Aiea players celebrate after winning the school's first ever OIA Division II title with a win over Nanakuli. CJ Caraang | SL

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Taira Shibata's 2RBI double lifted Aiea past eighth-ranked Nanakuli, 10-8 in an eight inning thriller to claim their first-ever Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II title on Friday night at McKinley's softball stadium. The Na Alii dethroned the three-time defending OIA D2 champions to hand the Golden Hawks their first loss of the season.

Aiea lost to Nanakuli twice in the regular season, 10-0 on Mar. 17 and they forfeited a week later on Mar. 24. The Golden Hawks were ranked in the ScoringLive/OC16 Power Rankings top ten for most of the season. However tonight, third time was the charm as the Na Alii broke through.

"It was really great winning this time around, they beat us last year," said Shibata.

"Anytime you get the first one, it sets the bar for the community and the school. Things come true when you put in the time and effort," said Aiea coach Alan Higuchi.

Kailie Alama went 2-for-2, scored two runs and had two RBIs. Vesi Liilii scored two runs and brought in two more. Poamai Tuli pitched the whole game striking out seven and walking four.

Alama was hit by a pitch and Marie Patacsil came in as a courtesy runner. Chantel Shimabukuro grounded out to Cheyenne Lute, but Lute walked Tesi Tavale. Poamai Tuli struck out for the second out making way for Shibata. Shibata's double drove in Patacsil and Tavale for a 10-8 lead. However, Rayna Higuchi grounded out to first to end the inning giving Nanakuli one last shot.

"It felt rewarding that all the hard work paid off. A lot of pressure was there, but I was glad it came out the way it did," said Shibata, who went 2-for-4. "It was really stressful to drive in those runs, but I knew I could do it and I wanted to show that I can do it and will do it."

"She has a habit of doing that and she comes through with big hits. She has a feel for something like this. Some of my coaches called it as far as her getting that big hit," said Higuchi, on Shibata.

The Na Alii got the first two outs as Lute popped out to Kayla Higuchi and Kaila Burnett struck out. Emma Kawaiaea hit a single and Tuli walked Daria Kawaauhau. However, Ashley Van Gieson hit it straight to second baseman Shimabukuro and Aiea sealed the game.

"We all had faith in each other and we didn't bring anyone down. We kept going and knew we could do it," said Shibata.

Aiea added two runs in the first inning and pushed the lead to 5-0 after the top of the fourth inning. Nanakuli slowly chipped away at the deficit as they scored two runs in the the third. The Golden Hawks rallied back to take the lead after Mahina Piilani crushed a grand slam to give the Golden Hawks a 7-5 lead. Piilani went 1-for-3 for the game.

The Na Alii scored two more runs in the top of the sixth after Alama's RBI single. Aiea added another run in the top of the seventh when Riley Tagawa brought in Liilii for her second run of the game to make it 8-7. However, Nanakuli's Kanalei McCoy's RBI single brought in the tying run to send it into extra innings.

"For them when you experience things like that and having perseverance is a life skill to have personally. To understand that things won't always go your way, so I think that's the beauty of sports because it will be able to teach you that," said Higuchi.