Manuma sisters aim for matching state titles
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Though separated by some 30-plus miles every school day, sisters Malama and Anita Manuma will play on the same softball field tonight, each going after a different state championship.
Malama, a senior who plays first base for Kapolei High School, will try to lead the Hurricanes (14-4) to their second straight Division I championship at 8 p.m. against Mililani (15-4).
Anita Manuma
That game will follow the 6 p.m. Division II title game between St. Francis (9-6) — for which Anita plays shortstop and pitcher — and Waipahu (14-3).
The Division I third-place game between Kailua (16-2) and Pearl City (14-4) kicks off the tripleheader at 4 p.m.
All three games will be played at the University of Hawai'i's Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The Manuma sisters were key players on Kapolei's 2004 championship squad — both making The Advertiser's All-State first team — but things did not go as planned in the offseason. Anita, who attended St. Francis in Manoa as a freshman, watched her grades slip after transferring to Kapolei to be with sisters Malama and Valana, who graduated last June.
"My study habits went down at Kapolei," Anita said on Jan. 26, after St. Francis clinched the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's Division II state berth. "I came back for the grades, for the education."
When: Today Who: Division I third-place game: Kailua (16-2) vs. Pearl City (14-4) at 4 p.m.; Division II championship: St. Francis (9-6) vs. Waipahu (14-3) at 6 p.m.; Division I championship: Kapolei (14-4) vs. Mililani (15-3) at 8 p.m. Where: University of Hawai'i's Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium Tickets: Adults $7, Seniors (age 62 and over) and students (grades K-12) $5 Parking: $3 TV: All three games live on OC-16
The timing also could not have been better softball-wise, as the Troubadours finally were able to field their own varsity team this season after playing on a combination squad with Hawai'i Baptist and St. Andrew's in previous years.
STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
St. Francis, with an enrollment of about 400 for grades 7 to 12, had won the ILH intermediate championship three years ago with many of the current varsity players. The Troubadours have no seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen.
"At a small school like ours, the girls are already close-knit, and that helps us as a team," coach Mark Glushenko said. "When Anita left (in 2003) it was heartbreaking for us, but she played with her sisters at Kapolei so it was good for her. When she came back, everybody's confidence just stepped up."
Malama, meanwhile, had her senior plans change dramatically when she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee last August.
Such an injury usually requires 9 to 12 months of healing and rehabilitation, but Malama was back on the field for the regular season finale against Mililani on Jan. 28.
"I just rehabbed every day — and hard," Malama said of her fast recovery.
The timing of her return was perfect as the O'ahu Interscholastic Association playoffs were about to begin. In a quarterfinal victory over Moanalua, Malama's grand slam in the top of the eighth inning gave the Hurricanes a 6-2 victory that clinched a state tournament berth.
And even though she went 0 for 4 in Kapolei's 9-1 win over Mililani in the OIA title game, Hurricanes coach Tony Saffery said having Malama start at first base was noteworthy.
"Her composure makes a difference out there for our defense," Saffery said. "Even at the plate, her presence in the lineup is big. She made a name for herself last year, and everyone knows she's capable of launching one at any time."
That's true of both Manuma sisters, but they already have proven there's no better time than the state tournament.
No matter what uniform they're wearing.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
