Kaimuki softball coach steps down

Mona Fa‘asoa has stepped down as softball coach at Kaimuki.

And after 15 seasons as girls basketball coach, she had plans to walk away from that position, too. For now, though, she’s reconsidering at the request of Kaimuki athletic director Fred Lee.

Fa‘asoa is mulling changes so she can spend more time with her son, Jonah, now 10. She coached older siblings Dejah, Nishah and Latisha in both sports. Fa‘asoa is a multiple winner of OIA East coach of the year honors.

"I want to spend time with Jonah," she said. "There’s always been summer basketball, then girls JV softball in the fall, then basketball (winter) and softball (spring). Someone asked me, ‘What would your life be like if you had more free time?’ "

Kaimuki recently completed its softball season with a 9-4 record. The girls basketball team reached the state tournament, losing to ‘Iolani in the quarterfinals.

Former unbeatens squeeze into states

A bigger state field is a blessing for OIA powerhouses that suddenly get derailed in the league playoffs.

That’s what Mililani and Moanalua endured last week. Ranked first and second in the Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10, the two teams were knocked out of title contention with upset losses in the quarterfinals. But with six state-tourney berths available for the OIA, the Trojans and Na Menehune battled back in consolation play to qualify for the states.

In years past, when the state format was at eight teams instead of 12, there would’ve been no "back door" route for the league’s most successful regular-season teams.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

GIRLS

Jaci Young
Punahou softball
The senior fired her second no-hitter in as many weeks to lead the Buffanblu past Mid-Pacific 13-0 at the Owls’ field. She also went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs.

BOYS

Khalil Stevens
Mililani track and field
He set a new high jump record at the Punahou Relays with a leap of 6 feet, 10 inches, breaking a mark that had stood since 1999.

HONOR ROLL

BASEBALL
>> Kohei Inayoshi, Kaimuki: went 4-for-4 with a double and four runs against Farrington
>> Cole Kanazawa, Punahou: hurled a three-hit shutout to beat Saint Louis
>> Joshua Muneno, Maryknoll: 4-for-6 at the plate and pitched four innings for a win over ‘Iolani II

GOLF
>> Allisen Corpuz, Punahou: shot a 143 to win the ILH individual championship at Hawaii Prince Golf Club
>> P.J. Samiere, Punahou: first in the ILH championships with a 139, rallying past teammate Zachary Braunthal on the second day

SOFTBALL
>> Chenoa Au, Leilehua: 4-for-4 with three runs against Kalaheo
>> Joen Baker, Mililani: tossed a two-hit, five-inning shutout against Kailua
>> Kylie-Ann Bello, Mililani: 4-for-4, double, RBI against Kapolei
>> Tiana Cantero-Kawelo, Leilehua: 4-for-4, three runs against Kalaheo
>> Kristin Frost, Pearl City: pitched a three-hit shutout to beat Kaimuki
>> Chris Hipa, Kamehameha: 4-for-4, homer, double, four runs, three RBIs against WestPac
>> Kawehi Kahana, Campbell: homered twice and drove in six runs as the Sabers defeated Kapolei in the OIA Red title game
>> Shearyna Labasan, Maryknoll: 4-for-4 with a homer, double and four RBIs, and was the winning pitcher against St. Francis
>> Shazzareign Nakoa-Chung, Pac-Five: 4-for-5, two doubles, three RBIs, two runs against ‘Iolani
>> Summer Palipti, Campbell: fired a five-inning no-hitter as the Sabers defeated Kapolei for the OIA Red title
>> Alexis Paulo Meyers, Nanakuli: 4-for-4, two homers against McKinley
>> Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Aiea:
4-for-5, two doubles, three runs against Kaiser; 4-for-6, three RBIs, one run against McKinley
>> Tammy Viliamu, Waipahu: tossed a five-inning no-hitter against Castle

TENNIS
>> Ashley Ishimura, Punahou: won the ILH girls title by beating Skyla Alcon of Mid-Pacific
>> Kawika Lam, Punahou: captured the ILH boys title with a win over Marcel Chan of Kamehameha
>> Sage Leaman, Mililani: defeated Jonah Tahilan of Waipahu for the OIA boys crown
>> Alyssa Tobita, Mililani: downed Frances Goldsmith of Kalani for her third OIA girls championship in a row

TRACK AND FIELD
>> Amber Kozaki, Baldwin: cleared 12 feet, 6 inches on the pole vault to set a meet record at the Punahou Relays

WATER POLO
>> Jackie Kim, Pearl City: 5 goals against McKinley
>> Brianna Kirk, Leilehua: 6 goals against Moanalua
>> Viktoryia Redzko, Kaimuki: 6 goals against McKinley
>> Tiana Ryan, Campbell: 5 goals against McKinley
>> Casey Tuumalo, McKinley: 5 goals against Campbell; 6 goals against Kaimuki
>> Mahealani Wilson, McKinley: 5 goals against Campbell

VOLLEYBALL
>> Tahi Caldwell, Moanalua: 15 kills against Waipahu
>> Evan Enriques, KS-Hawaii: 48 kills combined in wins over Hilo and Hawaii Prep
>> Micah Ma‘a, Punahou: 28 assists against ‘Iolani
>> Austin Matautia, Moanalua: 16 kills against Waipahu
>> Andrew Overland, ‘Iolani: 10 kills against Punahou
>> Dennis Silva, KS-Hawaii: 18 digs against Hawaii Prep
>> Larry Tuileta, Punahou: 12 kills against ‘Iolani
>> Luuga Vailuu, Waipahu: 12 kills against Moanalua

SOFTBALL TOP 10

The Top 10 softball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc. Not including Monday’s results.

>> Also receiving votes: Mid-Pacific 18, ‘Iolani 14, Kamehameha-Hawaii 2, Waipahu 2, Hilo 1
>> No longer in Top 10 (previous rank): Mid-Pacific (No. 7), ‘Iolani (No. 9)

BASEBALL TOP 10

The Top 10 high school baseball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc. Not including Monday’s results.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOP 10

The Top 10 high school boys volleyball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

>> Also receiving votes: Waiakea 8, Hilo 2, McKinley 1.