Iolani's Christian Donahue batted 5 for 8 with six RBIs in a pair of ILH postseason games. Evan Asato | SL

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Mililani's Aubree Kim struck out a total of 40 batters in three wins last week to help the Trojans win its first OIA Red softball championship since 2010. Evan Asato | SL

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Male Athlete of the Week: Christian Donahue, Iolani baseball
Even the best athletes could use a boost of confidence every so often. Christian Donahue, a senior shortstop on the Iolani baseball team, is regarded as one of the top players in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu — if not the state — but struggled at times earlier this season.

Donahue, who signed with Oregon State before the start of his senior season, turned it around last week by going 5 for 8 with six RBIs in a pair of games. 

"He was excited, very excited, and I think it was a huge booster for his confidence," Raiders' coach Brent Shimokawa said. "When you're not as successful as you think you should be, at times you start to question yourself, but he's very resilient and just keeps plugging away, swinging the bat and believing in himself that hopefully good things are going to happen."

Four of Donahue's five base hits last week went for extra bases, including a pair of triples against rival Punahou Friday. Donahue batted 3 for 4 in that game (his other hit was a double) with five RBIs and two runs scored in the 8-5 win over the Buffanblu. The follow day, Donahue went 2 for 4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored in a 10-6 loss to second-ranked Saint Louis.

"He's just a very good baseball player who rises to the occassion," Shimokawa said. "The better the pitching, the better he plays. The harder they throw, the better he does. He's a big-game player with a lot of upside and potential at the next level."

Shimokawa said Donahue was a little overeager earlier in the season when the hits weren't coming as frequently.

"He was missing some pitches, he'd hit a few hard but right at people so it was a little bit of a rough year for him early on," Shimokawa said. "I think the expectations for him as so high that he was probably trying to do too much to help the team. All he can do is stick to the process and I think he realized that he had to stay within himself and eventually things fell into place."

Then there was the attention Donahue has been receiving from Major League scouts leading up to June's MLB First-Year Player Draft.

"Most of our season there's been lots of scouts coming to look at him or (Saint Louis pitcher Jordan) Yamamoto or (Punahou catcher) KJ (Harrison), so it's been a little bit of a distraction, but being young men, they can't help but be aware of that," Shimokawa said. "Always in the back of any kid's mind, they're hopeful of getting drafted, so it probably did affect him in a small manner, but not in a big manner. He managed himself and his attitude extremely well."

Shimokawa said with Donahue's prowess on the field, it's only natural that his teammates look up to him.

"He's a player that everybody looks up to because of his talent," Shimokawa said. "They feed off his emotions and the team always gravitates toward him. He's been a great player for the better part of three or four seasons for us now, so we definitely ride his momentum, which is big, because it's easier for everyone to follow him."

Away from the diamond however, Shimokawa describes Donahue as any other teenager.

"He's a quiet guy off the field with a very dry sense of humor and he's rascal like most young men, but it's all in good-natured fun," Shimokawa said. "He's a good friend to a lot of his teammates and a likeable kid. I think that's what makes him so popular."

Donahue and the Raiders return to the field Tuesday afternoon in an ILH tournament elimination game against Kamehameha.

"I don't wnt to jinx ourselves, but we're a good tournament team and we have some good big-game players," Shimokawa said. "We do see an opportunity so we just need to take care of business. We feel rejuvenated and the kids are excited. This feels like a second life for us, so we're fired up."

First pitch between the Raiders and Warriors is set for 3:45 p.m. at Mid-Pacific's Damon Field.

Female Athlete of the Week: Aubree Kim, Mililani softball
As the games got bigger, Aubree Kim stepped up her effort in the pitching circle.

The sophomore right-hander struck out a total of 40 batters in three wins last week to help Mililani to its first Oahu Interscholastic Association Red softball championship since 2010 and the ninth in school history.

"She came out hard all three days," Trojans' coach Rose Antonio said of Kim, her ace pitcher. "She was hitting her spots and mixing it up well and that helped us a lot."

Kim struck out 14 batters in a quarterfinal win over Leilehua Thursday, followed that up with 13 punchouts against Campbell in a semifinal victory Friday and capped her week by fanning 13 more in Saturday's win over Waianae in the tournament final.

"My pitching coach calls the pitches and he mixes it up very well and kept batters off balance," Antonio said. "Aubree did her part by hitting her spots and they were chasing her pitches that were out of the zone. She also got out of some clutch situations this past week. She's unreal."

The Trojans, who entered the tournament as the top seed out of the Red West, got complete games from Kim in each contest. She allowed just one run on seven hits in their first two games before being touched up for seven runs on 10 hits by Waianae in the title game. Kim has recorded double-digit strikeouts in eight of Mililani's 15 games this season and had not allowed more than three runs in a single game until Saturday.

"We have a lot of confidence in Aubree," Antonio said. "Sometimes she's very hard on herself if things don't work out in her favor, but she's been doing a great job for us all year."

Antonio is grateful her squad is relatively healthy this postseason after being without several players this time last year due to various injuries. Kim was among the walking wounded last season when she suffered a concussion due to a batted ball that struck her in the face. She was forced to wear a mask for much of the latter part of her freshman year and has been using a mouthpiece this season.

"She hates that mask," Antonio said of Kim. "She had to use it in the state tournament last year and she didn't really like it, but this year as a team, we're all healthy, including Aubree, and that's huge for us."

Part of Kim's success can be traced to her batterymate, Markie Okamoto.

"They have great chemistry and they seem to work well together," Antonio said Kim and Okamoto. "Aubree likes throwing to Markie and Markie works hard behind there, she has the whole season."

With just two weeks remaining in the season, Antonio is pleased with where her team is positioned.

"The OIA tournament was a great experience for them, like I hoped, and I'm very proud of them how they responded and how they played this weekend," Antonio said. "That was a great tournament that they played and I couldn't ask for anything more, they really executed well."

Kim and the Trojans have the week off before heading into next week's Data House/Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Tournament. They will have a first-round bye as one of the four league champions in the field.

"I think (the bye) will help us a lot, being that Aubree throws a lot of pitches," Antonio said. "I don't know how many pitches she threw on Thursday, but Friday and Saturday she threw 130-plus pitches, so I think going on three days really helps."

The 12-team state tournament runs from May 6 to 9 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

BASEBALL
Jedd Andrade, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 4 with a walk and a run scored in a 6-5 win over Pac-Five West Saturday

Blayze Arcano-Llacuna, Campbell — Batted 2 for 2 with two RBIs in a 5-3 loss to Leilehua Saturday

Caleb Duhay, Iolani — Batted 3 for 3 with a walk and an RBI in an 8-5 win over Punahou Friday

Dylan Flores, Damien — Batted 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored in an 11-5 win over Saint Francis

Joshua Muneno, Maryknoll — Struck out seven, walked none and allowed two hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief in a 6-5 win over Pac-Five West Saturday

Michael Nishiki, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 4 with a run scored in a 6-5 win over Pac-Five West Saturday

Myles Okamura, Damien — Batted 3 for 5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in an 11-5 win over Saint Francis Saturday

Jonah Paas, Leilehua — Batted 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored in a 5-3 win over Campbell Tuesday

Kainalu Pitoy, Roosevelt — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs in a 6-5 win over Moanalua Tuesday

Brayton Sakai, Moanalua — Batted 3 for 3 in a 6-5 loss to Roosevelt Tuesday

Noah Shackles, Mid-Pacific — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in a 3-1 win over Kamehameha Saturday

Dustin Tsukano, Roosevelt — Batted 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored in a 6-5 win over Moanalua Tuesday

Chase Wago, Mid-Pacific — Struck out five, walked two and allowed one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched in a 3-1 win over Kamehameha Saturday

Jacob White, Saint Louis — Batted 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored in a 10-6 win over Iolani Saturday

Pikai Winchester, Iolani — Batted 4 for 4 with a triple and three RBIs Saturday in a 10-6 loss to Saint Louis Saturday

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Skylan Engleman, Moanalua — Had 44 assists in a four-set win over Leilehua Thursday

Adrian Faitalia, Saint Louis — Had 19 kills in a three-set loss to Kamehameha Monday

Kaehu Kaaa, Kamehameha — Had 21 kills in a three-set win over Saint Louis Monday and 18 kills in a four-set loss to Punahou Tuesday

Austin Matautia, Moanalua — Had 15 kills in a four-set win over Leilehua Thursday

Larry Tuileta, Punahou — Had 14 kills with 14 digs in a four-set win over Kamehameha Tuesday

GIRLS WATER POLO
Taylor Ganeko, Pearl City — Scored five goals in a 10-9 loss to Leilehua Friday

Kiana Harpstrite, Iolani — Scored four goals in a 7-3 win over Le Jardin Tuesday

Leilani Herrera, Kapolei — Scored five goals in an 8-4 win over Kaiser Saturday

Kahea Kahaulelio, Kahuku — Scored four goals in a 10-3 win over Kaiser Friday

Nohea Kahaulelio, Kahuku — Scored four goals in an 11-6 win over Mililani Saturday

Kacey Kuchenbecker, Le Jardin — Scored five goals in a 13-2 win over Pac-Five Thursday

Ashley Morea, Mililani — Scored four goals in an 11-3 win over Leilehua Thursday

Corrine Shigeta, Kaiser — Scored four goals in an 8-4 win over Roosevelt Thursday

Chiemi Trias, Pearl City — Scored four goals in a 10-9 loss to Leilehua Friday

Chloe Vidal, Leilehua — Scored four goals in a 7-5 win over Kalani Tuesday and four goals in a 10-9 win over Pearl City Friday

Mailani Wendt, Kapolei — Scored four goals in a 13-2 win over Pearl City Thursday

Joanna Wong, Roosevelt — Scored four goals in a 7-3 win over Kalani Friday

SOFTBALL
Christel Agtina, Waialua — Batted 4 for 5 with a home run, three RBIs and four runs scored in a 19-15 win over Farrington Thursday

Kaili Ann Akimseu, Mid-Pacific — Struck out five, walked none and allowed four hits in a complete game in a 6-0 win over Punahou Tuesday and tossed a complete-game in a 6-2 win over Maryknoll Thursday

Nashlynn Anguay, Campbell — Batted 5 for 5 with a triple and three runs scored in an 11-10 win over Moanalua Saturday

Chenoa Au, Leilehua — Batted 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored in a 13-3 win over Kailua Wednesday

Tori-Anne Baysa, Mililani — Batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored in a 9-7 win over Waianae Saturday

Mahealani Calizo, Leilehua — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, two RBIs, a walk and two runs scored in an 8-4 loss to Pearl City Saturday

Tiana Cantero-Kawelo, Leilehua — Batted 3 for 3 with a triple and four RBIs in a 13-3 win over Kailua Wednesday and batted 3 for 4 with an RBI in an 8-4 loss to Pearl City Saturday

Tiana Ching-Lake, Kaiser — Batted 3 for 4 in a 9-7 loss to Leilehua Friday

Cydney Curran, Campbell — Doubled, tripled, drove in four runs and scored three times in an 11-10 win over Moanalua Saturday

Justine Fabella, Mililani — Doubled, tripled, drove in three runs and scored a run in a 9-7 win over Waianae Saturday

Elisa Favela, Campbell — Batted 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a walk and tossed a five-inning two-hitter in a 17-1 win over Kahuku Wednesday and struck out four, walked none and tossed a six-inning two-hitter in an 11-0 win over Kaiser Thursday

Kristin Frost, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run and tossed a two-hitter in a 6-0 win over Castle Wednesday

J. Galinato, McKinley — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, five RBIs and a run scored in a 21-2 win over Waialua Saturday

Naomi Hernandez, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 4 with two RBIs in a 6-0 win over Castle Wednesday

Shaycelynn Ho'ohuli, Kapolei — Batted 3 for 4, stole a base and scored twice in a 6-3 win over Roosevelt Wednesday

Kawehi Kahana, Campbell — Batted 3 for 4 with a triple, double and scored a run in an 11-0 win over Kaiser thursday

Makamae Kaleikini, Moanalua — Batted 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in a 6-2 win over Kapolei Thursday, batted 4 for 4 with two home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored in a 12-11 loss to Waianae Friday and batted 4 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs in an 11-10 loss to Campbell Saturday

Cranci Kamaka, Waianae — Struck out seven, walked two and tossed a complete-game two-hitter in a 3-0 win over Pearl City Thursday

Robi Kami, Pearl City – Batted 2 for 5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored in an 8-4 win over Leilehua Friday

Grace Kapesi, McKinley — Had two triples, an RBI and scored three times in a 16-6 win over Kalaheo Thursday and batted 2 for 2 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored in a 21-2 win over Waialua Saturday

Shawn Kauwalu, Waialua — Batted 4 for 4 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored in a 19-15 win over Farrington

Chyanne Koko, Nanakuli — Doubled, tripled, drove in two runs, scored twice and allowed three hits in four innings in a 10-0 win over McKinley Friday

Nicole Lopez, Mid-Pacific — Hit a home run, drove in three runs, drew a walk and scored twice in a 6-0 win over Punahou Tuesday

Katelyn Mahelona, Kamehameha — Batted 2 for 2 with a three-run home run in a 6-3 win over Mid-Pacific Saturday

Sierra Mariano, Campbell — Tripled, homered and drive in three runs in a 17-1 win over Kahuku Wednesday

Shanaye Mattson, Leilehua — Drove in three runs in a 13-3 win over Kailua Wednesday

Lindsey Matoi, Mid-Pacific — Tripled, drove in four runs and scored a run in a 6-2 win over Maryknoll Thursday

Caragh Morris, Campbell — Batted 4 for 4 with a home run, two triples, five RBIs and scored twice in an 11-0 win over Kaiser Thursday

Rachel Ogasawara, Kamehameha — Batted 3 for 5 with an RBI in a 12-3 win over Sacred Hearts Tuesday

Alexis Paulo-Meyers — Hit three home runs and drove in seven runs in a 10-0 win over McKinley Friday and batted 2 for 4 with a home run, three RBIs, scored a run and stole a base in a 10-5 win over Aiea Saturday

Kayla Pedebone, Kapolei — Struck out 13, walked none and allowed four hits in a complete game in a 6-3 win over Roosevelt Wednesday

Ashley Salausa, Leilehua — Batted 3 for 4 in a 9-7 win over Kaiser Friday and batted 3 for 3 with a walk in an 8-4 loss to Pearl City Saturday

Nue Sivia, Waianae — Batted 3 for 4 with a triple, double, two RBIs and a run scored in a 9-7 loss to Mililani Saturday

Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Aiea — Batted 5 for 5 with a home run, triple and was the winning pitcher in a 26-1 win over Waialua Friday

Lauren Tauanu'u, Waianae — Homered, doubled, drove in four runs, scored three times and drew a walk in a 12-11 win over Moanalua Friday

Keri Togami, Mililani — Drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh in a 1-0 win over Campbell Friday

Leisha Yamauchi, Moanalua — Batted 3 for 5 with a triple and three RBIs in an 11-10 loss to Campbell Saturday

TRACK & FIELD
Rihei Grothmann, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 40.47 seconds and the triple jump with a mark of 41 feet, 1.5 inches at a BIIF meet Saturday

Feke Kioa, Kealakehe — Won the shot put event with a mark of 49 feet, 11 inches and the discus with 141 feet at a BIIF meet Saturday

Emma Taylor, Hawaii Prep — Won the girls' 100-meter hurdles in a time of 15.18 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 45.40 seconds at a BIIF meet Saturday

Kristiana Van Pernis, Hawaii Prep — Won the girls' 1,500-meter run in a time of five minutes, 2.05 seconds and the 3,000 in 10:54.20 at a BIIF meet Saturday

Luca Vartic, Konawaena — Won the boys' 100-meter dash in a time of 11.20 seconds and the 200 in 23.01 seconds at a BIIF meet Saturday