HONOLULU — Coming off its 2024 state softball championship, the word on Mililani was that the Trojans would employ more small-ball to defend their title this season.
So much for that.
Sophomore ace Hinano Bautista smacked two of Mililani’s four home runs in its 13-5 rout of West Division rival Campbell in the teams’ Oahu Interscholastic Association opener at McKinley on Tuesday.
The left-handed Bautista hit her bombs to right-center in the second and third innings, added a double and drove in four on a 3-for-4 night for coach Rose Antonio.
“It was really small at first but as we started to come together, we as we started to come together as one,” Bautista told Spectrum OC16’s Jimmy Bender. “It progressed throughout the practices and the team bondings that we had.”
Meanwhile, Bautista, the winning pitcher in the state final against Kamehameha, went the distance in a nine-hitter, though she walked eight and struck out one.
Her two-run shot in the third opened up a five-run frame and she was presented with the Trojans' traditional, oversized "him." hat to wear on her way back to the dugout.
“It’s coming along, it’s coming along,” Bautista said of her second-year development. “Some things I have to tweak up on, but there’s things that I can improve and progress.”
Leadoff hitter Kahiau Aina and No. 9 hitter Kodie Ancheta had the Trojans’ other long balls.
Makanalei Watkins-Villegas added two doubles and Aubri Nakashima went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored for Mililani, which awaits the availability of their new softball venue for games. The Trojans have practiced on their new surface but dugouts and a press box are still being installed.
Nanea Pantastico went 3-for-3 with two RBIs for Shag Hermosura’s Sabers. Kaienna Fuentes-Arellano, who threw four innings and took the loss, went 2-for-3 at the plate. Taileen Aso’au scored twice.
Aso'au and Pantastico notched RBI singles in the bottom of the second to get the Sabers within 3-2.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.
