Taira Shibata’s two-run double in the top of the eighth inning lifted Aiea over two-time defending champion Nanakuli 10-8 for the OIA White softball championship.
It is Na Alii’s first league title under coach Alan Higuchi, who guided a turnaround after a midseason forfeit loss to Nanakuli.
"You could say it was a wake-up call," he said of a week when roughly half the team were no-shows to practice, breaking a team rule. "The players decided to make a commitment."
Aiea’s win ended a run of three titles in a row by Nanakuli, which is also the two-time D-II defending state champ.
Shibata, the No. 8 batter, drilled a 1-2 pitch to left.
"I was expecting an inside pitch. I was like, finally! I really wanted to make my team proud."
Poamai Tuli went eight innings for the win.
Aiea broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run fourth inning, sparked by Vesi Liilii’s two-run double to center.
But Nanakuli answered with Mahina Piilani’s grand slam to center, highlighting a five-run fifth frame for a 7-5 lead.
Kailie Alama came up big for Aiea in the sixth, singling home a run before scoring on a wild pitch to tie it at 7.
Liilii singled and scored on Riley Tagawa’s single to give Aiea an 8-7 lead in the top of the seventh.
Nanakuli got a big break in the bottom half when a slow grounder to second turned into a tag attempt of baserunner Ashley Van Gieson that missed. She later scored on Kanalei McCoy’s bloop single to left, tying the score at 8.
| At McKinley |
| Aiea |
200 302 12 – 10 14 0 |
| Nanakuli |
002 050 10 – 8 11 0 |
Poamai Tuli and Kailie Alama. Cheyenne Lute and Kaila Burnett. W–Tuli. L–Lute.
Leading hitters–Aiea: Vesi Liilii 2-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Riley Tagawa 2-3; Kailie Alama 3-4, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Chantel Shimabukuro 3-5 RBI; Taira Shibata 2-5, double, 2 RBIs. Nanakuli: Lute 2-4, 2 runs; Emma Kawaiaea 2-4; Ashley Van Gieson 2-5, 2 runs, RBI; Kika Mahoe 2-3, 2 runs.
Third Place
Waialua 14, Kalaheo 8
| At Kalaheo |
| Waialua 700 240 1 |
— |
14 |
13 |
5 |
| Kalaheo 070 000 1 |
— |
8 |
7 |
9 |
Danielle Maxwell and Laola Pang. Jacqui Howard and Michelle Sasaki. W–Maxwell. L–Howard.
Leading hitters–Waialua: Selena Victoria 3-5, 2b, 3b, 3 RBIs; Christel Agtina 3-4, 2b 2 RBIs; Andrea Dicion 2-5, 2b, HR, 3 RBIs. Kalaheo: Howard 2-4, RBI; Tiffany Deach 2-4, 2 RBIs.
