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Makanani's contributions were plentiful for Division II-champion Warriors




Seijia Makanani

Kapaa softball  •   #7  P/INF  Senior

The lead-up to the 2022 softball season was anything but ideal for the Kapaa Warriors. The end result, however, couldn't have been scripted any better.

Despite being without a coach until just weeks before the start of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation schedule, Kapaa went on to put together a historic spring campaign with a 12-3-1 record and the team's first Division II state championship.

Unlikely? Sure. But never out of the realm of possibilities, according to coach Alani Silva.

"The first day that I walked on that field I could see the talent that was there," said Silva, a Kauai High graduate who went on to play softball both collegiately and professionally.

"They had talent. It was just putting it together and the biggest part of it was the pitching," Silva added. "I mean, you always have to have a pitcher and I knew that she was the top-notch pitcher."

‘She' would be Seijia Makanani.

Silva knew that she would have to rely upon Makanani, a 5-foot-6 senior, particularly for her work in the circle.

"It was very important. You need a pitcher in this game. I mean, we couldn't have done it without a pitcher like her," Silva said.

The statistics seem to back up Silva's presumption.

Makanani recorded a 10-3 record with an earned run average of 2.33. In 90 1/3 innings this season, the right-handed Makanani fired 95 strikeouts against 42 walks and allowed 30 earned runs on 65 hits.

"She has all the tools: she throws hard, she knows how to hit her spots, she has multiple pitches and she's just a tough kid. She has a good work ethic; She's a hard worker, never complains and just does the job," Silva said.

To be sure, Makanani benefitted greatly from the tutelage of her pitching coach — who she also happens to call ‘dad.'

Not long after Silva got the job, she found herself a pitching coach in Clinton Ioane-Makanani.

"It was really good because I knew she had to listen to the father, so that helped a lot," Silva laughed.

"I thought with a great pitching coach calling her pitches, Seijia could learn from it and that's one of the reasons I asked her dad to help us. I mean, he's a sports fanatic, too, so I mean, the stories that he tells me about his daughter — I'm like, ‘Oh, you're the perfect one to have here' — so it made it easy to have him join our team, but they're great together," Silva described.

Makanani opened the spring with an 11-strikeout effort against Waimea. She fanned 10 Menehunes in another complete-game outing three weeks later. The only three times she was the losing pitcher in a game were all against Waimea, over the course of the 14-game KIF game, but it did little to affect Makanani's confidence.

"She doesn't really let anything bother her," Silva said. "I mean, if anything she just works harder at it to be the best that she can be, (but) I've never seen her get down on herself. She always picked up herself and her teammates did the same, too, so this was a really good team; they stuck together like a family."

Makanani isn't just a pitcher, however. When she's not in the circle, she's typically at shortstop — although she can play anywhere on the infield, Silva noted. Makanani's bat, however, was seemingly always on. She hit safely in 14 of 16 games this spring — primarily out of the second spot in the order — and posted a .484 batting average (30 of 62) with 26 RBI, along with a team-high 31 runs scored.

"She's outstanding," Silva stated. "She puts in a lot of time and effort in everything that she does. She stays after practice for hitting, for pitching — I mean, she puts in a lot of time and I know when she's at home she does the same thing — and in order to be a hitter like that, you have to put in the time to go out there and hit."

Makanani had seven multi-hit games in KIF play, including a couple of 4-for-4 days at the plate in wins over Kauai High. She drove in a season-high five runs in the same game that she struck out 10 against Waimea.

"When she steps on that field the girls know — they're so confident when she's out there — that she just provides the leadership for them. She picks them up when they're down. She possesses everything that, really a coach wants in their girls: that leadership, that pride, that dedication to work hard, that willingness to just keep going," Silva said. "She has leadership, she has humility and just her willingness to win, that's what I admire about her."

Just as she did during the regular season, Makanani was a workhorse for the Warriors in last week's DataHouse/HHSAA Division II State Championships at Patsy T. Mink Field in Kahului, Maui.

Kapaa was the No. 2 seed in the 12-team tournament and had a first-round bye Wednesday. In Thursday's quarterfinal round, Makanani was locked in to the tune of a season-high 13 strikeouts in an 11-1 win over Aiea in six innings. She gave up just two hits and one walk; the lone run she allowed was unearned. Makanani also batted 2 for 4 at the plate with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored.

The following day, in a high-scoring 16-13 semifinal win over Waipahu, Makanani collected four hits (in five at-bats), including a home run and a triple. She tallied four RBI and four runs scored and also went the distance as the winning pitcher.

A familiar foe awaited Makanani and the Warriors in Saturday's title game: Waimea.

Makanani was held without a hit, but did score a run against the Menehunes. Her impact in the batter's box, however, waned in comparison to her contributions in the pitching circle.

Makanani scattered nine hits and four walks in a complete-game win. She struck out four and allowed two earned runs on her way to way to all-tournament team honors.

"What was most impressive is just how she focused on winning the championship — that was their goal," Silva said. "They knew it was their senior year and they wanted that championship. They were totally focused on it and they weren't gonna let nothing stop them."

Sophomore third baseman Kailee Gorospe and senior center fielder Tira Ann Kaui were also named to the all-tournament team. Senior catcher Savanna Simons was selected as the tournament's most outstanding player.

Silva said the reception from well-wishers has been tremendous since the team returned to the Garden Island on Sunday. The Warriors and Menehunes happened to be on the same return flight.

"The support from the island in incredible. When we arrived at the airport there was support for both teams — it was pretty amazing — and the girls get along with each other so it was nice to come home to that. It really was an amazing feeling," Silva said.

Makanani, who was voted by league coaches as KIF Player of the Year, is signed to play softball for Georgian Court University, an NCAA Division II school in Lakewood, New Jersey.

SOFTBALL

Ailana Agbayani, Iolani — Batted 2 for 4 with two RBI, a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt, two RBI and a run scored and struck out nine, walked none and allowed no hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in a win over Campbell and batted 3 for 4 with a home run, double and four RBI in a win over Mililani and hit a two-run home run and allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks in six innings of relief in a loss to Maryknoll 

Milan Ah Yat, PAC-5 — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, walk, two RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored in a win over Waialua and batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, three RBI and three runs scored in a loss to Waimea and homered, drove in three runs, stole a base and scored two runs in a win over Waipahu 

Kailena Akau, Hawaii Prep — Batted 2 for 4 with a stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Waialua and batted 3 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored in a win over Aiea 

Hunter Akita, Waimea — Batted 2 for 2 with three RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Kira Alameda, Hilo — Batted 4 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI in a loss to Kaiser 

Torie Au, Leilehua — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, double, two RBI and a run scored in a win over Maui 

Jeyla Bettis-Shigeishi, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Batted 3 for 4 with a stolen base and four runs scored in a win over Kaimuki 

Montana Cababag, Aiea — Batted 3 for 3 with two doubles and two RBI in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Chenoa Cainglit, Kapolei — Batted 3 for 3 with a home run, one sacrifice bunt, two RBI and three runs scored in a win over Kaiser 

Taelor Camelo, Waimea — Pitched a three-hit, five-inning shutout with one strikeout and no walks in a win over Nanakuli and batted 2 for 3 with an RBI and allowed one run on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk in a five-inning win over Hawaii Prep 

Allie Capello, Iolani — Batted 2 for 4 with two doubles in a win over Mililani 

Trinity Caporus-Santos, Aiea — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Honokaa

Kiersten Chong, Aiea — Batted 2 for 4 with a stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Honokaa 

Chloe Chun, Maryknoll — Batted 4 for 4 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base in a win over Leilehua 

Logan Chun, Waipahu — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run and five RBI in a loss to Kapaa 

Kendalyn Cordeiro-Felise, Waipahu — Batted 2 for 2 with two doubles, an RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii and batted 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored in a loss to Kapaa 

Kaia Davis-Caberto, Kapaa — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, two stolen bases and three runs scored in a win over Waimea 

Taylor Fukunaga, Waipahu — Batted 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored and allowed one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk in a six-inning win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Rhea Furtado, Kapaa — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, three RBI, three stolen bases and three runs scored in a win over Aiea and batted 2 for 4 with a triple, RBI, stolen base and a run scored in a win over Waipahu 

Kaui Garcia, Mililani — Batted 3 for 4 in a loss to Iolani 

Kailee Gorospe, Kapaa — Batted 3 for 3 with a sacrifice bunt and three runs scored in a win over Aiea and doubled, drove in three runs, stole a base and scored a run in a win over Waipahu 

Kinau Grace, Hawaii Prep — Batted 2 for 3 with an RBI and allowed two hits and three walks with six strikeouts in a six-inning shutout of Waialua and allowed two hits and two walks with one strikeout in a complete-game shutout of Aiea 

Kawehi Grace-Campbell — Waialua — Batted 2 for 3 with two walks, an RBI, a stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Lanai 

Shea Higa, Kaiser — Batted 3 for 5 with a double, RBI and a run scored in a win over Hilo 

Napualaiku Ho, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Batted 3 for 4 with four RBI and three runs scored in a win over Kaimuki 

Emily Hora, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Allowed one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in a five-inning win over Kaimuki 

KeanuMarie Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Batted 3 for 3 with a triple, double, sacrifice bunt, five RBI and three runs scored in a win over Kaimuki  and batted 2 for 3 with a triple, one stolen base and two runs scored in a loss to Aiea 

Kalea Huihui-Caberto, Waimea — Batted 3 for 3 with a triple, four RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored in a win over Hawaii Prep and batted 3 for 3 with a triple, double, two RBI and three runs scored in a win over PAC-5 and batted 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and a run scored in a loss to Kapaa 

Moani Ioane, Kapolei — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kaiser and batted 2 for 4 with a home run in a win over Mililani 

Taryn Irimata, Campbell — Struck out 10 ,walked none and tossed 3 1/3 scoreless inning of no-hit ball in relief in a win over Maui and allowed two earned runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts and three walks in 7 2/3 innings pitched in a loss to Iolani and allowed one unearned run on three hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in a five-inning win over Baldwin 

Kaila Kaahu, Hawaii Prep — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in a win over Aiea 

Tira Ann Kaui, Kapaa — Batted 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored in a win over Waimea 

Mackenzie Kila, Mililani — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kealakehe 

Jackie Kirkpatrick, Mililani — Batted 3 for 3 with an RBI in a win over Kalani and batted 2 for 2 with a home run, walk and three RBI in a win over Kealakehe and batted 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI in a loss to Iolani 

Kolbi Kochi, Mililani — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kalani and batted 3 for 4 with a run scored in a loss to Iolani 

Kaiana Kong, Campbell — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk and allowed one run on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks in 3 2/3 innings pitched in a win over Maui 

Kai-Lee Kupihea, Kapaa — Batted 3 for 5 with two RBI and three runs scored in a win over Waimea 

Breeann Leong, Leilehua — Batted 2 for 4 with two doubles and four RBI in a loss to Maryknoll 

Jerzie Liana, Kapolei — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, three RBI and a three runs scored in a win over Kaiser and allowed two unearned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game win over Mililani 

Seijia Makanani, Kapaa — Batted 2 for 4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored and allowed one unearned run on two hits with 13 strikeouts and one walk in a six-inning win over Aiea and batted 4 for 5 with a home run, triple, four RBI and four runs scored in a win over Waipahu 

Kaylee Matsuda, Iolani — Batted 3 for 4 with a triple, a stolen base and a run scored in a win over Campbell and batted 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and a run scored in a win over Mililani 

Nellian McEnroe-Marinas, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 3 with a double, walk, three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Leilehua and batted 3 for 4 with a home run, three RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Baldwin and batted 2 for 4 with a home run, walk, three RBI and a run scored in a win over Kapolei 

Puakea Milbourne, Kapolei — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, walk and two RBI in a win over Mililani 

Kira Moananu, Kaimuki — Homered, drove in two runs and scored twice and allowed one earned run on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks in a complete-game win over Honokaa 

Miki-Ann Mochizuki, PAC-5 — Drove in three runs and allowed one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts and no walks in a six-inning win over Waialua 

Majesty Moisa, Kapolei — Batted 2 for 3 with a sacrifice fly, four RBI and a run scored in a win over Kaiser 

Dani Monroe, Mililani — Batted 2 for 2 with a walk and two RBI and allowed three unearned runs on two hits with five strikeouts and one walk in a five-inning win over Kalani 

Keala Montgomery, Lanai — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles in a loss to Nanakuli 

Carys Murakami, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 5 with a double, RBI and three runs scored in a win over Baldwin and batted 3 for 4 with a home run, double, walk, three RBI and four runs scored in a win over Kapolei 

Madixx Muramoto, Kalani — Hit a three-run home run in a loss to Mililani 

Cayleigh Naito, Aiea — Batted 1 for 3 with two walks, two RBI, a stolen base and four runs scored in a win over Honokaa 

Rylan Nakamura, Kaiser — Batted 2 for 4 with an RBI-sacrifice fly and three runs scored in a win over Hilo 

Paige Nakashima, Campbell — Batted 2 for 4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored in a loss to Iolani and batted 2 for 3 with a home run, walk and five RBI in a win over Baldwin 

Kailee Nera, Kaimuki — Batted 2 for 3 with four runs scored in a win over Honokaa 

Ashley Ogata, Mililani — Threw a five-inning perfect game with 15 strikeouts and batted 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI in a win over Kealakehe 

Makayla Pagampao, Mililani — Batted 2 for 3 with three RBI and a run scored in a win over Kalani 

Jer-Zee Ragasa, Maui — Allowed one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks in seven innings pitched in a loss to Campbell 

Daniella Samson-Wright, Nanakuli — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, a sacrifice fly, three RBI, two stolen bases and a run scored in a win over Lanai 

Noelani Sigrah, Lanai — Doubled and drove in three runs in a loss to Waialua 

Savanna Simons, Kapaa — Batted 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI in a win over Aiea and batted 3 for 4 with a home run, double, walk, four RBI, two stolen bases and two runs scored in a win over Waipahu and batted 2 for 2 with a home run, two RBI and four runs scored in a win over Waimea 

Jenna Sniffen, Maryknoll — Batted 1 for 2 with a sacrifice fly, one walk and two RBI and allowed two earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and four walks in a complete-game win over Leilehua and batted 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI and allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts and five walks in a complete-game win over Kapolei and hit a three-run home run and allowed two runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts and four walks in a complete-game win over Iolani 

Taja Souza, Aiea — Batted 2 for 4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored and struck out five, walked none and pitched three scoreless innings of no-hit ball in a win over Honokaa and batted 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and a run scored and allowed two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Jordan Tagudan, Kaiser — Batted 3 for 6 with a home run and two RBI in a win over Hilo 

Kaiya Tom, PAC-5 — Batted 3 for 3 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in a win over Waipahu 

Ryleah Torres, Waimea — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over Nanakuli and batted 2 for 4 with a stolen base and two runs scored in a win over PAC-5 and batted 3 for 4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in a loss to Kapaa

Keira Uegawachi, Kaiser — Batted 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored in a win over Hilo 

Cheylene Valdez-Asato, Kapolei — Batted 4 for 4 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored in a win over Kaiser 

Quinn Waiki, Hilo — Batted 4 for 4 with a home run and four runs scored in a loss to Kaiser 

Erika Wannomae, Mililani — Batted 2 for 2 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored in a win over Kealakehe 



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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