2018 DIVISION I   »  Division II


Leilehua sweeps top All-Hawaii softball honors

The Mules captured their first state championship with help from the arm of Kamryn Kamakaiwi and the bat of Gianna Araki. Michael Lasquero | SL

Player of the Year: Gianna Araki, Leilehua

Pitcher of the Year: Kamryn Kamakaiwi, Leilehua

Coach of the Year: Wendell Au, Leilehua


FIRST TEAM

Kennedy Ishii

Punahou  •  Sr
P

Kamryn Kamakaiwi

Leilehua  •  Sr
P

Kyler Stephens

Kamehameha  •  Sr
C

Gianna Araki

Leilehua  •  So
1B

Trinity Favela

Campbell  •  Sr
2B

Maya Nakamura

Roosevelt  •  Jr
SS

D'Asha Saiki

Punahou  •  Jr
3B

Alesia Ranches

Campbell  •  Jr
OF

Tausani Tavale

Kamehameha  •  So
OF

Nohea Hee

Maryknoll  •  Sr
OF

Bailey Akimseu

Punahou  •  Sr
U

Mari Foster

Roosevelt  •  Sr
U

Kaena Nistal

Leilehua  •  Sr
U

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SECOND TEAM

Chloe Sales

Campbell  •  So
P

Jaeda Cabunoc

Roosevelt  •  Jr
P

Lili Kaimi-Montira

Kapolei  •  Sr
C

Dallas Millwood

Kamehameha  •  Sr
1B

Maya Matsubara

Punahou  •  So
2B

Brandee Chinen

Waiakea  •  Sr
SS

Brandi Leong

Leilehua  •  Sr
3B

Ciena Kauhi

Kapolei  •  Sr
OF

Noel Saunders

Pearl City  •  Sr
OF

Alyssa Asuncion

Leilehua  •  Jr
OF

Aleia Agbayani

Iolani  •  Jr
U

Cira Bartolotti

Kapolei  •  Jr
U

Kahilu McNicoll

Maryknoll  •  Sr
U

HONORABLE MENTION

Baldwin: Alyssa Ferreira, Aliya Harmon, Jessica Ai, Jessasha Tanoue-Kekona

Campbell: Chloe Domingo, Anatasia Iosia, Zoie Recolan, Dyllan Sanay-Shiraishi

Castle: Kacie Lam

Iolani: Anna Arita, Kailyn Barrett

Kaiser: Primrose Aholelei, Christiana Aholelei

Kamehameha: Shaylee Alani, Maiah Motta

Kapolei: Kayli Nakoa

Lahainaluna: Seraya Casco, Kaaina Kalanikau

Leilehua: Alyssa Abe, Kayla Hale, Lovey Kepaa, Gwen Maeha, Mikayla Pinera

Maryknoll: Aloha Akaka, Baylie Kahele, Kanoe Tanigawa

Mid-Pacific: Marissa Nishihara

Mililani: Cheyenne Ardona, Kayla Bello, Kobe Brown, Katie Carlos, Tracie Okumura

Moanalua: Summer Kamioka, Kellie Kitano-Maguire, Iyana Reed, Kyler Tsukada

Pearl City: Tiari Hernandez, Braelynn Kaulu-Choy Foo, Alexas Presto-Ahsing, Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi

Punahou: Ashanti Martinez, Kawailana Mielke, Eri Mizuguchi, Janell Sato

Roosevelt: Angel-Leigh Ching, Mika Emoto, Kylie Kawamura, Kanilehua Pitoy, Tiani Sniffen, Haylie Uetake

Waiakea: Jolene Hirata, Alize Kaapana, Johnacy Mackwelung, Halee Sweat

Waianae: Alohilani Napalapalai

Coaches that also received consideration: Boy Eldredge (Punahou), Kristin Fujii-Dias (Roosevelt), Lei Nakamura (Lahainaluna), Bo Saiki (Waiakea), John Uekawa (Maryknoll)


Pitcher of the Year: Kamryn Kamakaiwi, Leilehua, P/OF, Sr.

The 5-foot-3 lefty compiled a record of 8-2 this season with 50 strikeouts and 26 walks. In 59 innings pitched, she allowed only 13 earned runs on 48 hits and her 1.56 earned run average was tops in the state among pitchers with a minimum of 20 innings logged this year.

"I think her being a lefty was a big benefit and the type of movement that she had made it even more in her favor because that's part of the game now — everybody hits fastballs — so some movement is what's going to be key and in my opinion, Kamryn has got the most movement in the whole state, plus she's a left-hander," Au said.

Kamakaiwi, the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I West Player of the Year, was one of three pitchers that saw regular time in the circle for the Mules. Fellow senior Kaena Nistal went 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA and junior Alyssa Abe posted a 1-1 record with an ERA of 1.25.

"Their styles of pitching kind of complemented each other," Au added.

Kamakaiwi, who also saw time in right field, posted a .375 batting average with 18 hits, 15 runs scored and 13 RBIs in 48 at-bats.



Player of the Year: Gianna Araki, Leilehua, 1B, So.

The 5-foot-5 Araki had a breakout season as a sophomore despite playing out of position. She posted a gaudy .467 batting average with 21 hits, 24 runs scored and 23 RBIs in 45 at-bats. Eleven of her base hits went for extra bases, including seven home runs, which tied her for the third most in all of Division I.

"Her primary position is catcher, but the whole mantra of our season was that, ‘even if that is your primary position, we need you to do what's best for the team,'" Au said.

Araki's natural position is catcher, but the Mules had a need at first base entering the season.

"I would step out and say that if Gigi is not the team's best catcher, she's right there, but we had a hole in first base and she's that talented to fill in and nobody would even question if she's a first baseman or not. She'll play first base with the best of them, but then again, she could play catcher with the best of them and third base with the best of them. She's talented, athletic and well-rounded," Au said.

Araki, an All-OIA D1 West First Teamer, also drew 18 walks this year and scored at least one run in all 17 games she appeared in. She had one of her team's two grand slams against Punahou in the title game.


Coach of the Year: Wendell Au, Leilehua

In the very first season at his alma mater, Au led the Mules to the ultimate prize.

Leilehua opened the year with a lopsided, eye-opening win over three-time defending state champion Campbell, and at one point, reeled off eight wins over a nine-game stretch.

Despite losing in the OIA semifinals, Au's squad won its last five games — when it averaged more than 12 runs per game — including a resounding 14-4 win over Punahou in six innings in the state final.