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Technique, strategy and the cerebral connection are crucial elements for any state championship team.
For three-peat titlist Campbell, the X-factor was strength. Brute, physical strength — the kind that leads to superior endurance for ace pitcher Dani Cervantes, and immense power at the plate for Jocelyn Alo. Intelligence on and off the diamond was another major asset.
“They’re good students, so easy to coach. They pick up things fast,” longtime coach Michael “Shag” Hermosura said.
The individual results were mind-bending for each senior as they led an otherwise young Sabers squad to a third straight state crown. The panel of coaches and media voted Alo as the Star-Advertiser All-State position player of the year. Cervantes was voted pitcher of the year as the Campbell batterymates were selected to top honors for the second season in a row.
Alo has been a risk-taker with a taste for big challenges. She transferred from Kahuku, where she already won a state crown as a wrestler. She sat out one season and became possibly the most feared batter in Hawaii high school softball history. She was walked 46 times, almost all with practically intentional purposes, and when she saw strikes, she clubbed five home runs during regular and postseason play.
The right-handed-hitting slugger produced 12 home runs and 27 RBIs, batting .571 with a 1.441 slugging percentage. She also had an on-base percentage above .800 and threw out nearly 40 percent of baserunners attempting to steal.
“Jocelyn is in a league of her own,” Mililani coach Rose Antonio said. “She’s very humble, and yes, I was very surprised (other teams) pitched to her. She’ll hurt you. The whole Campbell team peaked at the right time.”
Alo has signed with Oklahoma, which just repeated as national champion. Two visits to the Norman campus provided all the insight she needed.
“Some people think it’s small because it’s Oklahoma and country, but it’s huge. I saw them when they play at home and the stands are always packed. They had to add more stands,” she said.
Alo is not lacking for confidence, not after spending summers on the continent hitting against premier pitchers. It comes with the territory. One story goes that when she took batting practice one afternoon, everything came to a halt. Even the baseball team dropped everything to stand near the softball outfield as she swatted a ball beyond both the left-field softball fence AND the fence that separates the diamond from the football field. That’s roughly 300 feet from home plate.
“When I watch Oklahoma, I think next year that’s going to be me. A lot of pitchers there I’ve faced before in travel ball,” said Alo, who bench presses 220 pounds.
While Kahuku’s — and wrestling’s — loss was Campbell softball’s gain, Cervantes was plugging away diligently. This season, with the young lineup struggling to produce runs — Hermosura moved Alo to the leadoff and No. 2 slots out of desperation, really — Cervantes kept her team close in the wickedly tough OIA West. She went 13-4 with a minuscule 1.05 ERA, 140 strikeouts in 106 innings with just 57 hits and 26 walks issued.
“She carried Campbell throughout the season,” Antonio said. “If it wasn’t for her pitching, it would have been a different story. Pitchers can get stronger as the season progresses.”
There were losses to resurgent Pearl City by 1-0, 1-0 and 2-1 scores, including a late-inning defeat on senior day that left Cervantes teary, but tough. Her resilience held up, and when Campbell’s bats woke up in the postseason, Cervantes grew even stronger.
Her one-hit, 11-strikeout shutout in a 2-0 win over Mililani capped another sensational season. So much of it was sheer grit and trust in her teammates, but there was also some mid-session mastery that few would’ve expected. Cervantes, who will pitch at UH Hilo next season, developed a killer drop pitch, completing her arsenal.
“She learned to throw the drop during season against Mililani the first time. It’s actually a shorter stride with a release from the hip. Palm the ball down,” said Hermosura, who was a pitcher in the long-gone men’s fast-pitch softball leagues. “I learned it from my father in law, Porky Behic.”
Hermosura, who has seen his teams endure adversity only to surge to state titles, was voted coach of the year. He credited his staff and senior leaders.
“They took the team by the hands. They pulled the team together. You’re struggling to find ways to compete with a young team, and they were great leaders. I’m going to miss ’em.”
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. W-L Miscellaneous Statistics
P Dani Cervantes Campbell Sr. 13-4 1.05 ERA, 106.2 IP, 57 H, 140 SO, 26 BB
P Tyanna Kaaialii Pearl City Sr. 13-5 2.59 ERA, 121.2 IP, 122 SO. Batted .300
P Misha Carreira Mililani Sr. 14-3 2.84 ERA, 121 IP, 95 H, 105 SO, 63 BB
Pos. Name School Yr. BA Miscellaneous Statistics
C Jocelyn Alo Campbell Sr. .414 11 RBIs, 5 HR, 46 BB, .773 OBP, 1.069 SLG
1B Dallas Millwood Kamehameha Jr. .528 29 RBIs, 22 R, 4 HR, .609 OBP, .981 SLG
2B Maya Yoshiura Mililani Sr. .352 2 HR, 16 RBIs, 17 R, .417 OBP, .574 SLG
3B Merilis Rivera Mililani Sr. .413 6 HR, 32 RBIs, 17 R, .464 OBP, .746 SLG
SS Nawai Kaupe Maui Sr. .536 11 HR, 23 RBIs, 25 R, .649 OBP, 1.357 SLG
OF Cieana Curran Campbell Sr. .404 17 RBIs, 21 R, 6 HR, 10 SB, .500 OBP
OF Ashley Salausa Leilehua Sr. .567 19 RBIs, 19 R, 6 HR, .612 OBP, .983 SLG
OF Nohea Hee Maryknoll Jr. .407 4 HR, 17 RBIs, 13 R, .478 OBP, .695 SLG
U/DP Kanoe Tanigawa Maryknoll Jr. .414 5 HR, 20 RBIs, 23 R, .461 OBP, .757 SLG
U/DP Maiah Motta Kamehameha Fr. .451 7 HR, 24 RBIs, 12 R, .500 OBP, .902 SLG
>> Position player of the year: Jocelyn Alo, Campbell
>> Pitcher of the year: Dani Cervantes, Campbell
>> Coach of the year: Michael Hermosura, Campbell
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr.
P Kahilu McNicoll Maryknoll Jr.
P Poamai Tuli Aiea Sr.
P Kaena Nistal Leilehua Jr.
C Markie Okamoto Mililani Sr.
1B Kenedi Lopes ‘Iolani Sr.
2B Trinity Favela Campbell Jr.
3B Sammie Ofoia St. Francis Jr.
SS Darian Obara Pearl City Sr.
OF Tausani Tavale Kamehameha Fr.
OF Jaeda McFarland Pearl City Fr.
OF Macy Uyehara ‘Iolani Sr.
U/DP Alana Cobb-Adams Kamehameha Sr.
U/DP Chloe Domingo Campbell Jr.
THIRD TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr.
P Mari Foster Roosevelt Jr.
P Sadie Kapaku-You Kapolei Sr.
P Kamryn Kamakaiwi Leilehua Jr.
C Kyler Stephens Kamehameha Jr.
1B Shannon Pascua-Stanton Mililani Sr.
2B Cheyne Obara Pearl City Jr.
3B D’Asha Saiki Punahou So.
SS Tarah Aniya Mililani Sr.
OF Alesia Ranches Campbell So.
OF Kamalei Labasan Maryknoll Sr.
OF Noel Saunders Pearl City Jr.
U/DP Ashlynn Okamoto ‘Iolani Sr.
U/DP Dyani Cummings-Lani Kailua Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitchers
Cira Bartolotti, Maui
Halee Sweat, Waiakea
Jaeda Cabunoc, Roosevelt
Sierrah Kupihea, St. Francis
Jade Behic, Campbell
Cherise Horita, Kalani
Brooke Baptiste, Kamehameha-Hawaii
Shaylann Grace, Konawaena
Mikayla Kekoa, Kohala
Catchers
Kai Barrett, ‘Iolani
First Base
Skye Ah Yat, St. Francis
Second Base
Logan Carlos, Maryknoll
Third Base
Kylie Tasaki, Pearl City
Danika Stewart, Roosevelt
Shortstops
Maya Nakamura, Roosevelt
Chantelle Shimabukuro, Aiea
Outfielders
Joerdan Lovell, St. Francis
Utility/DP
Lea Hanawahine, Mid-Pacific
Aleia Agbayani, ‘Iolani
Kailee Mahelona, St. Francis
Aliya Harmon, Baldwin
Brandee Chinen, Waiakea
Skylar Thomas, Waiakea
Reilyenne Nahulu, Leilehua
Gianna Araki, Leilehua
Saree-ann Kekahuna, Baldwin
Hilari Balenti, Moanalua
Kylie Carganilla, Farrington
Sasha Tanoue-Kekona, Baldwin
Desiree Chang, Kailua
Johnacy Mackwelung, Waiakea
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