Pitching and defense are definitely major components for any title run, but with so many dominant pitchers taking the circle in this year's Data House/HHSAA Division I Softball Championships, the ability for teams to finding hitting at the right times and situations might very well be the secret ingredient to reaching the title game.

Here are my picks for Division I softball, right or wrong, and a bit of rationale as to why. Feel free to post your thoughts as well, in good taste of course. Division I and II baseball selections to come tomorrow.

QUARTERS

KAMEHAMEHA-LEILEHUA
Warriors will need to get back to game speed after a long break, but should have more than enough firepower to take care of business against a Mules team that got all they could handle from the Lunas in the first round. KAMEHAMEHA

MOANALUA-HILO
Leisha Yamauchi's number was called upon in relief against Kapolei, and she will likely be in the circle again today against the fourth seed Hilo. The Vikings will counter with their ace, Aliesa Kaneshiro, who pitched Hilo to an 8-4 win over Keaau in the BIIF championship. This is a little close to call, but I think that a big hit or two from the meat of Na Menehune's order will be the difference maker. MOANALUA

SEMIFINALS

In this semifinal, look for the Warriors roll with ace Kamalani Dung in the circle. If the top-seed jumps out to an early cushion behind the hitting of Christine Hipa and company, it will be a long afternoon for Moanalua. KAMEHAMEHA

SEMIFINAL 2

MILILANI-CAMPBELL
The Trojans looked mighty sharp against the Cougars in the opening round, and have beaten the Sabers in both regular season meetings this year. Joen Baker looked nothing short of dominant, striking out 8 or 9 batters she faced. Campbell is no easy out, particularly with Summer Palipti on the mound, but Mililani appears poised and dangerous after a mercy-rule win over Keaau. MILILANI

PUNAHOU-BALDWIN
Is there is more dominant pitcher in the state right now than Jaci Young? The senior hurler recorded 14 strikeouts against a very dangerous Marauder hitting order and there is little doubt that she take the circle against Baldwin. Punahou won't beat you with the long ball as they would in years' past, but they are methodical in manufacturing runs and capitalize on opponent miscues. PUNAHOU

SEMIFINALS

Not sure if Jaci will take the ball for a third straight game, but even if she does, I would venture to say that Trojans look to have regained the form that took them to an undefeated league record. As much as Punahou has prevailed more than they haven't in close games, I think the Trojans will put up more runs than the Buffanblu are able to counter in this one. MILILANI

CHAMPIONSHIP

As good as the Trojans looked in round one, the Warriors have been the team to watch in the extremely tough ILH Division ranks. The Warriors' only two losses on the year came against strikeout pitchers, with Punahou's Jaci Young and Maryknoll sophomore Shearyna Labasan earning W's, and Kamehameha will likely see another hurler in Joen Baker in the final. Its arguable though that Baker has not seen the likes of the Warriors lineup, a team that pounded out 133 runs in 16 games this year.

Mililani can definitely put runs on the board themselves, evidenced by a 15-run, 15-hit rout of Keaau in the opening round, so it might come down to which team will establish themselves first, and it very well could come down to 'small ball' rather than aiming for the fences at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Somehow though, I don't see it being a very tight final score-wise, with the Warriors winning their first state softball title since 2008 over the Trojans going away. KAMEHAMEHA