Posted on: Friday, February 13, 2004
SOFTBALL
Lanai, Honoka'a hope to make splash
| • | Soccer: 'Aiea, Pearl City in state soccer upsets |
| • | Softball: Kapolei, Kailua, ILH teams in semis |
| • | Basketball: McKinley rolls past Pearl City |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The excitement surrounding Hawai'i's inaugural Division II state football tournament has carried over into this weekend's Division II softball tournament debut, although on a much smaller scale.
Two of the Islands' most remote schools, Lana'i and Honoka'a, will be closely following their respective teams in today's semifinals at the University of Hawai'i's Rainbow Wahine Stadium.
Honoka'a, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation's representative, takes on University High of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu at 2 p.m., followed by Lana'i of the Maui Interscholastic League against Kalaheo of the O'ahu Interscholastic Federation at 4.
The winners will meet for the title at 6 p.m. tomorrow.
For Lana'i, this represents only the school's third state tournament appearance in any team sport since it joined the MIL in 1984.
The Pine Lasses qualified for the state volleyball tournament in 1999 and 2001. Athletic director David McHugh said Lana'i has a high school enrollment of 173.
"The whole town, the whole community is excited for us," said Lana'i coach Rod Sumagit. "When we got back from Maui (for the MIL tournament) people were waiting for us at the boat harbor, and when we had (NFL players) Jason Gesser and (Rams Leonard) Little here for a Pro Bowl clinic, they recognized the girls and congratulated them. It's a big thing for the girls, their parents, the school, the community."
State tournament appearances are more common at Honoka'a, especially in basketball, but still are few and far between compared to bigger schools.
"This is the first time ever for softball," Honoka'a athletic director Keith Tolentino said. "We've had good teams, but we always fall a little short. So this is big. We have some signs up around school, and everyone's excited."
Dragons coach DeeDee Pahio said her team has finished in the top four of the BIIF the past five years and set a goal this year to win the overall title. But she acknowledged Division II is a good fit for Honoka'a, which has an enrollment of about 700.
"It's a nice thing to be able to compete for a state championship," Pahio said. "For some of our girls, it's beyond their wildest dreams."
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
