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Prep Beat
Mililani softball coach Mike Okimoto has a simple motto for his team as they head into the state tournament as the No. 1 seed: Just take care of business. Mililani draws
top state seedBy Tim Crouse
Special to the Star-BulletinTwo-time defending state champion Iolani and last year's state runner-up Mililani are in reverse roles this year -- with the Raiders No. 2 and Mililani the top seed.
"That was a shock for me," Okimoto said. "Iolani was three-time ILH champion and two-time defending state (champion). I thought they would be No. 1."
The Raiders beat the Trojans, 1-0, in the title game last year behind a perfect game from senior Mitzi Ing.
This year's tournament -- with a field of 12 teams -- runs from Wednesday through Saturday, with all games played at the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The championship game is slated for Saturday, at 7 p.m.
Mililani (12-0) swept through the regular season unbeaten and won its third consecutive Oahu Interscholastic Association Tournament.
Iolani (13-2) captured its third consecutive Interscholastic League of Honolulu title on Saturday, knocking off Kamehameha, 4-1, in a one-game playoff.
Maui Interscholastic League champion Baldwin (12-0) is the third seed and Hilo (9-0), which won the Big Island Interscholastic Federation title, is No. 4.
The eight other teams in the tournament are unseeded.
Pearl City (10-2), Kaimuki (11-2), Leilehua (8-5) and Kailua (11-2) also represent the OIA.
Kamehameha (12-3) joins Iolani from the ILH.
Neighbor island teams include runners-up Lahainaluna (9-3, MIL) and Waiakea (7-2, BIIF) and Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Waimea (11-1).
"Any (tournament) team can beat any other on any given day," Okimoto said.
He said he's told his team to not worry about distractions and just focus on the task at hand.
"We just have to do our jobs, and not try too hard," he said. "Our practices are pretty good. We've already been there (to the title game) once.
"I told them they've got to work twice as hard this year. It's not an easy road."
Tickets are available at the gate approximately 30 minutes before the start of the first game of the day.
Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students. Parking at UH is $3.
The championship game will be shown on a delayed basis on KFVE on Sunday, at 4:30 p.m. and again at 10:30 p.m.
All games at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium Chevron State Softball
Wednesday, Jan. 31
Game 1: Waimea vs. Kailua, 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: Waiakea vs. Kaimuki, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Kamehameha vs. Lahainaluna, 5:30 p.m.
Game 4: Pearl City vs. Leilehua, 7 p.m.Thursday, Feb. 1
Game 5: Loser of Games 1 & 3, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Hilo vs. Game 3 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: Baldwin vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Iolani vs. Game 2 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 9: Mililani vs. Game 1 winner, 7 p.m.Friday, Feb. 2
Game 10: Loser of Games 2 & 4, 1 p.m.
Game 11: Loser of Games 6 & 9, 2:30 p.m.
Game 12: Loser of Games 7 & 8, 4 p.m.
Game 13: Winner of Games 7 & 8, 5:30 p.m.
Game 14: Winner of Games 6 & 9, 7 p.m.Saturday, Feb. 3
Game 15: Winner of Games 5 & 10, 2:30 p.m.
Game 16: Winner of Games 11 & 12, 4 p.m.
Game 17: Loser of Games 13 & 14, 5:30 p.m.
Game 18: Winner of Games 13 & 14, 7 p.m.
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