When Pearl City snapped Mililani's six-year stranglehold on the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division softball title last season, it was a big breakthrough for the Chargers.

But it proved to be just another stepping stone toward this year's magical run that ended with a state championship — Pearl City's first since 1992.

More icing was added to the cake this past weekend, when senior pitcher/third baseman/center fielder Marina Gusman-Brown was named The Advertiser's State Player of the Year and the Chargers' Keoke Behic was named Coach of the Year after a vote of 12 coaches and members of the media.

Gusman-Brown was a central figure in Pearl City's rise to the top, batting leadoff and playing three key positions. Offensively, she could disrupt opponents in almost any fashion, batting .393 with five doubles, two triples, five home runs, 23 runs, 19 RBIs, a .469 on-base percentage, .787 slugging average and 15 stolen bases in 16 attempts.

As a pitcher, she went 5-2 with a 3.34 earned run average and 36 strikeouts in 44 innings. And defensively, she had a fielding average of .907.

"As far as overall tools, I haven't seen a better female athlete," Behic said. "I don't think there was anyone in the state this year who was stronger, faster, more agile and had a stronger arm than Marina. She was the total package."

Gusman-Brown is joined on The Advertiser's All-State first team by Pearl City classmates Kanani Numata and Corrie Nishikida.

Numata, a second baseman, batted .328 with four doubles, four triples, two home runs, 14 runs scored and 15 RBIs. Her on-base percentage was .403 and her slugging average was .638.

Defensively, the light-footed Numata had a .933 fielding percentage.

Nishikida, a right-handed pitcher, went 11-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 87 innings. She also played third base and batted .412 with 10 runs scored, eight RBIs, a .439 on-base percentage and .508 slugging average.

Nishikida was named Most Valuable Player of the state tournament after she pitched three complete games despite a sore knee.

Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Kamehameha also placed three seniors on the All-State first team: shortstop Kaui Tom, outfielder Alyssa Bergado and pitcher Noe Esperas.

Tom, who was a first team selection as a sophomore outfielder, batted .491 with six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 15 runs and 19 RBIs. Bergado batted .395 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs and 11 RBIs. Esperas, the ILH Player of the Year, went 14-2 with a 0.70 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 110 innings and batted .367 with four doubles and 14 RBIs.

Mililani placed two seniors on the first team: second baseman Casey Sugihara and third baseman Dana Lee. Sugihara batted .565 in the OIA and was a smooth fielder throughout the season. She and Numata were equally impressive and virtually tied in the voting, so both earned first-team All-State honors.

There also was a virtual tie and double-selection at third base with Lee and Kailua senior Shyenne Hussey. Lee batted .402 with 24 RBIs in the OIA and was a deft fielder despite moving over from first base and pitcher last season. Hussey was a feared slugger who batted .375 with three doubles, three home runs and 16 RBIs.

The rest of the first team consists of St. Francis senior first baseman Shannon Lum, Castle senior outfielder Cheynah Farley, Kapolei sophomore outfielder Ka'ili Smith, Baldwin junior catcher Sanoe Kekahuna, Iolani senior utility player Chelsey Keola and Campbell senior utility player Anita Manuma.

Lum batted .487 with six doubles, two triples and four home runs — including a game-winning grand slam — to help the Troubadours finish as ILH runner-up in their first year as a Division I team. Farley, a speedy center fielder, batted .396 with four doubles, two triples, two home runs and eight RBIs. Smith, a repeat selection, batted .389 with six doubles, two triples, 14 runs scored and 17 RBIs.

Kekahuna batted .528 with four doubles and one home run and had an on-base percentage of .632. Keola, a pitcher/first baseman, went 9-3 with a 2.03 ERA and batted .419 with 14 RBIs. Manuma, a pitcher/shortstop/catcher, batted .455 in the OIA with five doubles, two triples, two home runs, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases.

As a pitcher, she had a 1.18 ERA with 24 strikeouts against only five walks.