Mililani softball team could always count on Jade Yadao-Valdez to help set the tone for the Trojans. The senior shortstop was also Mililani’s lead-off hitter — and with good reason, as her ability to get on base figured big in the Trojans’ success this spring. In all, Yadao-Valdez batted .490 for the year and scored 19 runs to lead her team.<\/p>\n
Her exploits were not lost on opposing coaches in the OIA Red West Conference, who recently selected her as the league’s Player of the Year in a vote at season’s end.<\/p>\n
Yadao-Valdez and her Mililani teammates went 15-3 overall en route to winning both the OIA post-season tournament as well as the New City Nissan Division I State Championship. The Trojans won their last eight games, including three by a onerun margin.<\/p>\n
Joining Yadao-Valdez on the Red West’s First Team were sophomore pitcher Aubree Kim and senior outfielder Tori-Anne Baysa.<\/p>\n
Kim saved some of her best efforts for the State Tournament, as she went 3-0 and allowed just one earned run and six hits in 21 innings in helping the Trojans defeat Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific and Campbell on their way to the title.<\/p>\n
Baysa hit .353 and drove in nine runs for Mililani.<\/p>\n
Mililani also placed first baseman Karly Macadangdang and second baseman Justine Fabella on the Red West’s Second Team. Both are seniors.<\/p>\n
Maya Yoshiura, Kristen Ishii, Markie Okamoto, Kylyn Sasaki and Keri Togami made the Honorable Mention Team from Mililani.<\/p>\n
Leilehua boasted a pair of Second Team All-Conference selections in senior shortstop Chenoa Au and freshman utility player Ashley Salausa. The Mules won a play-in game over Waiakea to make the State Tournament field and continued their upward mobility there, with riveting wins over both Waianae and fourth-seeded Hilo to advance to the semifinals. Leilehua, which finished 10-11 overall for the season, ended up fourth at the State Tournament.<\/p>\n
Salausa batted .436 for the year with nine RBI. Au batted .482 for the Mules and also batted in nine runs.<\/p>\n
Leilehua also placed Tiana Kawelo-Cantero and Taezha Cordeor on the Honorable Mention Team.<\/p>\n
In Division II, Kaili Agabin was chosen as an OIA White Conference First Team All-Star from Waialua. The Bulldogs went 13-6 overall and finished fourth at the OIA White Tournament en route to earning a berth in the New City Nissan Division II State Tournament.<\/p>\n
Receiving Honorable Mention from Waialua were Keahi Pang, Selena Victoria, Shawn Kauwalu, Amber Alejandro and Christel Agtina. <\/p>\n
jackster.1969@yahoo.com <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mililani softball team could always count on Jade Yadao-Valdez to help set the tone for the Trojans. The senior shortstop..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[120],"tags":[6805],"class_list":["post-39523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-central-oahu-sports","tag-jade-yadao-valdez"],"yoast_head":"\n