With head coach Ricky Gusman making a surprise return to the Nanakuli dugout, the Golden Hawks treated him to a thrilling victory and a third consecutive state title.

Nanakuli rallied from a two-run deficit in the sixth inning and sophomore Mahina Piilani scored on a wild pitch with two out in the seventh to give the Golden Hawks a 6-5 win over Aiea in the Division II final of the DataHouse/HHSAA State Softball Championships on Friday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

“To win the state three times in a row is kind of mind blowing right now,” Gusman said.

“It means a lot to the community, it means a lot to the kids and program, the ones coming in and the ones that have gone. We already had pride in Nanakuli, we just put ourselves a little bit higher.”

Gusman spent the first three days of the state tournament at the Queen’s Medical Center after feeling chest pains Monday morning. He was told he had suffered a minor heart attack and had three stents inserted to clear blockages in his arteries.

He was discharged Friday afternoon and after talking to assistant coach Waldo Meyers, decided to head straight to the ballpark.

“I wanted to be here for the kids more than for myself,” Gusman said.

“(The assistants) did a fantastic job. Those guys stepping up and taking over the program without any hesitation I thought was the difference.”

Emma Kawaiaea — one of two seniors on the Nanakuli roster — pitched the first four innings, spent the next two in center field and returned to the circle for the seventh. She escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the inning and Piilani’s run in the bottom of the inning gave her the win in her final high school game.

“I just had confidence in myself because I knew I had a defense behind me and I never had doubt in any one of them,” Kawaiaea said. “I knew whatever I pitched they would be right behind me.

“We’ve come far (as a program), having people doubting us. It feels good to show everyone even though we come from a small town we still can do big things.”

In a rematch of a dramatic OIA White final won by Aiea a week earlier, Nanakuli took a 3-0 lead in the second inning before Na Alii rallied on the clutch hitting of Vevesi Liilii and Kayla Higuchi. Liilii went 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles. Higuchi also went 3-for-4 with a triple and delivered two-out RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings to push Na Alii ahead 5-3.

Nanakuli loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth and freshman Cheyenne Lute drilled a single up the middle to drive in the tying runs.

“Sometimes it’s good to be a freshman because the magnitude of the game didn’t come down on her as much,” Gusman said. “She’s a great ballplayer and been around the game a long time.”

Aiea put two runners on with two out in the top of the seventh and Nanakuli elected to intentionally walk Liilii to load the bases. The gamble paid off in a force out at home to end the inning.

Piilani walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh and advanced on Chalyssa-Ann Belford’s single and Keani Nahinu’s bunt. With two out, a 1-2 pitch to Daria Kawaauhau went to the backstop and Piilani scored the winning run.

“We knew we had to keep hitting, just never put your head down, stay grounded and keep pounding,” Piilani said of the comeback.

DIVISION II THIRD PLACE

Kamehameha-Hawaii 14, Waimea 5, 6 inn.

Mykala Tokunaga and Kekailani Wong Yuen. Shelbee Tavares, Deannalynn Tafiti (6)?and Karlyee Rye Malapit. W–Tokunaga. L—Tavares.

Leading hitters—Kamehameha-Hawaii: Kiarra Lincoln 2-4, 2 2bs, 3 runs; Wong Yuen 3-3, HR, 4 runs, 3 RBIs; Makena Wagner HR, 4 RBIs; Taylor-James Sullivan 3-4, 2 2bs, 2 RBIs; Jessica Cameros 2b, 3 RBIs. Waimea: Malapit 2b; Tafiti 2b.

DIVISION II FIFTH PLACE

Pac-Five 8, St. Francis 4, 6 INN. 

Rasela Vili, Caryn Chinen (3) and Jessica Hudson, Danielle Antolin (6). Khaliah Kahoano, Megan Yoshioka (3) and Kailee Russell, Alisha Candelario (4). W—Kahoano. L—Vili.

Leading hitters—St. Francis: Vili 2-3, 2b; Sammie Ofoia 2-2, HR, 4 RBIs. Pac-Five: Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chung 2-3; Brazzlynn Tovio-Asato HR, 4 RBIs.

DIVISION II CONSOLATION

Molokai 13, Konawaena 3, 6 inn.

Bethany Batangan, Shyla Victor (6) and Kaimana-Joy Manzano. Kysha Kawano and?Tai Yamamoto. W—Kawano. L—Batangan.

Leading hitters—Konawaena: Batangan 2-3, 2 runs. Molokai: Kapualanionakuahiwiokamako Lee 3-3, 2b, 3 runs; Yamamoto 3-3, 2b, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Brooke Keliihoomalu 3-3, 2b, 3b, 2 runs; Nadia Augustiro 2 RBIs.

E—Liilii, R. Higuchi, Kawaiaea, Belford. LOB—Aiea 12, Nanakuli 8. 2B—Liilii 2, Kawaiaea. 3B—K. Higuchi. HR—Liiliii. HBP—Alama, Mahoe. SH—Shimabukuro, Nahinu. SB—Tagawa, K. Higuchi, Alama, Tuli, Kaeo. CS—Tuli.

WP—Tuli 4, Kawaiaea. HBP—by Tuli (Mahoe), by Lute (Alama). Umpires—(Plate): David Kihara. (First): Charles Yarrell. (Second): James Fritz. (Third): Walter Yamatsuka. T—2:33. A—NA.