Young Kailua Team Shows How It’s Done
With one of the youngest rosters in the OIA this spring, Kailua was perhaps a year away from being a contender. With a tone-setting 4-0 start in the OIA Red East, however, the baseball team quickly resumed its prototypical look.
Indeed, when the 2014 season was officially in the books, its youth was forgotten, as the team not only won the Red East, but went on to finish second in the OIA tournament and fourth in the Division I state tournament.
Kailua, which went 13-6 overall, was well-represented on the Red East’s All-Conference teams, which the league unveiled recently.
Leading the way was senior outfielder Peter Kanoho, who batted in the leadoff spot. Kanoho also played on the boys volleyball team this spring, splitting his time between the two sports as needed.
The Surfriders also boasted a league-high five players on the Red East Second Team, including catcher Dalton Kalama, pitcher Royce Komesu, first baseman Joseph Byers, second baseman Brendan Odo and third baseman Lawson Faria.
Kailua saw Joey Cantillo, Matt Hanohano, Dustin Imanaka, Jameson White, Keiki Kanahele Santos, Pilipo Kupahu and Noah Auld earn Honorable Mentions.
Buoyed by their 4-0 start, and wins in six of their first seven outings, the Surfriders went 9-3 in the Red East to capture the season title. Corey Ishigo was named the Red East’s Co-Coach of the Year (along with Leslie Loo of Roosevelt) for his efforts.
* Jack Bell was named to the Second Team as an outfielder from Kalaheo.
* Like the Mustangs, Castle was in rebuild mode in 2014. Although the Knights didn’t have anyone make the First or Second Team, four players earned Honorable Mentions — Chase Kalama, Keaton Loui, Matthew Lee and Alaka’i Kim.
Castle’s Iris Kawada Makes Golf’s First Team
Although only a sophomore, Castle’s Iris Kawada already has established herself as one of the state’s top high school golfers. At the state golf championships at Turtle Bay recently, she carded a 143 to finish fourth overall. She finished just five strokes behind individual state champion Mariel Galdiano of Punahou. Kawada also finished second in the OIA with a two-day total of 150. Her score had tied her for the lead with Mari Nishiura of Mililani. Nishiura prevailed in a playoff to win the individual title. Kawada recently was chosen as an OIA East All-Star. She was the only golfer from the Windward side to earn First Team honors.
Ahshevonne Savaiinaea made the Second Team from Kahuku. She was joined by Kalaheo’s Mayumi Ishikawa.
In the boys division, golfer Caleb Keohokapu earned First Team honors from Kailua. He finished fifth overall at the OIA Individuals last month and went on to finish 15th at the state golf championships.
Castle placed both Derek Chinen Jr. and Colby Gunderson on the East’s Second Team. Also receiving Second Team honors were Gabriel Santeco of Kahuku and Nathaniel Scott of Kalaheo.
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