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Conventional thinking.
It’s so conventional. When Aleia Agbayani was a little kid, her dad had her throw baseballs and softballs with her right hand. Well, he tried.
“She always put the ball in her left hand and threw it,” ‘Iolani coach Benny Agbayani said.
He didn’t resist. So, instead of the combination of a right-handed throwing fielder or pitcher and a left-handed batter, Aleia grew up perfectly comfortable in her own skin.
The 2019 Star-Advertiser Softball All-State player of the year is a rarity, a center fielder with exceptional range and arm strength, a pitcher who was consistently a winner — one of the few with an ERA below 4.00 this year — and more so, a hitter with unfathomable statistics that have never been recorded in Hawaii prep history. At least, not at the highest, Division I level. Aleia Agbayani’s ascent led coaches and media to vote her to near-unanimous status as a position player. Even when she pitched, she batted second in the potent ‘Iolani Raiders lineup; the better to ensure that every opposing hurler would have to face the state’s most dangerous offensive weapon in the first inning.
Agbayani’s compact swing and keen vision led to preposterous numbers in what is arguably the toughest league/division statewide.
>> 16 home runs
>> 54 runs batted in
>> 49 runs scored
>> .636 batting average (49-for-77)
>> .692 on-base percentage (15 walks)
>> 1.455 slugging average, including nine doubles and three triples
For the season, Aleia Agbayani set the tone on the mound with a 7-3 record and 3.98 ERA. In just under 60 innings, she struck out 36 and walked just 21, permitting 72 hits. For years, it has been quite the daily haul from Central Oahu to Moiliili.
“It’s always been worth it to make the drive down here. I’ve been going to this school since sixth grade, and it’s honestly nothing to drive here. It’s been great,” Aleia Agbayani said. “My mom (Niela) and dad really push me hard, and honestly, that’s what leads to my success.”
Dad isn’t surprised.
“I think it’s hard to explain that. It all depends on the player on how much they want to accomplish, how much they want to improve in their game. Spending a lot of time in the batting cages, you know, we’re spending almost 20 hours a week, and she has to study,” Benny Agbayani said of his oldest child. “She took it in her own hands to work out and do everything she needs to do for her last season. She wanted to go out with a big bang.”
Oh, and there were 14 stolen bases, just to get her teammates a better chance to drive in runs.
“Since she came into ‘Iolani, she was always a dynamic player,” St. Francis coach Randy Langsi said. “Every single swing, she’s great. Even if she’s 1-for-3 or 1-for-4, that one hit can change a game. She’s been amazing, an amazing player and amazing person.”
“She’s straight up legit,” Leilehua coach Wendell Au said. “Sometimes, you’re just born and raised with it. She’s got a dad who knows what it takes. Honestly, she’s a very formidable force. I’m a pitch caller, and there’s just some batters, all you’re looking for is to minimize the damage and limit where they’re going to hit. In the state championships, it didn’t leave the yard and to a certain extent, that’s a win.”
At the state tourney, the senior batted 10-for-13 (.769) with two home runs, 11 RBIs and 13 runs scored, along with two doubles, a triple and three walks.
“I’m trying to wrap myself around the numbers that I’m seeing. If I’m comparing this to baseball, this is unbelievable,” Punahou coach David “Boy” Eldredge said.
D’Asha Saiki, Punahou’s stellar shortstop, was second in voting for position player of the year. Saiki hit .579 with eight homers, 28 RBIs and 33 runs. Her 21 walks led to a .692 OBP. Like Agbayani, Saiki is heading to Cal. Both were part of coach Benny Agbayani’s Crush club team in recent years. Gianna Araki, Leilehua’s reliable junior catcher, also racked up votes.
Coach of the year honors went to Benny Agbayani, who guided the Raiders to their first state title in 19 years. Langsi was second in the voting after leading St. Francis to its second consecutive D-II state title. The Saints split their games with the top D-I teams in the ILH, and also swept Kamehameha.
Eldredge was third in the voting after guiding Punahou to the ILH championship.
Baldwin’s Sanoe Kekahuna, the former standout catcher, was fourth in the balloting. Au of Leilehua, Michael “Shag” Hermosura of Campbell and Aiko Gojo of Mid-Pacific also received votes.
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