Trojan Softball Team Entering OIA Tourney As Top Seed
By Jack Danilewicz
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The Mililani girls softball team didn’t have to wait for the playoffs to play in pressure-packed games. If anything, it seems as if they spent most of their regular season in postseason mode, to hear coach Rose Antonio tell it.
While only four of their games were decided by two runs or less, as in past years, the Trojans seemed to be on the receiving effort of their opponents’ best efforts.
“Playing in tight games is good experience heading into the playoffs,” said Antonio, whose Trojans are the top seed out of the West entering this week’s Oahu Interscholastic Association tournament.“In the playoffs, you have to play error-less, first of all, and you have to be able to get timely hits when you are in scoring position.”
The Trojans have been hitting their stride of late, with seven straight wins heading into their season finale against Aiea over the weekend. A loss to Leilehua (8-7) on March 26 remains the lone blemish on an otherwise perfect record. The Trojans (11-0 at press time) regrouped nicely from that encounter to beat Leilehua 4-0 on April 19 in the second meeting between the rivals. Another such meeting is a strong possibility this week, although Antonio is less worried about potential matchups than with her own team’s day-to-day progress.
“We’re just trying to work on our own little things and try to get better,” said Antonio, whose team was the state tournament runner-up to Punahou last spring. “We have to stick together and play as a team. No one individual can win a softball game.”
Even so, the Trojans feature several of the top players in the West at their respective positions, including pitcher Makani Duhaylonsod, second baseman Kristi Oshiro, shortstop Courtney Senas, and outfielders Chanelle Senas, Glennelle Nitta and Jamie Aiwohi.
Duhaylonsod has been the catalyst, defensively. Slowed by a knee injury at the end of preseason, she’s grown stronger as the season has progressed.
“Makani’s pitching really well right now, and she’s been hitting the ball, too,” Antonio said. “Courtney’s been hitting in some runs, and Jamie (Aiwohi) is coming around with her bat and on defense.”
Mililani took a .400 cumulative batting average into this week’s action with Duhaylonsod, Oshiro, and the Senas sisters exceeding that figure.
“We’re pretty balanced right now (between offense and defense),” Antonio said. “One through nine in our (batting) order, anyone can hit. Our players coming off the bench can hit, too. They’re always ready and, offensively, they’ll do whatever we ask.”
The OIA Tournament will run Wednesday through Saturday at Central Oahu Regional Park.
As the West’s top seed, the Trojans have a bye on Wednesday, which automatically moves them into a quarterfinal matchup Thursday against the winner of a game between the East’s fourth seed and the fifth seed out of the West. All four quarter-finalists earn berths in the upcoming state softball championships.
“It (Thursday’s game) will be one of our biggest of the year,” Antonio said. “You win, and you’re in the state tournament for sure. It’s a plus to have the (top) seed - especially for the pitchers, but when you get to this point, you can’t look ahead. You have to play one game at a time and then go on to the next game.”
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