A season like this is more than unique.
What Hinano Bautista did as a junior hadn’t been done since 2010. The left-handed ace and power hitter was a major spark in Mililani’s state championship run — a three-peat — while posting the best pitching and hitting statistics in Hawaii.
It was close enough, good enough, to merit consideration as both pitcher and position player of the year from the coaches and media voting panel in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Softball All-State selections. Bautista, however, had the blessing of teammates like Kahiau Aina. Her classmate had a monster season at the plate and earned Position Player of the Year honors for a second year in a row.
Bautista collected her third consecutive Pitcher of the Year award. In the circle, she went 14-1 overall with a 2.21 ERA. She hurled 85 1/3 innings, and her craftsmanship was at its best this spring as she struck out 52 and walked 30. She was 3-0 in the state tournament, allowing just one earned run in a 13-3, five-inning mercy-rule win over upstart Moanalua for the title.
At the plate, Bautista made the biggest jump. Always an elite contact hitter with some power, her left-handed swing turned into a hitting machine like no other in state history. Even eventual Oklahoma legend Jocelyn Alo bore the brunt of constant bases on balls — 46 as a senior. Bautista’s team was so effective top to bottom, she saw quality pitches most of the year.
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Bautista’s numbers were borderline preposterous.
>> .638 batting average (44-for-69) overall
>> 14 home runs
>> 48 RBIs, 35 runs scored
>> Slugging average of 1.391
>> On-base percentage of .706
>> An OPS of 2.097
Her numbers at the state championships were even better.
>> .688 batting average (11-for-16)
>> 4 HRs, 1.625 slugging percentage
>> OPS of 2.331
>> 12 RBIs, five runs scored
Her overall OPS led the state. Only one other hitter, Palehua Silva of Maryknoll, cleared the 2.000 threshold. Bautista has committed to Cal.
“I like how the coaching staff made me feel like I was home away from home. That’s what I like most about them,” Bautista said. “I want to enjoy my last (senior) year, being a young one before I’m an adult. Next year will be a fun and memorable ride. This year, we had a lot of fun memories. Team bondings. Winning. All the happy moments.”
Aina’s spectacular range and twitchy conversions on any kind of ground ball were matched by none. She opened the season with a superb performance in nonconference play, hitting .516 in a schedule that included Millikan (Calif.), Centennial (Nev.), Santa Margarita (Calif.), San Clemente (Calif.), Reed (Nev.), Bishop Gorman (Nev.) and Foothill (Calif.).
Aina elevated her game in the OIA season with a .676 batting average and a whopping 2.369 OPS. That included eight home runs, 24 RBIs, 27 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
At the state tournament, she hit .600 (9-for-15), including back-to-back three-hit efforts against ILH champion Maryknoll and KIF champion Kapaa. Aina finished the year with a .602 batting average, 1.217 slugging average, .686 on-base percentage and 1.903 OPS.
“I’m just grateful to be honored, but I also know how hard I’ve worked,” Aina said. “The amount of time I’ve put in, it really shows. I want to thank my parents, all of my family that all came out to support me. My hitting coach, Coach Henson (Thomas). Shout out to all my (club) coaches and LK family, all my Mililani teammates and coaches.”
Trailing Aina in the Position Player of the Year voting were Moanalua sophomore Kaylah Sato and Silva. Sato was voted first team after a stellar season at third base and pitcher. The sophomore hit .512 overall with 36 RBIs and 47 runs scored. She posted an .869 slugging average and .605 on-base percentage.
In the pitcher’s circle, she went 7-1 with one save and a 3.54 ERA. Sato fanned 43 batters and walked 24 in 57 1/3 innings.
Silva was voted first-team catcher after a magnificent season behind the plate and in the batter’s box. She hit .552 with 14 HRs, 48 RBIs and 41 runs scored. Silva led the state in two more categories with 12 hit-by pitches and 27 walks. She finished with a slugging average of 1.313, an on-base percentage of .717. Her 2.030 OPS led all players not named Hinano Bautista.
Antonio was voted Coach of the Year by the panel, outpointing Kylee Oshiro of Moanalua. Antonio and her staff guided the Lady Trojans to a 26-3 mark. Along the way, they lost to Campbell in the OIA semifinals but stormed back with four wins in four days at the state tourney.
This was the sixth state crown for Mililani during Antonio’s watch, including the past three in a row.
“It’s always a battle. I’m just so proud of the girls. We know what we have to work on and that’s what we did,” Antonio said. “I’m honored. I would like to honor my assistant coaches. My assistant coaches have been so crucial. They give back so much to our players,” Antonio said. “Walter Ka‘ahili Jr., Glenelle Nitta, Lauren Hinano, Lorrin Okumura and Markie Okamoto. They’re the ones that prepare our team.”
Antonio’s team has been without a home game since 2023 due to unfinished structures at Mililani’s softball facility.
All-State Softball
Top Honors
- Pitcher of the Year: Hinano Bautista (Mililani)
- Position Player of the Year: Kahiau Aina (Mililani)
- Coach of the Year: Rose Antonio (Mililani)
First Team
| Pos. | Player (School, Yr.) | Statistics / Details |
|---|---|---|
| P | Hinano Bautista (Mililani, Jr.) | Back-to-back POY; .699 BA in states, with 4 HRs |
| P | Molly Davi (Maryknoll, Jr.) | 17-3, 2.14 ERA, 114 SO, 18 BB in 121 IP |
| C | Palehua Silva (Maryknoll, Sr.) | .552 BA, 14 HRs, 48 RBIs, 41 runs. 2.030 OPS |
| 1B | Sophia Alo (Campbell, Sr.) | .614 BA, 49 RBIs, 1.647 OPS led all first basemen. |
| 2B | Kamryn Aoki (Mililani, Sr.) | .456 BA, 19 RBIs, 39 runs, 1.154 OPS |
| 3B | Sheyzhelle Iokia (Maryknoll, Jr.) | .529 BA, state-high 60 RBIs, 1.493 OPS tops third at 3B |
| SS | Kahiau Aina (Mililani, Jr.) | Repeats as PPOY; .602 BA, 12 HRs, 50 runs, 15 SB |
| OF | Naomi Stremick (Kalani, Sr.) | .625 BA, 1.214 SLG, .712 OBP, 1.926 OPS; W-L: 8-6 |
| OF | Aubri Nakashima (Mililani, Sr.) | .471 BA, 35 RBIs, 34 runs, 10 SB, .743 SLG, 1.336 OPS |
| OF | Lana Nakayama (Mililani, Jr.) | .444 BA, 29 RBIs, .736 SLG, .512 OBP, 1.248 OPS |
| U | Kaylah Sato (Moanalua, So.) | .512 BA, 47 runs, 15 SB, 1.188 OPS; W-L: 7-1, 3.54 ERA |
| U | Bobbi Cambra (Kamehameha, Sr.) | .582 BA, 56 RBIs, 43 runs, 11 HRs, 1.725 OPS |
Second Team
| Pos. | Player (School, Yr.) |
|---|---|
| P | Shelby Nagatori (Punahou, Fr.) |
| P | Taylor Adriano (Mililani, Jr.) |
| C | River Hawn (Kapolei, So.) |
| 1B | Emma Parker (Mililani, Jr.) |
| 2B | Reyni Hiraoka (Maryknoll, Jr.) |
| 3B | Skyla Saito (Kapolei, So.) |
| SS | Rylee Yamasaki (Kaiser, Sr.) |
| OF | Brynn Yamashita (Kapaa, So.) |
| OF | Aleia-Lyn Tonaki-Sagucio (Pearl City, So.) |
| OF | Shyla Gabrillo (Campbell, Sr.) |
| U | Samantha Nakamatsu (Pearl City, So.) |
| U | Anela Pau (Kamehameha, So.) |
Third Team
| Pos. | Player (School, Yr.) |
|---|---|
| P | Kaienna Fuentes-Arellano (Campbell, Sr.) |
| P | Lily Perreira (Campbell, So.) |
| C | Jaicie Martinez (Kapaa, Jr.) |
| 1B | Charlize Kenney (Kapaa, Sr.) |
| 2B | Keyra Moses-Fuller (Campbell, Sr.) |
| 3B | Taryn Nakamoto (Punahou, Fr.) |
| SS | Alia Anzai (Moanalua, So.) |
| OF | Aariah Goo (Kamehameha, So.) |
| OF | Lilyanni Mata (Pearl City, So.) |
| OF | Jolie Ann Mochizuki (Moanalua, So.) |
| U | Tara Gojo (Mid-Pacific, Jr.) |
| U | Lexi Muramoto (‘Iolani, Sr.) |
Honorable Mention
- Pitchers: Harper Fukuda (Moanalua), Presley Gibson (Kapaa), Peahi Grilho (Kamehameha), Kaylie Naehu (Nanakuli), Rylie Teramoto (Kamehameha)
- Catchers: Ramzy Bumagat (Moanalua), Kaiya Fujishige (Pearl City), Kahoku Kahele (Mililani)
- First Basemen: Layna Faria (Kalani), Kate Iida (Pac-Five), Kieryn Imai (Kapolei)
- Second Basemen: Paisley Sue Aoki (Punahou), Paityn Hamasaki (Kalani)
- Third Basemen: Andie Iglesia (Kapaa), Paisley Kuba (Kaiser), Phoenix Sky Lumabao (Mililani), Paige Maeda (Mid-Pacific), Taylor Mendoza (Campbell)
- Shortstops: Kyla Abad (Maryknoll), Hayden Dumlao (Kamehameha), Emi Kano (Mid-Pacific), Hilina‘i Kuala‘au-Abbey (King Kekaulike), Taimane Mata‘afa-Alferos (Punahou), Skyler Nakasone (Pearl City), Rachel Pagdilao (Lahainaluna), Nanea Pantastico (Campbell), Cici Queypo-Alvarado (Kapolei)
- Outfielders: Taileen Asoau (Campbell), Kalli Chung (Pearl City), Kaylie Kihara (Mililani), Shayne Kunimura (Moanalua), Liulani Martin (Kapaa), Maia Matsumoto (‘Iolani), Madeline Nelson (Kaiser), Dalexy Sanchez (Campbell), Mauliola Zuttermeister (Pac-Five)
- Utility: Brooklyn Ahlo-Garcia (Kapolei), Shaileah Brown (Baldwin), Welina Carvalho-Brede (Kapaa), Maya Jelf (Kapolei), Kaira Sakai (Campbell), Jayci Taura (Moanalua), Destiny Tautofi (Pac-Five), Taylie Tiitii (Radford), Addison Wong (Kamehameha)