The Lady Hawks took control from the outset in an eye-opening victory over East top-seed Kalaheo, 12-2, to claim the first OIA softball title in school history.

But hot on the heels of an extra-inning victory just one day earlier over previously undefeated Waipahu in the semifinals, perhaps capturing the White division crown was part of the plan all along.

"They knew they had one more game to play, they knew the (OIA White) title was within their grasp... the girls never lost sight of their goals." Nanakuli head coach Ricky Guzman. "Our goal that we set awhile back, that if we were given the opportunity to get to the championship game, let's go finish this."

And Nanakuli would waste little time in working to make that goal a reality as Alexis Paulo-Meyers would open the game with a walk, and would get into scoring position on a wild pitch. Precious Paulo-Meyers would bring her sister home one batter later on a sharp grounder between second and third to give the Lady Hawks an early 1-0 advantage.

In the second inning, Nanakuli would threaten again, putting runners on first and second following a pair of walks with just one out. But Kalaheo third baseman Venise Elisara would make a nifty snag of line shot and make an easy throw to double off the runner at second to end the threat.

The floodgates would open for Nanakuli offensively in the third, as six runners would cross the plate in the inning.

Following an Alexis Paulo-Meyers double to left to leadoff the inning, Nanakuli would proceed to convert a throwing error, a stolen base, and a walk into a run, and then a bloop single for another score. In all, Nanakuli would manufacture another four runs in the inning, two on wild pitches and another two on a fielding error.

Nanakuli starter Chyanne Koko pitched a solid overall game, allowing just one hit and one walk in her first three innings of work, before surrendering a towering shot by Venise Elisara to left field for a home run with a runner on in the bottom of the fourth.

The two-run shot by Elisara would be the last scoring opportunity for Kalaheo down the stretch, but Nanakuli, already leading 9-2 in the top of the fifth, continued to put the pressure on offense.

Three more runs would cross home plate in the top of the fifth, the final one coming on the second-to-last batter of the inning, as Koko would lace a single to right to bring home Alexis Paulo-Meyers to give Nanakuli a ten-run advantage.

Koko would put down the Mustangs in order in the last of the fifth to seal the win, finishing with just two runs on three hits, striking out five and walking just one.

Alexis Paulo-Meyers would go 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, 2 runs scored and an RBI.

"This win brings great joy to the community, to the school... the pride comes back." remarked Guzman. "This Nanakuli program is still young, a lot of young players on this squad and we're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the next few years."

With the victory, Nanakuli secures a first-round bye in the upcoming Datahouse/HHSAA State Softball Championships.

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