Having stepped up when Waimea needed a spark, the Menehunes’ senior leaders shared the honor of stepping forward to accept a state championship trophy.

Riding a late-inning surge powered by seniors Krysta Kali and Taylor Ephan, the Menehunes pulled away from Nanakuli to capture the Division II title in the Data House/HHSAA Softball State Championships with a 12-4 victory on Saturday.

Kali and Ephan hit back-to-back home runs with two out in the top of the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie, and the Menehunes claimed their first state title since 1990.

Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium couldn’t contain Nanakuli sophomore shortstop Alexis Paulo-Meyers, who hit home runs to left field in all three of her plate appearances. But Waimea managed to keep the rest of the Golden Hawks offense in check and completed an undefeated season at 15-0.

"It means a lot. As a team when I first started we weren’t as good as this, but we all built together, came together as one," said Kali, who drove in six runs in the final. "Which is one thing I love about this team: We’re all a family, sisters for life."

Kali’s three-run home run to left field in the sixth gave Waimea the lead. Ephan followed with another shot and the Menehunes added five more runs in the seventh to build a cushion safe even from Paulo-Meyers’ power.

"They were struggling with their bats all game and when they came alive, they started doing their Waimea thing again," Waimea coach Teddy Perreira said.

While the seniors provided a jolt offensively, freshman pitcher Deannalynn Tafiti earned a complete-game win despite pitching through a sore back.

"She was fighting that all game," Perreira said. "She’s only a freshman and she’s got a lot of heart. She pulled us through."

Nanakuli started five sophomores, including Paulo-Meyers, and a junior during its run to the state championship game, generating promise for the future of the program.

"It means that we’re going to force some interest out in Nanakuli," Golden Hawks coach Ricky Gusman said. "They’re young, so we’ll be back. Get used to Nanakuli."

The festive atmosphere in the packed stadium was hushed in the top of the seventh when Nanakuli catcher Kehaulani Silva was taken off the field in an ambulance after crashing into the wall and coming down hard behind home plate while catching a foul popup.

Gusman said it appeared Silva hurt her lower back and she was coherent and able to move her extremities. Paramedics stabilized her neck before putting her in the ambulance.

"She could verbally say something; that was promising to see," Gusman said. "I’m going to go check on her."

After Waimea took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning with the aid of two Nanakuli errors, Paulo-Meyers erased the deficit with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first and a two-run blast to left in the third.

Tafiti and Nanakuli pitcher Chyanne Koko controlled the fourth and fifth innings, and it appeared Nanakuli would go into the bottom of the sixth with the tie intact.

But a miscommunication on an infield popup resulted in the ball falling in to extend Waimea’s turn at bat and putting runners on second and third. Kali took full advantage by blasting an 0-1 pitch out to left field.

"It was unbelievable, just to do that for my team, " Kali said.

Ephan followed with another towering shot to left to give Waimea a 7-3 lead.

After Paulo-Meyers hit her third home run of the day in the sixth, Waimea pulled away in the top of the seventh with two-run doubles by Kristy Pimentel and Kali.

"It’s something real big to compete against Oahu schools," Perreira said. "Our school is only 500 students and these girls battled all season."