Knights Boast Best Player, Best Coach In OIA Baseball

One reason Castle had a solid baseball spring season was the performance of its pitching staff, led by ace Christian Kapeliela. His ef- forts did not go unnoticed by the OIA Red East coaches, who recently named him OIA Player of the Year in their season-ending vote.

In nine games and 40 innings of work, Kapeliela had an ERA of 2.28, and the team went 9-5 overall, winning the first seven of its OIA slate and finishing 9-3. While losses to Mililani (1-0) and Waipahu (5-4) ended their bid for a state tournament berth, the Knights are firmly back on track after going 7-5 last year. Castle’s Rocky Fraticelli also was named Coach of the Year by his peers.

With Kapeliela placing on the First Team, Castle also had a league-best five Second Team picks: short- stop Alika Sakurai, third baseman Dane Kamalu, outfielder Micah Camara, outfielder Billy Kerkau and pitcher Matthew Anderson-Lee.

Kailua ended strong by winning seven of its last 10 games to finish 11-7 overall under longtime coach Corey Ishigo. It finished third at the OIA tourney on its way to another appearance in the DI state tournament.

Kailua had two First Team All-Conference selections in pitcher Bryce Ah Sam and designated hitter Wade Lono. Ah Sam, who already has committed to UH, batted .486 at the plate. He also had an ERA of 2.23 in five appearances on the mound. Sophomore Lono was one of the league’s top young players, meanwhile, earning a spot on the First Team. The Surfriders also had a trio of players named to the Second Team, including Kahaku Iaea (first base), Wyatt D’Alessio (second base) and Corey Louis-Soares (outfielder).

The OIA also released its All-Star teams in track and field for the recently completed season. Kahuku senior Kayla Talaupapa led the way on the Windward side, earning Player of the Year honors in the Eastern Division. All-Conference selections are made in a vote of league coaches. Kailua has a pair of First Team all-league picks in both junior Kahoa Mikaele and sophomore Patria Vaimaona. Second Team selections from Windward schools also included Mi Nei Stant (Kahuku), Percie Lyons (Kalaheo) and Veronica Hutchins (Castle).