The mighty have fallen in this week’s Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10.
While unbeaten ‘Iolani (9-0, 2-0 ILH) assumed the top ranking on Monday, previous No. 1 Maryknoll dropped all the way to No. 6. Last week’s No. 2 team, Campbell, tumbled down to No. 7.
Defending champion ‘Iolani, which won the most recent Division I state championship in 2019, collected eight of nine first-place votes from the panel of media and coaches. The Raiders are embarking on a road trip to Arizona, where they will play in the Hamilton High School tournament.
“The main goal is to bond as a team and have a great experience of traveling and competing with teams that are out of their normal element,” ‘Iolani coach Benny Agbayani said. “Also, getting a little taste of what the travel ball girls do when they travel to the mainland.”
The Raiders fly out on Tuesday night and begin play in the Hamilton tourney on Wednesday.
Kamehameha (6-1, 1-0 ILH) edged Punahou, 9-8, on Saturday to move up two notches to No. 2.
Kapolei (4-2-1, 1-0 OIA West) , which outslugged Mililani, 10-8, on Friday, leaped three spots higher to No. 3.
No. 4 Leilehua (5-2, 1-0 OIA West) and No. 9 Baldwin (5-1-1, 3-0 MIL) are the only teams that remained status quo.
Defending ILH champion Maryknoll dropped its first two league contests after winning all eight games in preseason play. The Spartans lost to Punahou, 10-3, on Wednesday, then lost to ‘Iolani, 6-5, on Saturday.
Campbell lost on the road to Leilehua, 3-2, on Friday.
Waianae (5-3, 1-0 OIA West) edged Pearl City in eight innings, 6-5, and landed in the Top 10 at No. 10.
Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10
Mar. 21, 2022
Rank School (1st-place votes) Pts LW
1. ‘Iolani (8) (9-0, 2-0 ILH) 88 3
2. Kamehameha (6-1, 1-0 ILH) 72 4
3. Kapolei (4-2-1, 1-0 OIA West) 65 6
4. Leilehua (5-2, 1-0 OIA West) 58 4
5. Punahou (7-3, 1-1 ILH) 51 8
6. Maryknoll (8-2, 0-2 ILH) 50 1
7. Campbell (1) (6-3, 0-1 OIA West) 46 2
8. Mililani (6-4, 0-1 OIA West) 34 5
9. Baldwin (5-1-1, 3-0 MIL) 16 9
10. Waianae (5-3, 1-0 OIA West) 7 NR
No longer in Top 10: Kalani (No. 10).
Also receiving votes: Kaiser 6, Kalani 1, Nanakuli 1.
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