Waimea's potent offense carried them all year, and their bats came through once again on title night, as the Menehunes scored nine runs in the final two innings to break a close game wide open, topping Nanakuli 12-4 to win the DataHouse Division II Softball State Championships at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

"This (winning the Division II state title) is really big for our girls. They worked hard all season for this." said Waimea head coach Teddy Perreira.

The Menehunes, who scored in double-digits in every single game this season, including all three state tournament contests, got things going from the get-go, scoring three runs in the top of the first to grab an early 3-0 advantage.

Then, in the bottom of the first, Alexis Paulo-Meyers would get Nanakuli back into the game with one swing of the bat, launching a shot over the fence in left field to trim the lead to 3-1.

Nanakuli would add two more runs in the bottom of third, again courtesy of an Alexis Paulo-Meyers long ball to left field, this one a two-run shot, to tie the score up at 3-all.

The score would remain deadlocked at 3-3 until the top of the sixth, when the unusually quiet Waimea bats would come alive.

With two runners aboard, Krysta Kali would rocket shot over the fence in left for a three-run homer, vaulting the Menehunes into the lead, and Taylor Ephan would add a solo-shot later in the inning to extend the lead to 7-3.

"I knew I had to pull together for my pitcher... she was struggling on the mound, she was hurt." said Kali of the big fourth inning. "Me and my team we, had to pull together as one."

Waimea starter Deannalyn Tafiti would give up a third solo home run to Paulo-Meyers in the bottom of the sixth, but the Waimea offense would push five more runs across in the top of the seventh, highlighted by back-to-back 2-run doubles by Kristy Pimental and Kali, to make it a eight-run ballgame.

"It's unbelievable." remarked Kali on the feeling of winning a Division II state championship. "I came (to the title game) back in my sophomore year... and I was on the other (the losing) end, but now it feels great... its a whole different feeling, and I never thought this day would come for me and my team."

Kali would lead Waimea with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, including a double, a home run and 5 RBI. Gaylan Matagiese, who was named the tournament's co-Most Outstanding Player along with Nanakuli's Alexis Paulo Meyers, would finish 3-for-4.


DIVISION II ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM (compiled by HHSAA)
 
INF - Krysta Kali, Waimea
INF - Daeja Cummings, Kauai
INF - Kyana Hirokane, Kauai
INF - Alexis Paulo-Meyers, Nanakuli
INF - Sienna Santiago, Waimea
OF - Tiana Cocker, Kalaheo
OF - Gaylan "Ulu" Matagiese, Waimea
C - Taylor Ephan, Waimea
P - Chyanne Koko, Nanakuli
P - Deannalyn Tafiti, Waimea
 
Co-Most Outstanding Player - Gaylan "Ulu" Matagiese, Waimea, and Alexis Paulo-Meyers, Nanakuli

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