Cervantes, Alo take all-state softball top honors

Campbell did some soul searching after a loss to Kapolei in an Oahu Interscholastic Association softball semifinal game. Going from previously undefeated to third place in the league didn’t sit well.

“There were a lot of close games before that and many of the girls didn’t feel like it was anything to worry about,” Sabers coach Michael Hermosura said. “I felt like there was something to worry about. That loss was a real wake-up call.”

The players met and discussed what was ailing them and they righted the ship.

“They talked about how the season was going, how they were acting, how they were playing and how they were doing at practice,” the coach added. “That turned everything around.”

Campbell won its last five games by a 46-7 run differential, including a 12-2 victory over Kapolei for a second straight state Division I championship. There were lots of players doing the heavy lifting, but none more than juniors Dani Cervantes and Jocelyn Alo, who were voted by coaches and media personnel as the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Pitcher of the Year and Position Player of the Year.

Cervantes went 18-0 with a 0.88 earned-run average during the Sabers’ 30-1 season (18-1 not including the preseason). That included 172 strikeouts in 1182⁄3 innings.

“We were blessed to have Dani and the way she worked out this year, bringing up her game, especially her velocity,” Hermosura said. “Her work ethic was just tremendous. She did a mile before practice, did her ’pen, did her abs, ran 3 miles every other day. She showed me that she wanted the ball.”

A transfer from Kahuku, Alo did not make an error in 31 games behind the plate. She also hit .612 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs, and she saved her best for last, going 7-for-9 with eight RBIs at states.

“Having Jocelyn come over was a big, big plus, like a big box in Christmas wrapping,” Hermosura said. “She brought a lot of leadership and confidence. She controlled the tempo of the games and had a big bat.”

Imagine having those two on the same team along with senior Elisa Favela, who was so good in 2015 that she was the Star-Advertiser’s Player of the Year and the de facto Pitcher of the Year. Favela had another solid year, going 11-1 in the pitcher’s circle and hitting .432 with 33 RBIs and two homers.

As a designated player, Favela joins Alo and Cervantes as well as Campbell seniors Cydney Curran (.417, 27 RBIs) at second base and Darien Robinson (.329, 23 RBIs, six home runs) at third on the All-State first team. Hermosura beat out Kapolei’s Tony Saffery and Pac-Five’s Cecil Hasegawa for Coach of the Year honors.

Kapolei pitcher Sadie Kapaku-You (14-4, 2.16 ERA; .354, four HRs, 24 RBIs) and shortstop Laugatausala Pedebone (.500, four HRs, 22 RBIs), Kamehameha first baseman Dallas Millwood (.500, 25 RBIs, nine HRs), and outfielders Kristen Ishii (.333, seven HRs) of Mililani, Bree Soma of Maryknoll (.578) and Kristin Frost (.286, nine stolen bases; 3-1 as a pitcher) of Pearl City round out the All-State first team.

FIRST TEAM

Position Player of the Year Jocelyn Alo, Campbell (left, bottom)

Pitcher of the Year Dani Cervantes, Campbell (left, top)

Coach of the Year Michael Hermosura, Campbell

SECOND TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

Campbell: Caragh Morris, 1B.

Farrington: Kaipo‘okalani Castillo, P; Kaycie Okada, C.

‘Iolani: Kealaulaikalani Gier, 3B.

Kalani: Cherise Horita, P.

Kaiser: Seli Aholelei, P; Marissa Oda, 1B; Elyse Tsutsui 2B.

Kamehameha: Alana Cobb-Adams, SS; Rayla Jacobs-Kea, OF; Kalei Kaneshiro, 3B; Jordan Millwood, 2B; Brooke Sauer, P; Lia Tom, U.

Kamehameha-Hawaii: Taylor Sullivan, 2B; Mykala Tokunaga, P/DP; Makena Wagner, LF; Kekai Wong Yuen, C.

Kapolei: Shaycelynn Ho‘ohuli, 2B; Prestyne Ka‘imi-Montira, C; Raina McKean, 3B; Dallas Pollard-Brownell, OF; Holiday Ribac, OF.

Kohala: Mikayla Kekoa, P/DP.

Lanai: Cherie Malacas, SS; Jordan Sanches, C.

Leilehua: Mahealani Calizo, 1B; Brandi Leong INF.

Maryknoll: Mylee Enos 1B; Nohea Hee, C.

Mid-Pacific: Skylar Tanaka, OF.

Mililani: Tristan Cozo, OF; Markie Okamoto, C; Maya Yoshiura, Brooke Yasuda, OF.

Molokai: Brooke Keliihoomalu, OF.

Nanakuli: Kaila Burnett, C; Daria Kawaauhau, SS; Ashley Van Gieson, INF.

Pac-Five: Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chung, C; Brazzlynn Tovio-Asato, 3B; Karley Ann Yoshioka, SS; Megan Yoshioka, P.

Pearl City: Hope Casarez, 3B.

Punahou: Elyse Nakamoto, OF; Heaven Wong, INF.

Roosevelt: Mika Emoto, 1B

Waialua: Andrea Dicion, SS.

Waiakea: Skylar Thomas, INF.

Waianae: Alyssa Salud-Mendoza, OF; Kamalei Santiago, 2B; Paia‘ala Wilcox-Molina, DP.