Kapolei's Acierto is state's best

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kapolei pitcher Tajia Acierto, The Advertiser's state Player of the Year, didn't dominate with strikeouts, but got steadily better as the season progressed. She was 15-1 with a 1.13 ERA and helped the Hurricanes win their first state title. Advertiser library photo

Kapolei, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association and state champion, placed five players on the first team, including sophomore pitcher Tajia Acierto, the Player of the Year. The Hurricanes' Tony Saffery was named Coach of the Year.

The team was voted on by a panel of coaches and media.

Acierto was not a dominant strikeout pitcher but was steadily effective and seemed to get better as the season progressed. She pitched a two-hitter with six strikeouts in a 2-0 victory over Roosevelt in the OIA quarterfinals, another two-hitter in a 2-0 win over Kailua in the semifinals, and a four-hitter in a 4-0 win over Mililani for the championship.

In the state tournament, Acierto pitched a four-hitter in a 4-1 quarterfinal victory over Castle, another four-hitter in a nine-inning, 4-2 semifinal win over Punahou and a complete game in a 4-1 championship victory over Kailua. She also went 2 for 2 with an RBI in the title game.

"She seemed to have a little different energy as the games went by, and the closer we got to our goals, the stronger she got," Saffery said. "It started to change almost every game, and she got more and more focused."

For the season, Acierto went 15-1 with a 1.13 ERA and had 83 strikeouts in 105 innings.

She also was no slouch at the plate, batting .267 with six RBIs in the regular season, .313 in the OIA playoffs and .286 in the state tournament.

Acierto is joined on the All-State first team by three Manuma sisters — Malamaisaua, Valana and Anita — and Austi Paris.

Malamaisaua Manuma, a junior first baseman, batted .429 in OIA play and had an on-base percentage of .455 with 12 RBIs overall.

Valana Manuma, a senior shortstop, batted .341 with a .400 obp and eight RBIs. She added three more RBIs in the state tournament.

Anita Manuma, a sophomore left fielder, batted .348 with a .375 obp and eight RBIs.

All three sisters also were part of Kapolei's tight defense that helped Acierto get by without high strikeout totals.

Paris, a junior third baseman, batted .553 with a .571 obp and 14 RBIs and 12 runs. She made a big impact in the state tournament, batting .444 with four RBIs. Her three-run homer in the sixth inning of the championship game against Kailua broke a 1-1 tie and propelled Kapolei to the title.

Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Kamehameha also placed five players on the first team: second baseman Liane Horiuchi, outfielders Emi Snow and Kaui Tom and utility players Brandi Peiler and Kate Robinson.

Horiuchi, a junior, is a repeat selection. She was a smooth fielder and the most feared leadoff batter in the state, batting .471 with two doubles, two triples, two home runs, 11 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 14 runs.

Snow, a senior who signed with Brigham Young, batted .333 with four stolen bases while playing left and center.

Tom, a sophomore, batted .447 with two doubles, a triple and one home run. She also was a valuable right fielder who covered ground and could make assists to any base.

Peiler, a senior pitcher/left fielder, went 5-0 and did not allow an earned run in 44 2/3 innings, with 65 strikeouts. She batted .404 with two triples, one home run and 13 RBIs.

Robinson, a senior pitcher/third baseman, batted .341 with six RBIs. She pitched a four-hitter with nine strikeouts to help the Warriors defeat Hawai'i Baptist/St. Andrew's/ St. Francis, 2-0, and pitched seven scoreless innings against Punahou to help Kamehameha win, 2-1, in 21 innings.

Leilehua catcher Pikake Nutter-Gaudet, Kailua ace Courtney Kessell and Punahou pitcher Sarah Weisskopf round out the first team.

Nutter-Gaudet, a senior, was one of the OIA's most feared sluggers the past three seasons. In the OIA tournament, she went 3 for 3 with two doubles in a 3-1 loss to Kailua in the quarterfinals, then went 2 for 3 with a triple, home run and two RBIs in a 3-0 victory over Roosevelt in a consolation bracket game.

Kessell, a junior who was the 2003 Advertiser State Player of the Year, was the state's most dominant and best strikeout pitcher. She pitched four no-hitters, combined with Chaunte Wallwork on another no-hitter and struck out an astounding 177 batters in 99 innings.

Kessell tossed a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts and one walk in a 4-0 victory over previously unbeaten Castle in the regular season.

In the state tournament, she pitched a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and no walks in a 2-0 victory over Waimea in the first round, another no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and two walks in a 6-0 quarterfinal win over Waiakea, and a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks in a 3-0 semifinal victory over Kamehameha.

Kessell also showed great improvement at the plate, batting .386 with eight RBIs.

In two crucial OIA Eastern Division games, she went 2 for 3 with a double and pitched a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts and one walk in a 1-0 victory over Roosevelt, then went 2 for 3 with an RBI and pitched another one-hitter with 13 strikeouts in a 1-0 win over Moanalua.

Weisskopf, a junior who was the ILH Player of the Year, went 8-3 with a 0.96 ERA in league play, striking out 55 in 80 innings. She also batted .450 with five doubles and five RBIs.

Saffery, who started the Hurricanes' program just over three years ago, helped mold a young but talented group of players into a cohesive unit. Their only loss was a 1-0 heartbreaker to Mililani, when the Trojans scored in the sixth inning.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.