The 2007 Data House/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Softball State Championships was a story of triumph, especially for Baldwin senior ace Nicole Alconcel, but it also was a tale of "Nice Guys Finish First."

Bears head coach Rudy Souza, the patriarch of Baldwin's program for the past 30 years, and son/top assistant Ryan Souza, who had been head coach from 2000 through 2005, will step down from their positions this week.

"We pau," Rudy Souza said.

They go out as ultimate winners, after a 17-0 state title season capped by Saturday's 2-0 victory over longtime nemesis Mililani.

"I like spend more time with him," said Rudy, pointing to Ryan's infant son, Ronin. "I'm 73 years old, and he's my first and only grandchild. He's my pride and joy."

Until now, that title belonged to the Bears' softball program, which Rudy Souza had headed since the first state tournament was held in 1977. He guided Baldwin all the way through the 1999 season, after which he went through triple-bypass surgery and handed the reins to Ryan.

The Bears, who won 19 Maui Interscholastic League championships in 24 years under Rudy Souza, took third place in the 1991 and 1992 state tournaments, then finished second to Kamehameha the following season.

Baldwin took third place again in 1996 and 2000, then brought home Maui's first softball state title in 2001 by edging Kamehameha, 1-0, behind the pitching of Shannon Tabion and the hitting/fielding of Kaleo Eldredge.

The Bears had only 11 players on that roster, then took third place the following year with only 10 girls despite losing Tabion to the University of Hawai'i and Eldredge to Cal.

Unlike O'ahu, the Valley Isle does not have a lot of youth softball leagues and/or club programs to draw from, so many of Baldwin's players have been athletes who converted from other sports.

"'Pops' (Rudy) was the guy who developed the kids and brought them to the varsity softball level over there," said close family friend and longtime former Mililani head coach Mike Okimoto. "He was (the Bears') track coach for a long time, so he brought the track runners over to softball. He knew this game is all about speed, that if you slap the ball and (a fielder) bobbles it, you can get on base."

Okimoto said Rudy also invented contraptions at home to help with practice drills.

"He would drill pukas in the ball to show the spinning, he would use pvc pipes and slide the ball down and make the girls hit it," Okimoto said. "The first time I went to his house, I saw all these things he came up with just to help the girls improve.

"I was impressed."

Ryan Souza took on the same passion for coaching, and he attended Mainland clinics to learn advanced techniques and strategy.

Okimoto and the Souzas became such good friends, they would hold clinics together on Maui and in Mililani. Baldwin and Mililani soon became known statewide for their aggressive, speed-based pressure offenses.

When Okimoto finally won a state title in 2005, his 11th and final year at Mililani, he quickly gave a big shout-out to "My brother Ryan on Maui" during the live postgame TV interview.

And when the Bears won the crown on Saturday, there were more shout-outs for the Souzas, who also made many friends by voluntarily running the MIL's concession stand at War Memorial Stadium for nine years.

"Pops is so generous, and Ryan's charisma is unbelievable, he's always up-front and honest," Okimoto said. "They're both good people from the heart, and you can see that. Look at this weekend, when all the other coaches were pulling for them — that shows how much respect they have. Thinking about it, for them to go out with the state championship in their last year, it must be so sweet, the perfect scenario."

Alconcel, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and one of nine Baldwin seniors, said the players were happy to send the Souzas out in style.

"This is our way to give back for all their hard work," she said. "This is the best gift we can give."

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

(SELECTED BY MEDIA)

FIRST BASE — Shannon Lum, St. Francis

SECOND BASE — Kristi Oshiro, Mililani

THIRD BASE — Lauren Oyadomari, 'Iolani

SHORTSTOP — Courtney Senas, Mililani

OUTFIELDERS — Jaimee Aiwohi, Mililani; Brittney Garcia, Campbell; June Ann Lusk, Baldwin

CATCHER — Sanoe Kekahuna, Baldwin

PITCHER — Makani Duhaylonsod, Mililani

DESIGNATED PLAYER — Keala Bertufo, St. Francis

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER — Nicole Alconcel, Baldwin

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.