The honoring of the Kapaa High School softball team on Wednesday turned personal as Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami announced it was time to meet the village that it takes to raise a child.
“And grandparents,” said Kauai County Council member Bernard Carvalho Jr., who just completed the latest budget hearings in time for the congratulatory ceremonies at the Moikeha Building.
Carvalho joined Cynthia Edralin, mother of one of the team’s coaching staff, Lance Edralin, and other county officials who shared in the congratulations. Kapaa player Welina Carvalho-Brede is Bernard’s granddaughter.
Kapaa softball, the reigning Central Pacific Bank Kauai Interscholastic Federation champions, won the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state championship by defeating the Pearl City Chargers on May 9 to bring home the koahead trophy for the second straight year.
“When you win, we all win,” said Kawakami, explaining that he had to wear green for an entire week following the state championship. May I hold the trophy?”
The congratulatory proclamation outlined the highlights of the Division II tournament’s finale. The Lady Warriors scored seven runs on 11 hits, including multiple hits from Sienna Yamashita and Jaicie Martinez, to complete a 7-5 victory that closed the Kapaa perfect 15-0 season.
Additionally, the proclamation read that four players from the Warriors’ team were named to the DII All-Tournament Team as selected by the media covering the tournament. Sienna Yamashita was voted Most Outstanding Player, Karlee-Rose Keale earned Pitcher votes, Martinez was voted Catcher, and Charlize Kenney, who hit several home runs during the tournament, was acknowledged as Infield.
Micah Furtado of the coaching staff said the Warriors fielded 10 of the 12 KIF All-Stars, including Blair Yamashita, who got Coach of the Year.
Knowing this is his last term as mayor, Kawakami said there is still time remaining “for one more win” before his term ends.
“Can you do that?” Kawakami asked the team that will lose just three seniors. “At this same time, next year, can it be three in a row? We still have a few more days before I leave this office.”
