Softball
Firsts, lasts mark 19th annual New City Nissan Classic


ScoringLive staff
May 19, 2025, 9:09am

 



The 19th edition of the New City Nissan Goodwill Softball Classic, perennially the final game of the 2024-25 prep sports slate, proved to be an especially meaningful one for both Mid-Pacific's Chloe Tepraseuth and Roosevelt's Kara Kahahawai.

Both girls were members of a Leaf squad that mounted a huge comeback in the bottom of the fourth, rallying for eight runs to the the score, then ultimately outslugging Team Rogue down the stretch to post a 20-12 win in the championship game.

For Tepraseuth, the game marked her first ever at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, and she certainly made the most of her opportunity to play there, belting not one but two home runs, one a grand slam that highlighted the fourth inning comeback and the other a three-run shot in the sixth.

"It's always been a childhood dream for me," said Tepraseuth of playing at RWSS. "Growing up, watching the UH girls that I looked up to playing, it felt pretty good."

The storybook ending was for Tepraseuth definitely a nice validation for a career of hard work.

"I mean, I worked hard for this, my whole life," said the Owls' slugger who was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and seven RBI. "So it feels good to have it pay off, you know, in front of everyone too. It's great."

The Classic might have been even more meaningful for Kahahawai,who was not even able to take a single at-bat or throw a pitch in the circle this season at all due to the Roosevelt program being unable to field a team due to low turnout.

"I loved being back on the field with all my friends that I played with in club," said Kahahawai. "Winning this last game felt amazing, because it was my first and last high school game."

Kahahawai, who hit in the cleanup spot for Team Leaf, made the most of her opportunity as well, finishing the evening 3 for 4 with a double, scoring three runs and adding an RBI for good measure.

Following the awards presentation, members of Team Leaf gathered near home plate and Kahahawai's father, Walter, came onto the field to toss the ball for Kahawai's senior hit, a fitting end to a weekend of softball games that annually provides a showcase for Hawaii high school softball.

"This actually meant a lot," said Kahahawai of the opportunity provided by the Classic. "I was really pretty sad when I couldn't play (for Roosevelt) and I think everybody should join this tournament as their last hurrah."

The championship game, which along with the the third place contest, was televised live on Spectrum/OC16, and certainly had no lack of fireworks throughout, with a combined 38 hits in the contest, including 11 doubles and five home runs.

Tepraseuth was joined by four other Leaf players who racked up three or more hits in the contest, among them Kamehameha's Alexis Ahlo-Garcia (4 for 6, two 2B, HR, 3 runs, 2 RBI), Punahou's Lii Brown (3 for 4, 2B, HR, 4 runs, 2 RBI) amd Kendalyn Cordeiro-Felise (4 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBI).

Mililani's Makanalei Watkins-Villegas (4 for 5, HR, 3 runs, 5 RBI) and Iolani's Natalie Ching (5 for 5, 2B, 4 runs, 2 RBI) led the charge for Rogue, who built a 9-1 lead though 3 1/2 innings of play before Team Leaf exploded offensively in the bottom of the fourth.

"For me, I looked forward to being able to play in this tournament as a senior since my freshman year," said Tepraseuth. "So it was just kind of a relief, you know, work hard all this yay, and then finally let it all out on the field.




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