Honokaa, Waiakea claim BIIF softball titles on Big Island
Honoka‘a’s 24-9 rout of Kamehameha-Hawaii capped a three-win-to-title turnaround, while Waiakea’s 7-2 run and semifinal blowouts kept its standard intact.
Big Island softball’s championship stage belonged to two familiar powers in different forms at the Walter Victor Baseball Complex, where Honoka‘a and Waiakea finished as BIIF champions and earned the island’s top seeds for the HHSAA DataHouse Softball State Championships on Oahu and Maui. Honoka‘a took the Division II crown by pounding Kamehameha-Hawaii 24-9, while Waiakea closed the BIIF season at 7-2 and kept its place as the program everyone else has been chasing.
Honoka‘a’s title carried the sharper edge of a turnaround. The Dragons won only three games last season, then rebuilt into a lineup that could score in bunches and handle postseason pressure. In the final, Keira Agdeppa drove the offense, going 5-for-6 with a home run, five runs scored and two triples. Jaycia Silva reached base in four of six plate appearances, added two stolen bases, drove in three runs and scored twice as Honoka‘a overwhelmed Kamehameha-Hawaii. Earlier this spring, the Dragons had already flashed that ceiling with a 10-0 win over Kohala and high-scoring victories over Pahoa by scores of 15-12 and 22-6. For coach Kaui Kanekoa, the title reflected a team that played with a championship mindset and responded when it mattered most.
Waiakea’s path looked different, but just as convincing. The Warriors entered the BIIF semifinals as the No. 1 seed and opened with a 12-0 run-rule win over Konawaena in Game 1, then finished the sweep with a 24-1 victory in Game 2. An 11-run fifth inning ended that game early and underscored the depth that has made Waiakea the class of Big Island softball. Earlier in April, the Warriors also rolled past Kealakehe 18-8 on senior night, a game in which Spencer and Chansity McGill combined for six hits and six RBI as Waiakea improved to 6-0.
The two title runs say something important about the island’s softball pipeline. Honoka‘a showed how quickly a program can rise when younger players develop confidence and the lineup starts producing across the board. Waiakea showed the value of continuity, depth and a standard that holds even in blowout wins. With Honoka‘a’s surge and Waiakea’s steadiness, the BIIF heads to state with both champions carrying momentum and a clear reminder that the center of Big Island prep softball still runs through Walter Victor.
Know something we missed? Have a correction or additional information?
Submit a Tip
