stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Saint Francis

Maya Nakamura, Roosevelt — Batted 4 for 4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base in a win over Waianae

Darian Obara, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBI in a win over Kaiser

Chardonnay Pantastico, Campbell — Batted 3 for 4 with an RBI, three stolen bases and two runs scored in a win over Pearl City

Laugatausala Pedebone, Kapolei — Batted 2 for 4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored in a win over Kaimuki

Dallas Pollard-Brownell, Kapolei — Batted 3 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored in a win over Kailua

Merilis Rivera, Mililani — Batted 2 for 2 with a walk and two RBI in a win over Roosevelt and batted 2 for 3 with two RBI and a stolen base in a win over Pearl City

Darien Robinson, Campbell — Batted 3 for 4 with two runs scored in a win over Leilehua

Kayla Russell, Kaiser — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk and four RBI in a win over Roosevelt

D'Asha Saiki, Punahou — Batted 3 for 3 with a double, walk, RBI and four runs scored in a win over Saint Francis

Ashley Salausa, Leilehua — Batted 2 for 4 with two home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored in a win over Castle

Kamalei Santiago, Waianae — Batted 2 for 5 with a home run, double, four RBI and two runs scored in a loss to Roosevelt

Shaye Simms, Saint Francis — Batted 3 for 3 with a double, walk, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Sacred Hearts

Bree Soma, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 3 with a walk, RBI and a run scored in a win over Mid-Pacific

Kylie Tasaki, Pearl City — Batted 3 for 4 with two RBI and a stolen base in a win over Moanalua

Keri Togami, Mililani — Batted 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored in a win over Roosevelt

Brazzlyn Tovio-Asato, Pac-Five — Hit a home run, drove in two runs, walked once and scored twice in a win over Sacred Hearts and batted 3 for 3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Iolani

Poamai Tuli, Aiea — Batted 3 for 3 with an RBI in a loss to Nanakuli

Paiaala Wilcox-Molina, Waianae — Batted 3 for 3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored in a loss to Roosevelt

Delcie Williams, Kailua — Batted 4 for 7 with a walk, Rbi and two runs scored in a loss to Leilehua

Heaven Wong, Punahou — Batted 3 for 5 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and four runs scored in a win over Saint Francis

D-Dre Wright, Roosevelt — Batted 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI in a win over Waianae

Karley Ann Yoshioka, Pac-Five — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored in a win over Sacred Hearts and batted 2 for 2 with two home runs, two walks, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over Iolani

Megan Yoshioka, Pac-Five — Struck out three, walked one and allowed one earned run on seven hits in a complete game win over Sacred Hearts

Shayla Young, Castle — Batted 3 for 3 with a triple and a run scored in a loss to Leilehua


TRACK & FIELD
Christhena Edwards, Leilehua — Won the girls' 100-meter hurdles in a time of 15.40 seconds and the 300-meter hurdles in 46.78 seconds at the OIA championships

Tommi Hintnaus, Kaiser — Won the girls' pole vault with a mark of 10 feet, 6 inches and the long jump with a mark of 16 feet, 5 3/4 inches at the OIA championships

Jonah Jessop, Campbell — Won the boys' 110-meter hurdles in a time of 14.85 seconds and 300-meter hurdles in 39.45 seconds at the OIA championships

Brooke Michaels, Radford — Won the girls 800-meter run in a time of two minutes, 25.19 seconds and the 1,500-meter run in 4:54.09 at the OIA championships

Kristen O'Handley, Kaiser — Won the girls' 200-meter dash in a time of 25.45 seconds, the 400-meter dash in 58.67 seconds and the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 2 inches at the OIA championships

Corey Smith, Campbell — Won the boys 100-meter dash in a time of 11.09 seconds and the 200-meter dash in 22.16 seconds at the OIA championships

Sione Vea, Kalani — Won the boys' discus throw with a mark of 165 feet, 11 inches and the shot put with a mark of 49 feet at the OIA championships

Jordan Williams, Waipahu — Won the boys' triple jump with a mark of 43 feet, 11 inches and the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 7 3/4 inches at the OIA championships



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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