LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School coaching assistant Micah Furtado did not realize the amount of bling created by the team’s parents and supporters on Saturday at the Lihu‘e Airport when the team members emerged through the security doors with the koa head trophy held high.
“What’s all this” said Furtado as the team was swarmed by members of the Kaua‘i Krush community softball team with lei, flowers and cheer.
“It’s all softball,” said Kaua‘i Krush coach Cassie Wong, who doubles as part of the Kaua‘i High School softball coaching staff. “We’ve got most of our players — from 8 years old to the 10’s who will be playing as 12 year olds — here that are going to state finals and to the mainland to participate in tournaments there.”
The Kapa‘a softball program captured the Division II champions following a 13-1 win over Pac-5 on Friday while coping with the Kona low that dumped rain everywhere. Kapa‘a’s last Division II title was in 2022 before Pac-5 claimed the title in 2023.
“That was hard,” said Junior Lazaro, the Waimea High School softball coach who at one point in the tournament was heading for a showdown with Kapa‘a for the state title.
The Menehune softball team, and the Kaua‘i High School baseball team were on the same flight, arriving at Lihu‘e Airport at the same time.
The Lady Warriors showed strong in the championship contest where winning pitcher Karlee-Rose Keale threw a complete game two hitter. The game was highlighted by a third inning grand slam home run by Rhea Furtado.
The Warriors capitalized on its strong hitting by battering the losing Wolfpack pitching staff.
Furtado marked three hits, including the grand slam. Haley Gibson had a double with two runs batted in. Rightfielder Wiggy Kupihea marked two hits with a run crossing.
Finishing with a 3-0 record at the state tournament, the top seeded Warriors made their mark on the road to the championship contest against No. 2 seed Pac-5. Kapa‘a opened strong with a 23-4 win over Kohala of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation and continued to roll with a win over Aiea in a contest where results were not recorded because of the rainy conditions.
A strong showing was also demonstrated by the Waimea team, who entered the fray following a play-in contest where the Menehune got the better of Damien High School.
In the tournament arena, the Menehune took a 21-1 win over Kailua High School to advance against the No. 3 seed Kamehameha School-Hawai‘i. The Menehune upset the No. 3 seed, 15-3. before its journey to the championship game was cut short by a 9-8 loss to the No. 2 seed Wolfpack.
Kapa‘a, claiming the Central Pacific Bank Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation championship with a 12-0 record, finished the year 15-0 after capturing the Division II championship.
