Championship Saturday delivers excitement for KS Hawai'i

The KSH baseball team swept a series with Konawaena to win their fifth consecutive Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II title.

Apr. 25, 2016

Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth

Saturday was an exciting day for KS Hawaiʻi student athletes and their supporters. In a span of 85 minutes, the baseball, softball and water polo teams won their league Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) championships. Coupled with a number of individual honors and earlier in the week accolades, the KS Hawaiʻi ʻohana has a lot to be proud of this week.

Here is a quick round-up and links to articles from local media recaps of these amazing accomplishments.

Earlier in the week, the KS Hawaiʻi boys golf team won the school a first-ever BIIF team championship with four golfers placing in the top six to win the team title. Golfers also competed in the individual tournament on Sunday at Hualalai Resort. Seniors Preston Ching and Iokua Manuia; juniors Kala‘i Pomroy and John Andrade; and freshman Pono Yanagi qualified for round two of the tournament on Tuesday at Mauna Kea Golf Course.

Leading the super Saturday, the girl’s water polo team secured a thrilling overtime victory over Hawaiʻi Prep. Sophomore Lahela Rosario scored the sudden-death goal for a 13-12 victory over HPA to win the school’s seventh consecutive BIIF title. The win earns these Warriors a seeded-birth in the state tournament next month on Oʻahu.

Next, the girl’s softball team continued its dominance in the BIIF, sweeping the title game series against Kohala to finish their season unbeaten. Led by a strong group of senior talent, the Warriors defeated the Cowgirls 10-0 and 17-1 to celebrate a fifth consecutive BIIF DII championship. They advance to the state championships on May 11-14 at Patsy Mink Stadium on Maui.

Then the boy’s baseball team took to the mound in a championship matchup against Konawaena. The Warriors swept the series with the Wildcats with 10-1 and 6-2 victories to earn their fifth consecutive BIIF DII title. Next up, the state tournament, which will be held May 5-7 in familiar territory at Wong Stadium in Hilo.

Finally, on the mat, several Warriors won individual honors in judo. Senior Kayla Araki repeated as BIIF champion and earned girls player of the year honors as voted on by BIIF head coaches. Senior Joyden Madriaga and junior Richard Hata also earned BIIF championships on the mat on Saturday and will advance to compete at states on May 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Good luck to all of these Warriors as they continue to compete at their respective state champtionships over the next three weeks. I Mua Kamehameha!

UPDATE(4/27): Four golfters Pomroy (second), Ching (third), Yanagi (fourth) and Andrade (eighth) finished in the top 10 of the individual BIIF tournament on Tuesday.

The KSH softball team dominated Kohala to earn ITS fifth consecutive BIIF DII championship on Saturday.