The record 17 runs in a state final wasn’t surprising.
The two runs allowed, on the other hand, was a stunner.
‘Iolani captured its first state softball championship in 19 years with a 17-2 mercy-rule clubbing of Leilehua in five innings on Saturday night in the final of the Datahouse/HHSAA Softball State Championships in Division I at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Allie Capello and Kai Barrett hit three-run homers to contribute to the most runs scored in the championship game in the 42-year history of the tournament.
That could have been expected in a tournament that featured a state-record 36 home runs, more than doubling the previous high.
The shocking numbers? Two and three.
Leilehua, the defending state champion, had scored 44 runs in three games coming in, but was held to two runs on three hits by ‘Iolani’s combo of sisters Aleia and Ailana Agbayani.
“You can’t sum it up. They did what they did,” ‘Iolani coach Benny Agbayani said. “That (Leilehua) lineup was very potent and we had to do our homework.”
The state championship was the third in school history for ‘Iolani, which won back-to-back crowns in 1999 and 2000.
It was making just its second appearance at states since 2009.
“We didn’t win the ILH so we knew our goal was over here and we just wanted a chance at states,” Benny Agbayani said.
Leilehua (12-7), coming off its first state championship a year ago, had won seven games in a row at states and scored in double figures in all of them.
The Mules scored their only two runs against ‘Iolani (19-5) on a bases-loaded walk and a steal of home plate.
“I have no answers. If I had the answer I probably would have made the adjustment,” Leilehua coach Wendell Au said. “That’s just how it is sometimes.”
Capello’s three-run homer gave ‘Iolani an early lead and the Raiders tacked on five more in the second inning to go up 8-0.
The top three hitters in the lineup, Ailana Agbayani, Aleia Agbayani and Capello strung together RBI singles and Barrett’s sacrifice fly put the Mules in a big hole early.
Leilehua, which had scored 22 runs in the first inning of its first three games, failed to record a hit until the top of the third.
Kawena Kahana-Travis’ leadoff single was the first ball to make it to the outfield off ‘Iolani starter Aleia Agbayani.
A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases with one out and the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitters due up.
Coach Agbayani made the move to bring in freshman Ailana Agbayani to replace her sister. After a walk to force in a run, Ailana Agabayani stared down Alana Jarra-Parker and Lovey Kepaa, who were tied for the tournament lead with three homers, and struck out both looking to get out of the jam.
“Put spin over speed. That’s the key,” Ailana Agbayani said.
Rylie Wada added a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth and the Mules walked in two runs to fall behind 12-1. Capello drove in her fifth and sixth runs to make it 14-1 and Barrett belted a three-run blast to right-center.
