FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Courtney Senas of Mililani, left, was named Position Player of the Year, while Amber Waracka of Kamehameha was the Pitcher of the Year on this year's All-State softball team.

Cut above the rest

Kamehameha's Waracka and Mililani's Senas lead an outstanding field of players

In the year of the pitcher, it took a lot to stand out in a crowd.

Randy Tamura Kamehameha First-year coach guided team to a 29-1 record and the Division I state championship.

Waracka outpointed Moanalua's Sarah Robinson and Mililani's Makani Duhaylonsod - both elite pitchers in their own right - by a substantial margin.

Position Player of the Year honors went to Mililani's sterling shortstop, Courtney Senas, who edged Kamehameha first baseman Jamie Millwood, Mililani second baseman Kristi Oshiro and Kapolei outfielder Ka'ili Smith.

Waracka had as much guts as skill, often overcoming sore knees.

"She's the best pure pitcher in the state," said coach John Uekawa of Maryknoll, the only team to beat Kamehameha. "She has good control and command of her pitches and will outsmart the batter. Prior to this year, she relied on her changeup as her out pitch, but this year her riser and drop was her out pitch."

Waracka was at her best against the very best. After posting a 0.36 ERA in ILH games, she did not allow a run at the state tourney. That included a 10-inning, 17-strikeout, five-hit shutout against Moanalua and ace Sarah Robinson.

"That marathon game, she won a lot of respect that maybe she didn't have before," Moanalua coach Kristie Morikawa said. "Ninth inning and she's still striking people out. Amber went through three tough games and it was all over her face - she wanted it."

Kamehameha coach Randy Tamura saw a lot of heart in his ace.

"Being cut in the seventh grade tells you the story. That kind of drove her even more," he said of Waracka. "She just wanted it more than the other kids, I think. That all came from, daily, just working hard, and not just during the season."

Senas, only a sophomore, was superb in the Oahu Interscholastic Association regular season, but upped her game in the playoffs and state tourney. Senas finished the season with a .478 batting average, including 11 doubles, two triples and five homers in 69 at-bats. In addition to a massive .913 slugging average, she walked 20 times and had an on-base percentage of .600.

"She's probably the best athlete in the All-State selections," Uekawa said. "She has God-given size and speed with tremendous work ethic."

Morikawa got a closer look at Senas in the postseason.

"She's so smooth. It's unbelievable that she's so young. At practice, you can see it in her eyes. She's a gamer," Morikawa said. "The scary thing is I have to coach against her for two more years."

The panel voted Tamura as Coach of the Year after a 29-1 season. The first-year Warriors coach immediately praised his staff, including pitching coach James Millwood, for his work with Waracka.

"I tell you what, if it wasn't for my assistant coaches, I wouldn't be there. They did all of the work," he said. "I was just in the right place at the right time."

Randy Oyama, who guided Pac-Five to a Division II state title, and Uekawa also received significant vote totals.

Breanne Patton Campbell The pitcher-first baseman went 8-3 in OIA and state play with an 0.49 ERA. At the plate, she hit .407 with 15 RBIs.   Loreen Egdamin Campbell The second baseman-shortstop hit .483, scored 23 runs, drove in 11 and tripled six times. OBP of .545.   Shaleese Javillo Kamehameha Hit .440 with five triples and 14 RBIs, plus a slugging pct. of .780. One of the top defensive outfielders in the state.   Celina Garces Mililani Hit .444 with 15 RBIs, arguably the best-fielding third baseman in the islands.   Kai Masutani Iolani Masterful behind the plate, threw out 11 baserunners while batting .417.   Jaimee Aiwohi Mililani Hit .432 with 13 RBIs and 14 runs while anchoring the Trojans outfield.   Makani Duhaylonsod Mililani 19-3 in OIA and state play, 1.38 ERA, 101 K's, 16 BB in 137 IP. Hit .436 with four homers.   Jamie Millwood Kamehameha Led the state champions at the plate with a .617 average in ILH and state play, along with 21 RBIs.   Kristi Oshiro Mililani Speedster hit .437, 29 runs scored and an on-base percentage of .535.   Sarah Robinson Moanalua Dual threat with 16-3 record, 1.44 ERA, 159 K's and 15 BB in 84 IP, while batting .525 with OBP of .642.   Ka'ili Smith Kapolei Sensational at plate (.592, six doubles, eight triples in 49 at-bats) and in center field. She also had an OBP of .649.