OIA Division II East: Takahashi led improved Kalani

Advertiser Staff

Kalani's softball program has struggled in past years, but appears headed in the right direction.

Falcons pitcher Heather Takahashi was named OIA Division II Eastern Division Player of the Year, and Kalani's Ross Hayashi shared Coach of the Year honors with McKinley's Leilani Okuda.

The better news? Takahashi is a senior, but Kalani expects to return all but one other player for next season. That should bode well for Hayashi, a former Kalani baseball all-star and standout at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

OIA Division II champion Kalaheo led the way with six East all-star selections: third baseman Jessika Ngirblekuu, shortstop Kerstyn Tsuruda, outfielders Jasmine Napiha'a and Erica Stanton, catcher DeAnn Horswill and pitcher Kaliko Kepa.

McKinley was represented by first baseman Shanlynn Avega and second baseman Ciria Guisadio, and Farrington placed outfielder Billie Morn.