Pitcher Elisa Favela wasn’t the only Campbell player at the center of the storm emanating from the Ewa Plains.
As it turns out, she had a lot of help in Campbell’s run to the Division I softball state championship.
Nearly the whole middle of the Campbell defense — pitcher, center fielder, shortstop and second baseman — was named to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s All-State team.
Favela, the pitcher who got the Sabers to the promised land, was picked the player of the year, and Michael Hermosura was named coach of the year.
Favela pitched the Sabers through the playoffs to the title. She also hit two huge home runs, including a grand slam, in the 16-4 championship game win over Mililani.
Favela finished the season with six homers, a .430 batting average, 27 RBIs and a 1.59 ERA.
"She pushes," Hermosura said about Favela. "She’s the type who says, ‘Let’s do this.’ She’s very energetic. She wants to be on that field in practice, running around, hitting the ball, chasing the ball, catching the ball, pitching the ball. She just loves it. And she’s competitive."
Favela herself is still trying to fathom the fact that she hit two homers in the biggest game of the season.
"I watch it (TV broadcast replays) and every time I say, ‘Did I really just hit that?’," Favela said.
Campbell center fielder Nashlynn Anguay (.437), second baseman Cydney Curran (.463), designated player Sierra Mariano (.403, 23 RBIs) and shortstop Chardonnay Pantastico (.329, seven stolen bases, 28 runs scored) join Favela on the All-State first team.
All of the above players (and coach) were overwhelming choices in voting by coaches statewide, except for one. Pantastico barely beat out Mid-Pacific’s Nicole Lopez — last season’s player of the year — at shortstop. Lopez, who batted .425 with five homers and 19 RBIs, easily landed on the second team, despite not making it to the state tournament.
Lopez certainly had the stats, if not the votes, to make the first unit.
Three players from state runner-up Mililani — third baseman Merilas Rivera (.411, 5 homers, 31 RBIs), first baseman Kylie-Ann Bello (.492, 18 RBIs) and outfielder Kristen Ishii (.453, 17 RBIs) — were chosen to the first team.
Three other players — Kamehameha catcher Rachel Ogasawara (.513), along with Maryknoll pitcher Shearyna Labasan and outfielder Bree Soma (.400, 11 RBIs) — were first-team selections.
Labasan (.453, 13 RBIs, 1.49 ERA), who was a big part of the Spartans’ push to the state semifinals, made the first team for the third time.
Mililani’s Aubree Kim, the pitcher of the year last season as a sophomore, made second team this year. A warrior, she got out of two bases-loaded jams to beat Maryknoll in the semifinals.
Kamehameha’s Kamalani Dung, who finished with a 1.20 ERA, was another second-team selection.
Two from state champion Campbell made the second team — outfielder Ashlyn Yagin and first baseman Caragh Morris.
Other second-team picks were catcher Nohealani Hee and second baseman Tamia Hirano of Maryknoll, third baseman Sala Pedebone of Kapolei, outfielders Alana Cobb-Adams of Kamehameha and Tristan Cozo of Mililani and designated player Mahina Sauer of Kamehameha.
"It was sweet," said Hermosura about the Sabers’ championship. "These girls won it for themselves, and seeing it happen made me very proud."
| FIRST TEAM |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
| P |
Elisa Favela |
Campbell |
Jr. |
| P |
Shearyna Labasan |
Maryknoll |
Sr. |
| C |
Rachel Ogasawara |
Kamehameha |
Sr. |
| 1B |
Kylie-Ann Bello |
Mililani |
Sr. |
| 2B |
Cydney Curran |
Campbell |
Jr. |
| SS |
Chardonnay Pantastico |
Campbell |
Jr. |
| 3B |
Merilas Rivera |
Mililani |
So. |
| OF |
Kristen Ishii |
Mililani |
Jr. |
| OF |
Nashlynn Anguay |
Campbell |
Sr. |
| OF |
Bree Soma |
Maryknoll |
Jr. |
| DP |
Sierra Mariano |
Campbell |
Jr. |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
| P |
Kamalani Dung |
Kamehameha |
Sr. |
| P |
Aubree Kim |
Mililani |
Jr. |
| C |
Nohealani Hee |
Maryknoll |
Fr. |
| 1B |
Caragh Morris |
Campbell |
Jr. |
| 2B |
Tamia Hirano |
Maryknoll |
Jr. |
| 3B |
Sala Pedebone |
Kapolei |
Jr. |
| SS |
Nicole Lopez |
Mid-Pacific |
Sr. |
| OF |
Ashlyn Yagin |
Campbell |
Sr. |
| OF |
Alana Cobb-Adams |
Kamehameha |
So. |
| OF |
Tristan Cozo |
Mililani |
Jr. |
| DP |
Mahina Sauer |
Kamehameha |
Jr. |
HONORABLE MENTION
Aiea: Vesi Li‘ili‘i, Riley Tagawa
Baldwin: Nawai Kaupe, Shyli Puahala-Lau
Campbell: Darien Robinson
Farrington: Kaipo Castillo
Hana: Jayna Hoopai
‘Iolani: Macy Uyehara
Kailua: Moani Kupahu, Robi Lono, Taufau Williams
Kaiser: Seli Aholelei, Crystal Ching-Lake, Tiana Ching-Lake, Rainelle Matsuoka, Kayla Russell
Kalaheo: Tiffani Beach
Kamehameha: Christine Hipa, Kalei Kaneshiro, Katelyn Mahelona, Dallas Millwood, Jordan Millwood, Makana Tyrell
Kamehameha-Hawaii: Kekailani Wong Yuen
Kapolei: Shaycelynn Ho‘ohuli, Tayzha Meyers, Sadie Kapaku-You
Lanai: Noelani Eskaran, Jordan Sanches
Leilehua: Ashley Salausa
Maryknoll: Mylee Enos, Shayna Ige, Kamalei Labasan, Kasey Magdadaro
Mid-Pacific: Kaili-Ann Akimseu, Jenna Kumabe, Lia Nakamoto
Mililani: Markie Okamoto, Maya Yoshiura
Moanalua: Taylor Takushi
Molokai: Brooke Keliihoomalu, Waipuna Kelly-Paleka, Camille Ledesma, Kapua Lee, Tai Yamamoto
Nanakuli: Daria Kawaauhau, Emma Kawaiaea, Cheyenne Lute, Precious Paulo-Meyers
Pac-Five: Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chung
Pearl City: Hope Casarez
Punahou: Nicole Nishizawa, Sarah Sumida, Krystin Wong
St. Francis: Sammie Ofoia, Shaye Simms
Waimea: Kiani Kamakea, Karlyee Rye Malapit, Deannalynn Tafiti
