Kaiser, Kalani Team Talents Awarded For OIA Performance

Heavy losses to graduation in 2013 left Kaiser’s softball team with one of Hawaii’s youngest varsity lineups. But the Cougars looked more like a veteran team on the field, compiling an impressive 11-3 overall record under head coach Mitchell Matsumoto.

Exploits this spring were not lost on OIA East coaches, who voted six of them onto its All-Conference teams.

Leading the way for Kaiser was outfielder Kai Hasegawa who earned a spot on the East’s First Team. A junior, Hasegawa’s steady play helped the Cougars go 11-1 in the regular season, which tied them for first with Moanalua.

Kaiser also had five players make the East’s Second Team: utility Kimberly Dilda, first baseman Marissa Oda, shortstop Rainelle Matsuoka, outfielder Seli Aholelei and pitcher Crystal Ching-Lake. All but Dilda are underclassmen. Oda, Aholelei and Ching-Lake will be juniors, while Matsuoka will be a senior.

Kaiser’s Honorable Mentions were Tiana Ching-Lake, Chelsea Soong, Haley Suzuki, Bailey Gongob and Elyse Tsutsui.

In Division II, junior outfielder Melanie Shiraki made the White Conference First Team All-Stars from Kalani. The Falcons, who finished 4-8, also placed junior first baseman Torie Chinen on the Second Team. Team-mates Jayna Wakatake and Carly Kakuda earned Honorable Mentions.

OIA Reveals Golf All-Star Teams

Both Kalani and Kaiser were well-represented on the OIA’s All-Star golf teams in both the boys and girls divisions.

The Lady Cougars placed both Keila Baladad and Mika Walker on the league’s First Team. Baladad and Walker had tied for fifth overall at the OIA Championships at Turtle Bay in late April.

Kaia Takaki was a First Team pick from Kalani. The Falcons also placed Kainani Ho and Melissa Yago on the East’s Second Team. Kalani’s Mel Morito was selected as the East Coach of the Year by his peers. The Falcons finished second overall in the OIA behind Mililani.

jackster.1969@yahoo.com