The long, hot and dusty road is done for the ‘Iolani Raiders.
The No. 1 team in the Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10 went 4-1 in Arizona at the Hamilton tournament, beating two ranked teams and losing to another. The Raiders defeated Basha, ranked fourth in Arizona, 1-0, and No. 25 Pinnacle, 11-0.
The Raiders’ lone loss was the host Hamilton, ranked No. 8 in Arizona, 8-7. They also beat Cienega and Highland at the tourney, which ran from Wednesday to Saturday. ‘Iolani returned home on Sunday and has nearly a week to recover before playing Mid-Pacific on Saturday.
‘Iolani collected nine of 12 first-place ballots from the panel of coaches and media on Monday to remain at the top spot.
Kaiser (3-0 OIA East) and Maui (3-1 MIL) are in the Top 10 for the first time this spring. Maui upset then-No. 9 Baldwin last week, 12-1.
Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10 Fared Last Week
Mar. 21-26, 2022
Rank School (1st place) Pts LW
1. ‘Iolani (9) (13-1, 2-0 ILH) 117 1
> def. Cienega 14-0, Wednesday
> lost to Hamilton (#8 AZ) 8-7, Wednesday
> def. Highland 14-0, Thursday
> def. Basha (#4 AZ) 1-0, Friday
> def. Pinnacle (#25 AZ) 11-0, Saturday
> at Mid-Pacific, Saturday
2. (tie) Kamehameha (1) (7-1, 2-1 ILH) 102 2
> won at Mid-Pacific 11-4, Saturday
> vs. Maryknoll, Wednesday (McKinley Stadium)
2. (tie) Kapolei (2) (6-2-1, 3-0 OIA West) 102 3
> def. No. 4 Leilehua 18-2, 5 inn., Tuesday
> def. No. 7 Campbell 3-2, Saturday
> vs. Pearl City, Tuesday
4. Punahou (7-3, 1-1 ILH) 69 5
> bye
> vs. Mid-Pacific, Wednesday
5. Maryknoll (9-2, 1-2 ILH) 66 6
> won at Mid-Pacific 18-3, 5 inn., Wednesday
> vs. Kamehameha, Wednesday
6. Leilehua (6-3, 2-1 OIA West) 65 4
> lost to No. 3 Kapolei 18-2, 5 inn., Tuesday
> def. Pearl City 12-5, Saturday
> at Waianae, Thursday
7. Campbell (7-4, 1-2 OIA West) 54 7
> won at Waianae 11-0, 5 inn., Tuesday
> lost to No. 3 Kapolei 3-2, Saturday
> vs. Mililani, Tuesday
8. Mililani (8-4, 2-1 OIA West) 41 8
> won at Pearl City 13-0, 5 inn., Tuesday
> won at No. 10 Waianae 14-1, 6 inn., Saturday
> vs. Campbell, Tuesday
9. (tie) Kaiser (7-3-1, 3-0 OIA East) 12 NR
> def. Kailua 14-3, 5 inn., Tuesday
> def. Castle 8-1, Saturday
> vs. Roosevelt, Tuesday
9. (tie) Maui (8-4, 3-1 MIL) 12 NR
> def. No. 9 Baldwin 12-1, Friday
> vs. KS-Maui, Tuesday
No longer in Top 10: Baldwin (No. 9), Waianae (No. 10).
Also receiving votes: Baldwin 11, Kalani 5, Kealakehe 2, Nanakuli 1, Waianae 1.
First of all congrats to Kamehameha for the big win on OC16!
The question everybody asking is what’s wrong with Maryknoll? They have two of the best players in the whole country plus a couple others heading to play college and yet they are getting blown out by other ILH teams.
There’s usually an explanation for that, and it has nothing to do with the players.