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Niueni Elisara

Radford softball  •   #9  P/INF  Senior

Niueni Elisara and the Radford softball team are off to a promising start this spring.

Elisara, a senior and third-year starter for the Rams, played a prominent role in a pair of wins last week to open the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II season. The 5-foot-6 right-handed Elisara batted a combined 6 for 6 with eight RBI and five runs scored in wins over Farrington and Waialua. She also pitched a complete-game three-hitter against the Bulldogs to lift the Rams to 2-0 in league play.

While Radford fourth-year coach Filamaua Baughn is delighted by Elisara's torrid start, she's not surprised much by her early-season success.

"She's always been a strong asset from when she first joined us her sophomore year," Baughn said of Elisara, who attended Kalaheo High School as a freshman.

Elisara played one season of varsity softball for the Mustangs before she transferred to Radford, but she grew up playing baseball and soccer as a youngster.

"She converted to softball in middle school, but at Radford we don't have many girls that are experienced at softball," Baughn said.

It didn't take long for Elisara, who goes by the nickname Ninu, to make an impact for the Rams.

"She's always been the ideal athlete physically, even as a sophomore, but she leads by example with her performance on the field, especially in the batting lineup – she's always been a consistent hitter – and over the years she's gotten stronger and faster," Baughn described. "She moves well on the bases and is very quick and I think that comes from playing soccer growing up as well."

Elisara only picked up pitching as a freshman at Kalaheo, but Baughn describes her as a "natural hitter."

"I would say she's a power hitter. She's always been strong physically, but her hitting style has changed a little over the years but only to become more efficient," Baughn said. "She's always been consistent. We can always count on her for RBIs, but I think with her maturity and adjusting her swing last year and this year, we're seeing more home runs, so we're happy for her; She's worked hard on her mechanics and batting."

Elisara, who bats third in the Rams' lineup, put her power-hitting ability on display in last Tuesday's 13-1 win over Farrington. She slugged a pair of home runs in addition to a triple with four RBI and three runs scored while holding down the shortstop position.

"After she hit one (homer), I asked her what she was thinking, what was her approach and she said she was just focused on her mechanics and made contact and the ball went. That one home run was a line drive that just went straight over the fence. Everybody there kind of gasped, like ‘whoa,' but I'm happy for her because we always tell her ‘don't try to hit home runs, just think of your mechanics' and that's what she did and I think that was one of her best hitting games," Baughn said.

Three days later Elisara moved from shortstop to inside the pitching circle against Waialua. She allowed a pair of earned runs, scattered three hits, struck out four batters and walked two over five innings of work. At the plate she batted 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles. Elisara drove in four runs, including one RBI-sacrifice fly, and scored twice in the 14-3 victory over the Bulldogs.  

Baughn noted that the Rams played the game with just nine available players due to an injury to one of her players, which led to some shuffling of the lineup.

"She was playing with a defense that wasn't completely able to back her up and that's where the three runs came in, but she was able to compose herself even with all the things going on on the field and she didn't lose it. She was the one to tell the girls, ‘We got it. Calm down,' so I'm proud of her that she kept her composure and settled down the girls even though she was the one in the hot seat pitching," Baughn said.

Elisara's statistics reflect her continued improvement over the years. As a sophomore two seasons ago, Elisara posted a .462 batting average and a 4-5 pitching record with a 9.75 earned run average. She led the team innings pitched (36 2/3), wins (4), strikeouts (41), runs scored (15), runs batted in (11) and doubles (4).

She followed that up by batting .593 in 2023, with team-highs in hits (32), runs scored (32) and triples (3). Elisara lowered her ERA to 5.88 and went 5-1 on the year. The Rams were without a "true third baseman," as Baughn noted, and Elisara filled in at the hot corner, where she earned All-Hawaii D2 First Team honors.

"She really performed well there. At the state tournament she came through with her bat and made some great defensive plays, but she's never been very vocal – more of a get-it-done-on-the-field type of player, but this year as a captain she's stepping up as a leader and stepping out of her comfort zone," Baughn said.

Like her on-the-field ability, Elisara is described by her coach as well-rounded off of the diamond as well.

"She's very personable and gets along with everyone. She can talk story with everybody – just a very friendly, funny girl. She's your typical local girl that always loves to go to the beach. Every team-bonding (activity) she suggests the beach," Baughn laughed.

Elisara is the oldest of three children in her household. Her father is in the Air National Guard and moved the family to Chicago for a few years before they returned to Hawaii.

"Radford is a very diverse school with a lot of military kids and local kids, but Ninu is unique because she kind of comes from both, so she's kind of a glue to the team because she can converse with the local kids and the military kids and be the middle ground for both kids. Also, as the oldest of three siblings, she's like her parents' right-hand man, where some practices she will have to leave fifteen minutes early to pick up her brother, so being team captain is fitting for her this year," Baughn said.

Elisara manages to fit a lot into her schedule, no matter the season. In addition to softball in the spring, she serves as a manager for the Radford football team in the spring and is also a member of the Rams' soccer squad during the winter season.

Elisara recently signed a letter of intent to play softball for Santa Rosa Junior College in northern California.

In a 10-8 win over Aiea Tuesday afternoon, Elisara batted 1 for 3 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. She pitched four innings in relief, allowed two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts and four walks and picked up the win. 

Elisara and the Rams (3-0) continue the regular season Saturday afternoon, when they take on Kalaheo at Aikahi Park. 

SOFTBALL

Shaz Ancheta, Leilehua — Hit a three-run home run in a loss to Mililani 

Kuuleilani Ching, Aiea — Batted 2 for 2 with six RBI in a win over Waipahu 

Kiersten Chong, Aiea — Batted 4 for 4 with a triple, one stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Waipahu 

Kyralee-Marie Cordeiro, Radford — Allowed one run on one hit with 10 strikeouts and two walks in a five-inning win over Farrington and batted 4 for 4 with a triple, two RBI, one stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Waialua 

Kendalyn Cordeiro-Felise, Kapolei — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, five RBI, one stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Nanakuli 

Makayla Difolco, Kalaheo — Batted 4 for 5 with two doubles and two runs scored in a loss to Kailua 

Alena Frost, Castle — Batted 4 for 4 with a home run and two runs scored in a win over Castle 

Kaienna Fuentes-Arellano, Campbell — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run and two runs scored and allowed one run on two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game win over Leilehua and allowed two runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game win over Kapolei 

Kaui Garcia, Mililani — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, two doubles and seven RBI in a win over Leilehua 

Taryn Hirano, Mililani — Batted 4 for 5 with a home run, double, two RBI and four runs scored in a win over Leilehua 

Eva Kameoka, Moanalua — Allowed one unearned run on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in a complete-game win over Castle 

Rylie Madariaga, Mililani — Batted 4 for 4 with a double, RBI and three runs scored in a win over Waianae 

Kandi Malama-Ahlo, Kapolei — Homered, drew a walk and allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk in a five-inning win over Nanakuli and hit a two-run home run and allowed one earned run on three hits with one strikeout and two walks in seven innings pitched in a loss to Campbell 

Kayla Mashino, Moanalua — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI in a win over Castle 

Kehai Noda, Kaimuki — Batted 4 for 5 with a triple, walk, five RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Kahuku 

Makayla Pagampao, Mililani — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run and five RBI and allowed one hit with three strikeouts and no walks in three scoreless innings pitched in a win over Waianae and homered, walked twice and allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks in five innings pitched in a win over Leilehua 

Lexi Santiago, Waiakea — Batted 2 for 4 with a triple, double, five RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kau 

Meghan Spencer, Waiakea — Batted 3 for 3 with two home runs and four RBI in a win over Kau 

Taja Souza, Aiea — Batted 1 for 1 with three walks and struck out 12 batters without a walk and did not allow a hit in four scoreless innings pitched in a win over Waipahu 

Journey Sumida, Kailua — Batted 4 for 5 with two doubles and three runs scored in a win over Kalaheo 

Sadie Tanabe, Kaiser — Batted 3 for 4 with a triple, three RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Kaimuki 

Malia Tani, Castle — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, triple, three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kalani 

Brooklyn Uegawachi, Kaiser — Allowed one run on one hit with six strikeouts and one walk in a four-inning win over Kaimuki 

K. Welch-Hutchins, Kahuku — Batted 4 for 6 with a home run, double, six RBI and three runs scored in a loss to Kaimuki 

Rylee Yamasaki, Kaiser — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, triple, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over Roosevelt 

Elyse Yoshioka, Kaiser — Batted 4 for 5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored in a win over Roosevelt 

Ivy Young, Kalaheo — Batted 3 for 5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in a loss to Waialua 

GIRLS WATER POLO

Raine Alano, Leilehua — Scored three goals in a loss to Kahuku and scored three goals in a loss to West Combined 

Ione Chicoine, Hawaii Prep — Scored six goals in a win over Hilo 

Ellie Dees, West Combined — Scored five goals in a win over Leilehua 

Dallas Ellie, Moanalua — Scored four goals in a loss to Kapolei 

Kayla Gabriel-Medeiros, Kapolei — Scored six goals in a win over Moanalua 

Kaileilani Harvey, Kamehameha — Scored six goals in a win over Mid-Pacific and scored three goals in a win over Iolani 

Maile Imonen, Hawaii Prep — Scored eight goals in a win over Hilo

Maile Judd, Kaiser — Scored five goals in a win over Kailua 

Izzy Lee, Punahou II — Scored four goals in a win over Iolani II 

Maya Meza, Kamehameha II — Scored four goals in a win over Mid-Pacific II 

Alex Sueoka, Iolani — Scored five goals in a loss to Punahou 

Jazlyn Tomisa, Roosevelt — Scored five goals in a win over Mililani 

Sara Wilcox, Mid-Pacific II — Scored four goals in a win over Iolani II

Kimorah Wong, Kahuku — Scored four goals in a win over Leilehua 

Leinaala Wong, Kamehameha — Scored three goals in a win over Iolani 

Noe Wong, Mid-Pacific II — Scored four goals in a win over Iolani II