Hawaiian Electric Game of the Week
Na Alii, Saints to tussle for D2 softball crown




A pair of league champions will duke it out for all the marbles in the title game of the DataHouse/HHSAA Division II State Championships Saturday night.

Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Saint Francis, the lone D2 team in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, will face Oahu Interscholastic Association titlist Aiea at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Saints (10-5) went unseeded in the 12-team tournament, but only because it is the only D2 team in the ILH. They were put to the test via a rigorous regular-season schedule that pitted them against only Division I teams.

"Every year we do that. It's about being part of the ILH as a D2 team," Saint Francis coach Randy Langsi said. "We don't look at it as D1 or D2; we try to be as competitive as possible regardless. We've been preparing that way so that when we get to states, that we just stay consistent and competitive all the way through."

Saint Francis has won its last four games, including three state tournaments games. It opened the week with a 10-0 win over Kalani in Wednesday's first round and followed that up with an 11-1 win over fourth-seeded Molokai in Thursday's quarterfinals. Both games ended after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

The Saints made easy work of top-seeded Kamehameha-Hawaii in Friday's semifinal round. They posted 11 hits in the 9-0 win over the Warriors.

"Recently we've been successful I think mixing things up, seeing the ball better and just making contact," Langsi said. "At times we were impatient, but we're getting better at that."

No Saint Francis player has swung the bat more effectively than Joerdan Lovell. The senior right fielder is batting a cool .500 on the season with 23 hits, and 15 runs scored. Junior third baseman Sammie Ofoia isn't far behind, sporting a .410 average with 16 hits, 20 RBI and 14 runs scored. Two of her five home runs on the season came in Wednesday's win over the Falcons, when she batted 4 for 4 with six RBI and three runs scored.

As a team, the Saints are batting .345, tied for the fifth-best mark in D2 statewide.

"Saint Francis is a tough team," Aiea coach Alan Higuchi said. We've seen them play throughout the year in both preseason tournaments and the regular season. They had a good record against the ILH Division I teams, so they're going to be a tough draw."

Higuchi's squad isn't exactly short on offense either.

Na Alii (15-0) — the lone remaining undefeated team in the state regardless of division — ranks fourth in team batting average at .373.

Individually, senior shortstop Chantelle Shimabukuro leads the state with a blistering hot .684 batting average. She has hit safely in 10 games this season, including three four-hit efforts. Shimabukuro, who has 26 hits, 14 RBI and 25 runs scored on the season, is 5 for 8 through Aiea's first two games of the state tournament.

Aiea had a first-round bye Wednesday before defeating Kohala, 7-3, in Thursday's quarterfinals, and third-seeded Kapaa, 10-4, in Friday's semifinals.

In their two state-tournament games, Na Alii have rapped out 25 hits, but committed eight errors — including five against the Warriors. They will be trying for their first state championship in school history. It will mark their first appearance in a state final since 2015, when they lost to Nanakuli.

"This feeling is amazing. We've been through a lot with each other and being in this position right now in the state tournament is really good for our team," said Aiea senior catcher Testimoni Tavale, who had a three-run home run Friday. "It's looking good for us."

Saint Francis is seeking its first state title since 2005 and just its second overall.

Sophomore second baseman Kaena Keliinoi said the team hopes to match the Saints' boys basketball team, which captured the D2 state championship in February.

"Our basketball team is doing good, so the girls have to make a statement, too. We just have to show everyone that Saint Francis is here and we're from the ILH."

Saturday's probable pitchers are senior left-hander Poamai Tuli (11-0, 0.88 ERA) for Aiea and sophomore right-hander Kailee Mahelona (5-1, 3.70) for Saint Francis.

First pitch between Na Alii and the Saints is scheduled for approximately 4:37 p.m.

ScoringLive reporter Michael Lasquero contributed to this report.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


MORE STORIES

Pearl City ends Kaiser's season with playoff road victory

The Chargers rapped out nine runs on 14 hits, capped by Jayson Au Hoy's three-run home run in the top...

Shinagawa's catch spurred Cougars in OIA East finale; Painter continues producing for unbeaten Bears

The Kaiser junior centerfielder made a pivotal highlight-reel grab against Kailua Saturday, while the...

Campbell scores 11 runs in opening frame in rout of Leilehua

Ismael Diaz delivered a pair of two-RBI doubles as part of a 29-minute top of the first inning for the...

Kaiser improves playoff seeding with win over No. 7 Kailua to close out regular season

The Cougars plated a season-high 16 runs Saturday night to end the Surfriders' 10-game win streak and...

Roosevelt walks off Moanalua to lock up second seed in OIA East

Bryson Rubio's line drive single scored Tai Pham from second for the game winning run in the Rough Riders'...

Kohala's Kauka repeats as All-Hawaii Division II POY

Sophomore Layden Kauka led the Cowboys to a second straight state title, averaging 15.7 ppg in league...