The Surfriders' junior and Rough Riders' senior hit home runs in multiple games last week. CJ Caraang | SL

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Male Athlete of the Week: Jalen Ah Yat, Kailua baseball
Jalen Ah Yat put the state on red alert last week.

The Kailua junior pounded a pair of grand slams in critical moments to help the Surfriders beat Roosevelt and Kaiser to close the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I East regular season. 

With its wins over the Rough Riders and Cougars, Kailua (10-2) also clinched a first round bye and the East's top seed in the league's upcoming 12-team D1 playoffs, which begins Wednesday.

Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said Ah Yat's strong week was a culmination of several factors.

One of the major adjustments that Ah Yat has been working on was in his swing. Ishigo said lowering Ah Yat's bat angle and pulling down his swing helped Ah Yat performed the way he did.

"Jalen is very capable of hitting," said Ishigo. "He's a much better hitter than what his numbers are showing for sure. We just had to work on his wing, and once he did that, I felt comfortable. He wasn't batting third for a lot of the season because his swing path was not where it should have been."

Prior to the two games last week, Ah Yat had just seven hits in 29 at bats. Ishigo said that once Ah Yat knew he wasn't performing as well as he wanted to, Ah Yat was eager to make adjustments.

"He understood that he was struggling, that's why his number isn't as good as it should be. Once he recognized that he had to change, it was a pretty quick fix. He's really coachable."

Ah Yat went 5-for-7 and racked up nine RBIs in wins over the Rough Riders and Cougars last week. His nine RBIs also gave him 23 for the season, which leads the state.

Another thing that helped Ah Yat was that he was finally at a 100 percent. Ah Yat, who earned All-OIA D1 East First Team honors as a first baseman last year, spent majority of the season as a designated hitter as he rehabbed a sore back. Last week against Roosevelt and Kaiser, Ah Yat was able to get the start at first base.

"He's ready to go now," said Ishigo.

When Kailua played Roosevelt last Wednesday, both teams struggled to score early as the game was 0-0 after the first four innings.

The Surfriders were able to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth and score the go-ahead run, but the game truly shifted  in their favor when Ah Yat came up to bat. The Kailua junior had a bases-clearing home run to give Kailua a 5-0 lead as the Surfriders went on to win 10-0 in six innings.

"I think once we got some runs, our team played a little looser," Ishigo said about his team's win over Roosevelt. "That was huge for us to get some runs on the board, and Jalen, he's the guy."

Ah Yat's second grand slam of the week was the very definition of clutch. The Cougars, who handed Kailua its first loss of the season, were engaged in a dogfight with the Surfriders last Friday that needed extra innings to determine the victor.

Kaiser took the lead in the top of the 10th inning, but Ah Yat was able to hit a walk-off grand slam over the right-center fence to give Kailua a 5-2 victory.

"It was exciting," said Ishigo. "It was a tough thing for us, but we battled and we did what we had to do. It was good to see us get back when we're down a run in the bottom half."

Ah Yat and the Surfriders will host the winner between Leilehua and Castle on Thursday at 3:00 p.m.

Female Athlete of the Week: Mari Foster, Roosevelt softball
Mari Foster has been sending yellow balls on a one-way trip over the fence lately.

The Roosevelt senior hit three total home runs in five-inning wins over Farrington and Kaiser last week to help the Rough Riders improve to 11-1 with their sixth straight win.

Roosevelt also avenged its only loss of the season with its 8-4 win over the Cougars. This gave the Rough Riders the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I East's top seed in the league playoffs, which start next Wednesday.

After her strong week, Foster's total stats read 21 hits in 33 at bats with 29 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

"She's been seeing the ball good, and her stats show it," Roosevelt coach Kris Fujii-Dias said of Foster.

Foster's home run against Kaiser came at a key moment last Saturday. Roosevelt led 2-0 after the first inning, but the Cougars came right back with two runs of their own in the top of the third.

With the game tied, Foster led off the bottom of the frame with a solo home run, igniting a five-run inning for the Rough Riders as they took a firm 7-2 lead after three innings. The margin was critical as inclement weather ultimately gave Roosevelt the win in a shortened game.

"The game was kind of going back-and-forth, we went ahead, and then (there was) that mistake pitch, but the fact that very (same) inning when Mari comes up and she's able to do what she did…we weren't expecting a home run, but the fact that she hit a home run was a huge momentum shift and the game went right back in our favor," Fujii-Dias said.

Fujii-Dias added that Foster hasn't made any technical changes to her swing, but is more relaxed in the batter's box.

"I think she's starting to realize that this is her last year, so she's really kind of just enjoying it, enjoying every moment of it and just having fun out there, and that's all we can really ask of her."

Foster, who plays girls volleyball and basketball during the year, has also been an effective left fielder for the Rough Riders.

"For her being able to juggle three sports, it just says a lot to who she is and how hard she works," said Fujii-Dias. "She's very athletic so she kind of fit in naturally in the outfield. She makes it deceiving because when you look at her, she doesn't look as fas as she might be, but she really covers a lot of ground. She'll hold runners on a long single or even cut that double down so they can't be aggressive for a triple."

Foster and the Rough Riders will host the winner between Castle, the East's fifth seed, and either Pearl City or Mililani next Thursday.

BASEBALL
Kaleo Akiona, Waianae — Had a triple, double, an RBI and scored a run in a win over Kaimuki

Kolu Alani, Konawaena — Drove in three runs and scored another in a win over Kohala

Zach Alcos, Saint Francis — Homered and drove in three runs in a loss to Kamehameha

Braiden Ayala, Waianae — Scored two runs and drove in two more with a double and triple in a win over McKinley

Bryson Ballesteros, Kailua — Had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice in a win over Roosevelt

Mikito Barkman, Maui — Went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and two runs in a loss to Lahainaluna

Kahi Bisho, Punahou — Threw 11 strikeouts and allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings in a win over Maryknoll

Kaimana Cameron, Damien — Drove in two runs and scored two more in a win over Kamehameha

Chasen Castilliano, Farrington — Batted 3-for-4 with two triples and four RBIs while scoring two runs in a win over Nanakuli

Michael China, Mid-Pacific — Pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts while allowing just three hits and one unearned run

Roy Clemons-Dias, Campbell — Had a triple and drove in five runs and scored another in a win over Aiea

Jarin Correa, KS-Maui — Batted 2-for-3 with an RBI in a win over Baldwin

Austin Dela Cruz, Mililani — Hit a two-run homer in his only at bat in a win over Kapolei

Jack Dillon, Radford — Had a triple and pitched a complete game in a win over Nanakuli

Jordan Donahue, Damien — Had two hits, scored three times and stole a base in a loss to Punahou and went 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base in a win over Kamehameha

Cade Fernandez, Moanalua — Drove in four runs and picked up the win on the mound in a win over Castle

Chris Fernandez, Nanakuli — Went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored a run in a loss to Farrington

Teva Foster, Waianae — Batted 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and scored two runs in a win over Kaimuki

Jordan Hara, Iolani — Batted 2-for-2 with three RBIs and one triple while scoring two runs in a win over Saint Francis

Kalae Harrison, Punahou — Had three hits, including a double, and drove in one run while scoring another in a win over Maryknoll and had three hits and scored two runs in a win over Damien

Brycin Herrera, Mililani — Drove in four runs and scored two more while going 2-for-2 at the plate with a triple

Bubba Hoopii-Tuionetoa, Baldwin — Fired a one-hitter with nine strikeouts in a complete game effort in a win over KS-Maui

Matthew Inaba, Iolani — Scored three runs and batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a double in a win over Saint Louis

Codey Isa, Moanalua — Went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs with an RBI in a win over Castle

Kamuookalani Kanaha, Lahainaluna — Batted 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs while scoring one run in a win over Maui

Micah Kaohu, Mililani — Drove in two runs and went 2-for-2 at the plate with a double in a win over Aiea

Kade Kaupiko, Castle — Batted 2-for-3 with a triple and scored a run while driving in another in a loss to Moanalua

Konan Keliikoa, Waianae — Had a triple and three RBIs and pitched a scoreless inning in relief in a win over McKinley

Eduardo Kho, McKinley — Drove in three runs with a double in his only at bat in a loss to Waianae

Pomai Kim, Damien — Drove in four runs and had a home run in a loss to Punahou

Joshua Lee, Waipahu — Went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and three runs scored in a loss to Leilehua

Charles Lopez III, Saint Louis — Batted 3-for-3 and scored twice in a win over Hanalani and went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and two runs scored in a win over Mid-Pacific

Kaimi Malina, Kapaa — Earned the save and batted 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in a win over Waimea

Kai Matsumoto, Kalani — Hit a two-run homer in a win over Castle

Reese Mondina, Waiakea — Batted 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two RBIs and two runs in a win over Hilo

David Nakamura, Waiakea — Threw 10 strikeouts and allowed just three hits and one run in six innings of work while driving in a run in a win over KS-Hawaii and went 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored in a win over Hilo

Zachary Palipti, Campbell — Had two doubles and scored two runs in a win over Aiea

Stone Parker, Kailua — Fanned nine and scattered five hits in a six-inning win over Roosevelt

Hunter Peneueta, Saint Louis — Batted 3-for-4 with an RBI in a win over Hanalani

Kody Pilor, Farrington — Pounded a three-run home run in a win over Nanakuli

Kalai Rosario, Waiakea — Batted 2-for-2 on two doubles and drove in three runs while scoring two more in a win over Hilo

Raven Ruiz, Maui — Went the distance on the mound in a nine-inning win over Lahainaluna

Bryson Sato, Moanalua — Had two hits, including a triple, and scored two times in a win over Castle

Jonny Shimabukuro, Kamehameha — Drove in four runs and batted 3-for-3 at the plate in a loss to Damien

Iokepa Supnet, KS-Maui — Batted 2-for-3 and scored a run in a win over Baldwin

Kirk Terada-Herzer, Punahou — Went 2-for-2 at the plate and had two RBIs and scored a run in a win over Maryknoll and batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run in a win over Damien

Noah Tory, Saint Louis — Homered and drove in three runs in a win over Mid-Pacific

Travis Toyama, Kalani — Batted 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and scored two runs in a win over Castle

Jake Tsukada, Punahou — Had a double, brought home three runs and scored two more in a win over Maryknoll

Jett Uechi, Mid-Pacific — Brought in three runs on a triple in a win over Hanalani

Tyler Watanabe, Waipahu — Drove in three runs with a double in loss to Leilehua

Casey Yamauchi, Waiakea — Pitched an inning of scoreless relief and had four hits at the plate

Cade Yonamine, Iolani — Batted 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs in a win over Saint Louis and went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBIs while scoring runs in a win over Saint Francis

Caleb Young, Pearl City — Drove in four runs and went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double in a win over Waipahu

Wyatt Young, Mid-Pacific — Batted 3-for-3 with three runs scored, an RBI and a double in a loss to Saint Louis

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Austen Anduha, Castle — Recorded 17 digs and two assists in a three-set win over Kaimuki

Blaze Kahikina, Waianae — Put down 11 kills and an ace in a sweep of Aiea

Cameron Kalaukoa, Kalaheo — Recorded 22 assists with an ace and a kill in a three-set win over Roosevelt

Jayden Matsumoto, Castle — Dished out 16 assists with six kills and four digs in a three-set win over Kaimuki

Ken Naisher, Kaimuki — Recorded 10 kills with six digs in a three-set loss to Castle

Kalai Skeele, Kaiser — Dished out 27 assists with an ace and block assist in a three-set win over Farrington

Jon Stanley, Kaiser — Put down 14 kills with three block assists in a three-set win over Farrington

Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Pearl City — Had 13 kills in a straight set win over Campbell

Liam York, Kalaheo — Put down 11 kills with five digs, two aces and two block assists in a three-set win over Roosevelt

GIRLS WATER POLO
Rebecca Buenrostro-Gallimore, Baldwin — Recorded three goals in a win over King Kekaulike

Ava Countryman, Kahuku — Notched five goals in a win over Moanalua and five more in a win over Roosevelt

Lauren Croll, Roosevelt — Scored five goals in a win over Kalani

Dakota Delos-Reyes, Lahainaluna — Notched three goals in a loss to Baldwin

Taylor Dinsmore-Nassar, Leilehua — Recorded four goals in a win over Waialua and four more in a win over Mililani

Jacsen Donahue, Baldwin — Scored five goals in a win over KS-Maui and notched four more in a win over Lahainaluna

Makanahele Emmsley, King Kekaulike — Notched three goals in a loss to Baldwin

Maikalea Forte, Kapolei — Recorded three goals in a loss to Kalaheo

Isabelle Horio, Punahou II — Scored three goals in a win over Le Jardin and three more in another win over the Bulldogs

Kuuleilani Kaaiawaawa, Mililani — Notched four goals in a win over Kailua

Dani Kauahi, Punahou — Scored five goals in a win over Iolani

Justice Lee Rodrigues, KS-Maui — Recorded three goals in a loss to Seabury Hall

Skylar Lickle, Seabury Hall — Notched four goals in a win over KS-Maui and scored four more in a win over Maui

Reese McMurray, Kailua — Recorded five goals in a loss to Mililani

Emma McRae, Moanalua — Scored three goals in a win over Kalani

Isabella McRae, Moanalua — Recorded three goals in a win over Kalani

Malia Mortiz, Kalaheo — Notched five goals in a win over Kapolei

Kanoko Niimura, Kaiser — Scored three goals in a win over Campbell

Makena Pang, KS-Maui — Recorded three goals in a loss to Baldwin

Erin Patterson, Kaiser — Notched three goals in a win over Campbell

Andie Perreira, Sacred Hearts — Scored four goals in a win over Mid-Pacific

Chiara Pogacic, Seabury Hall — Recorded three goals in a win over KS-Maui

Audrey Reiss, Baldwin — Scored three goals in a win over KS-Maui

Grace Rittenhouse, Kahuku — Recorded three goals in a win over Roosevelt

Hannah Smith, Kahuku — Notched three goals in a win over Moanalua

Allie Tom, Punahou II — Recorded four goals in a loss to Le Jardin

Maddeline Turpin, Mililani — Scored three goals in a win over Kailua

Lillian Valiente, Pearl City — Notched three goals in a win over Waipahu

Skylar Webb, Le Jardin — Scored three goals in a loss to Punahou II

Sophie Wilson, Kahuku — Recorded three goals in a win over Moanalua

SOFTBALL
Aleia Agbayani, Iolani — Pitched 5 and 1/3 innings of no-hit ball with two strikeouts to earn the win over Saint Francis and had a home run, three RBIs and scored twice in a win over PAC-5

Christiana Aholelei, Kaiser — Hit a three-run homer in a loss to Castle

Ivane Aholelei, Kaiser — Smashed a two-run homer in a loss to Roosevelt

Bailey Akimseu, Punahou — Scored twice and hit a home run in her only at bat in a win over Mid-Pacific

Brylee Akina-Heffernan, Kahuku — Had triple and double and drove in three runs while scoring three more in a loss to Waialua

Dacy Amond, Kaimuki — Hit a home run in a loss to Aiea 

Gianna Araki, Leilehua — Homered and drove in three runs on two hits in a win over Kapolei

Anna Arita, Iolani — Drove in the lone-run in a 1-0 win over Saint Francis

Alyssa Asuncion, Leilehua — Went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and scored two runs in a win over Kapolei

Leiloa Bustamante — Scored three times with a home run and had six RBIs in a win over Pahoa

Kylie Carganilla, Farrington — Hit a solo home run in a loss to Roosevelt

Seraya Casco, Lahainaluna — Earned the win on the mound and went 2-for-3 at the plate in a victory over King Kekaulike

Kanoelehua Costorio-Meyer, McKinley — Batted 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a double in a win over Waipahu

Madison Cristobal, McKinley — Homered and drove in three runs while scoring twice in a 3-for-3 performance in a loss to Waialua and threw nine strikeouts in a complete game effort in a win over Waipahu

Dyani Cummings-Lani, Kailua — Scattered four hits and allowed no earned runs in a complete game effort and added two RBIs at the plate in a win over Castle

Emma DeBrum, Lanai — Went 3-for-3 at the plate with a triple in a win over Hana

Andrea Dicion, Waialua — Drove in five total runs with a home run and a double and scored five times in a win over McKinley and batted 3-for-3 and scored three times with three RBIs and a home run in a win over Kahuku

Chloe Domingo, Campbell — Plated two runs and the go-ahead score in a walkout win over Leilehua

Marley Dyer, Iolani — Pitched 1 and 2/3 innings of no-hit ball with a strikeout to earn the save in a win over Saint Francis and had a triple in a win over PAC-5

Tehani Epenesa, Honokaa — Hit two doubles and scored three runs while throwing six strikeouts and allowing just one-hit in a five-inning win over Hawaii Prep

Jenessa Freitas, Waimea — Went 4-for-5 at the plate with a double and scored three times while driving in three more runs in a win over Kapaa

Jazlyn Furuya, Kalani — Drove in three runs and score three more with a triple in a win over Radford

Ceelyn Gali-Lucero, Honokaa — Smashed a two-run homer in a win over Hawaii Prep

Ashley Gamble, King Kekaulike — Hit a two-run homer in a loss to Lahainaluna

Mia Gerbig, Lahainaluna — Went 3-for-4 at the plate and had an RBI in a win over King Kekaulike

Mikayla Gonzalez, Aiea — Batted 4-for-5 with a triple, double, three RBIs and scored twice in a win over Kaimuki

Kieren Henderson, Waimea — Homered twice and drove in five runs while scoring three more in a win over Kapaa

Tiari Hernandez, Pearl City — Had a home run and a double with three RBIs in a win over Waianae

Nohili Hong, Lahainaluna — Drove in three runs on a double in a win over King Kekaulike

Cherise Horita, Kalani — Hit a two-run homer and threw nine strikeouts in a shutout win over Radford and threw six strikeouts and went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs scored, two homers and a double in another victory over the Rams

Kelsie Imai, Waiakea — Batted 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and run scored

Anastasia Iosia, Campbell — Homered and plated three runs in a win over Mililani

Honey Jose-Woods, Waialua — Went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and scored four times while driving in four more in a win over Kahuku

Lili Kaimi-Montira, Kapolei — Drove in three runs with a home run and two doubles in a extra-inning win over Waianae

Leipua Kaui, Kapaa — Went 4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs and scored four times in a win over Waimea

Kylie Kawamura, Roosevelt — Batted 4-for-4 with four RBIs and four runs scored with a home run in a win over Farrington

Briann Keohuloa, Lahainaluna — Went 2-for-2 at the plate and had two RBIs in a win over King Kekaulike

Isha Knight, Kamehameha — Scored twice and drove in three runs with a home run and a double in a win over PAC-5

Kendra Kupihea, Kapaa — Drove in five runs and scored another on two triples in a loss to Waimea

Dioni Lincoln, KS-Hawaii — Hit a home run and double and drove in four runs while scoring two more in a win over Pahoa

Zoey Lawrence, Waialua — Had two triples and a double and scored five times while pitching a complete game in a win over McKinley

Raquel Lebeouf-Malacas, Lanai — Went 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run and double in a win over Hana

Mele Loo, Kaimuki — Hit a grand slam in a loss to Aiea

Gwen Maeha, Leilehua — Smashed a three-run home run in her only at bat in a win over Kapolei

Kailee Mahelona, Saint Francis — Homered and scored three times while pitching two scoreless innings of relief in a win over Mid-Pacific

Kaimana Joy Manzano, Konawaena — Went 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, four RBIs and scored three times in a win over Pahoa

Ini Marshall, Kapaa — Batted 3-for-4 with a triple and drove in two runs while scoring three more in a loss to Waimea and went 5-for-5 with a home run, double, five RBIs and three runs scored in a win over the Menehunes

Maya Matsubara, Punahou — Drove in five runs and scored three more with a double and a home run in a 3-for-4 performance in a win over Mid-Pacific

Jayla Medeiros, Konawaena — Homered in her only at bat and drove in four runs while scoring three more in a win over Pahoa

Dallas Millwood, Kamehameha — Drove in two runs and scored two more with a homer in a win over PAC-5

Shaily Moses, Waiakea — Went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three times while driving in four more in a win over Hilo

Maya Nakamura, Roosevelt — Scored four times and drove in two runs with a triple and double in a win over Farrington

Makana Nakanishi, Maui — Hit a solo home run in a win over King Kekaulike

Tracie Okumura, Mililani — Drove in two runs on a home run and triple in a loss to Campbell

Trinity Ozoa, Waialua — Recorded four hits and scored three times in a win over McKinley

Joelle Perreira, Saint Francis — Hit a grand slam in her only at bat in a win over Mid-Pacific

Leaa Puleiala, Waialua — Drove in three runs and scored three more by going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double in a win over McKinley and had five total hits, five total RBIs and scored five times in two wins over Kahuku

Aleisa Ranches, Campbell — Went 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs and added three runs in a win over Mililani

Shya Roback, Hana — Batted 3-for-3 and hit a home run in a loss to Lanai

D'Asha Saiki, Punahou — Had a home run and a double in her only two at bats and scored two runs while driving in two more in a win over Mid-Pacific

Trinity Seguritan, Kahuku — Batted 5-for-7 with five RBIs in two losses to Waialua

Salina Serikawa, Kailua — Scored four runs and stole three bases in a win over Castle

Tiani Sniffen, Roosevelt — Drove in four runs with a home run and triple while scoring three times in a win over Farrington

Kyler Stephens, Kamehameha — Batted 3-for-3 with a home run and double with two RBIs and three runs scored in a win over PAC-5

Taylor Sullivan, KS-Hawaii — Went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, triple and four RBIs while scoring another in a loss to Waiakea

Halee Sweat, Waiakea — Pitched four scoreless innings of relief and earned the win on the mound in a victory over KS-Hawaii

Tia Takasaki, Kapaa — Hit a triple and double and scored two times in a loss to Waimea

Hailee Uyema, Iolani — Had a triple and scored the lone run in a win over Saint Francis

Cherysh Wong, Waialua — Homered and drove in six runs in a win over Kahuku

Mia Wong, Kalani — Scored three times and went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double, home run and five RBIs in a win over Radford