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For Waipahu’s Kaimi Haina, there was no direct line to becoming one of the top pitchers in the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

As a sophomore in the spring of 2007, he was asked to play a position he had never played before.

“We didn’t have a true catcher last year, so being that he was our best athlete, we had to have him sacrifice and play there for us,” Waipahu coach Milton Takenaka said. “We threw him into the fire, but his strength is his attitude. He comes out every day and works hard. He’s a real competitor. He doesn’t like to lose.”

This spring, Haina returned to his more natural positions of pitcher and outfielder and was plainly the catalyst for a Marauder team that compiled a 12-0-1 record en route to winning the OIA Division II title this spring. For his efforts, he was recently named as the White Conference’s Player of the Year. A junior pitcher, Haina posted a 0.52 earned run average and went 3-0 with 34 strikeouts, while issuing just five free passes. Among his defining performances were a 12-strikeout effort in a win over Kalaheo and a one-hitter versus Radford that came on the strength of nine strike outs. In the White title game, also played against Radford, Haina threw a five-hitter with 11 strikeouts and contributed a double, offensively. He more than helped his own cause on the mound with a batting average of .410. Although selected as a pitcher, Haina played well enough in the outfield to earn First Team honors at that position as well, in his coach’s view.

The Marauders boasted six First Team selections in all with first baseman Aldrin Padilla, second baseman Jensen Rios, third base-men Samuel Chee, outfielder Eric Hudson and catcher Ignatius Mackenzie joining Haina. All-league selections are made through a vote of conference coaches.

Waipahu designated hitter Cheyne Estaniqne was named to the Second Team, while Xavier Augustin and Tryton Gante received honorable mention.

“They’re all deserving,” said Takenaka, who was named as the White Conference’s Coach of the Year. “I told the kids at the beginning of the season that, potentially, we had a good team and that it was a matter of them coming through. It took awhile for it to sink in. We didn’t have a real good pre-season. As they started winning, I think they began to realize maybe coach was right and that they could be one of the better teams in the league. It worked out for us.”

In Division I, two-time defending OIA champion Pearl City led the way in the Red West conference with five players - Bryson Namba, Duane Kiyota, Carlton Tanabe, Bryson Nakamura and Corey Yuh - earning First Team honors. Short stop Ryan Acosta was also named to the Second Team from Pearl City.

Kalani Brackenridge and Curtis Donald were named to the First Team from Kapolei, with Kalani Omoto and Oliver Taoy earning Second Team honors for the Hurricanes.

From Aiea, Brennan Alejo was selected to the First Team, with Jaren Iwane and Tyler Abasial earning Second Team accolades.

Sebastian Locquiao was Campbell’s lone First Team selection, while Bronson Ellis and Allyn Oliva-Respicio made the Second Team.

Pearl City coach Gary Nakamoto was named as the West’s Coach of the Year after leading the Chargers to a second straight OIA title and a return trip to the Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Tournament. Nakamoto succeeded longtime Charger coach Mel Seki, who retired after 15 seasons with the program following last season.