Sure shots
POSTED: Sunday, June 14, 2009
They both come from a long line of superb softball-playing sisters.
For Courtney Senas and Katie Manuma, 2009 marked seasons of plenty. The best, however, may be yet to come.
Senas, a junior shortstop at Mililani, was voted Star-Bulletin Position Player of the Year. Manuma, a fireballing ace for Campbell who could also play any infield position, was named Pitcher of the Year in a tight battle.
Senas hit .581 (36-for-62) with seven doubles, four triples, three homers and 23 RBIs for the state-champion Trojans. She slugged .968 and had an on-base percentage of .616. She also scored 30 runs and covered as much ground at short as anyone in the state.
Her state tourney was magical. Senas was 8-for-11 with 11 RBIs and six runs as unseeded Mililani captured its first state title since 2005.
Manuma went 14-4 for the Sabers with 102 strikeouts in 115 innings, most of which came in the tough Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West. She held opponents to a .138 batting average.
At the plate, Manuma was rather Ruthian. She hit .491 with 10 doubles, five triples, two homers and 21 RBIs. With an on-base percentage of .561, Manuma also scored 21 times for Campbell, which reached the quarterfinals of the state tourney before falling to Mililani.
Her state-tourney pitching stats: 2-1, 1.05 ERA and opponent batting average of .143.
Manuma edged Mililani's Kishti Kamaka and 'Iolani's Brittney Guro for the honor.
The coach of the year honor went to Mililani's Rose Antonio. The former assistant coach's aggressive style worked well with a team loaded with speed and contact hitters.
Roosevelt coach Clay Okamura was second in the voting. Okamura guided his team to its first OIA title.
Manuma and Senas are familiar with each other. Manuma grew up in Ewa, but now lives in Mililani. She had always played club ball at Mililani, just like Senas.
Manuma relies on a variety of pitches: in-shoots, curves, drops and changeups to go with a blazing fastball.
“;Yeah, she throws the fastest in the state,”; Senas said. “;All you can hope is she throws it right down the middle. That was the only time I could hit off her.”;
Both are potential Division I college players.
“;I have to get good grades. You have to take the SAT early,”; Manuma said. “;I want a mainland experience. There's more competition there.”;
After two player-of-the-year honors in a row, Senas is on the right track.
“;It's a blessing from God. My mom's happy,”; she said of Janice Senas. “;My dad (Chad), too.”;
Later this week, Chad Senas goes to California's City of Hope for treatment of a rare bone cancer, the first of two trips he'll make to the renowned facility.
“;He's ready. I'm ready,”; Courtney said. “;I'll be by his side.”;
First Team
Kishti Kamaka
Mililani
Pos.: P. Class: Sr.
12-1, clutch in HHSAA tourney: 4-0, 0.54 ERA in 26 IP, opp. avg. .183
Brittney Guro
'Iolani
Pos.: P. Class: Sr.
Finished 13-1 with 110 Ks in 96 IP, opp. avg. .094, 1 earned run in ILH
Briana Tovio-Asato
St. Francis
Pos.: C. Class: So.
Hit .487, 3 HRs, OBP .686 (16 BB). Threw out 14 baserunners
Jamie Millwood
Kamehameha
Pos.: 1B. Class: Jr.
Hit .333, 3 HRs, 14 RBIs, 11 BB. Also went 8-4 on mound
Kristi Oshiro
Mililani
Pos: 2B. Class: Sr.
Hit .470 with power (slug. .727), OBP .539, 12 SB, 24 runs
Kimberlee Souza
'Iolani
Pos: 3B. Class: So.
Hit .622, slugged .922, 11 RBIs, 11 runs while commuting from Waialua
Jamie Aiwohi
Mililani
Pos.: OF. Class: Sr.
Hit .413, scored 15 runs, 7 SB while patrolling center field
Chante' Tesoro
Pac-Five
Pos.: OF. Class: Sr.
Socked 4 HRs, hit .333, 7 SB, 12 runs and 9 RBIs to fuel Wolfpack surge
Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin
St. Francis
Pos.: OF. Class: Jr.
.405 BA (.544 slugging) among ILH's best
Lindsey “;Keiki”; Carlos
Mid-Pacific
Pos.: U. Class: Fr.
11-6, 0.97 ERA, including 16-K, no-hitter vs. Hilo in state tourney
Lianna Bajarin
Roosevelt
Pos.: U. Class: Jr.
Hurled Rough Riders to first OIA title, finished 15-2. Also hit clean-up
Rose Antonio
Mililani
Coach of the Year
School's second state title is a first for Antonio as head coach
SECOND TEAM
PLAYER | SCHOOL | POS. | CL. |
Joslyn Eugenio | Sacred Hearts | P | Sr. |
Wailana Borrero | Kauai | P | Sr. |
Ariel Silva | Maryknoll | P | Sr. |
Rebecca Lee | Mililani | C | Jr. |
Leisha Liilii | Castle | 1B | So. |
Kamie Imai | Waiakea | 2B | Jr. |
Kai Clark | Kapolei | 3B | Sr. |
Tehani Kaaihue | Kapolei | SS | Sr. |
Glenelle Nitta | Mililani | OF | Sr. |
Samantha Ford | Pac-Five | OF | Jr. |
Brittney Garcia | Campbell | OF | Sr. |
Gerika Pantohan | Campbell | U | Jr. |
Hillary Uekawa | Maryknoll | U | Sr. |
THIRD TEAM
PLAYER | SCHOOL | POS. | CL. |
Kaitlyn Watanabe | Baldwin | P | So. |
Marissa Keao | Waialua | P | Sr. |
Jasmine Ioane | Punahou | P | Jr. |
Lindsay Takekawa | Roosevelt | C | Sr. |
Alyssa Aipa | Kapolei | 1B | Jr. |
Althia Dicion | Waialua | 2B | So. |
Celina Garces | Mililani | 3B | Sr. |
Charisse Tanabe | Roosevelt | SS | Jr. |
Cierra Kapea | Roosevelt | OF | Sr. |
Mari Tanaka | Mid-Pacific | OF | Sr. |
Alexandria Smith | Leilehua | OF | Sr. |
Chandelle Dacosin | Castle | U | Sr. |
Kaydi Kochi | Mid-Pacific | U | So. |
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitchers: Kayla Alcoran, Kaiser; Shavanna Holt-Santiago, Kapolei; Jaelleen Johnson, Kailua; Sheridan Mahelona, Pac-Five; Kylee Rodrigues, Mililani; Alana Tsue, Waiakea; Felicia Tui, Farrington; Kiani Wong, KS-Hawaii; Catchers: Alyssiah Hernandez, Waialua; Malia Killam, Baldwin; Kelli Ann Lum, 'Iolani; Chelsy Okuma, Kaiser; Johnna-Lynn Pedro, Kailua; Angie Sakamoto, Waipahu. First Basemen: Keala Bertulfo, St. Francis; Desiree Dung, Mid-Pacific; Paika Frank, Roosevelt; Tiana Kanamu, Baldwin; Shanna Tashiro, 'Iolani; Second Basemen: Sharae Esprecion, Campbell; Chelsea Kamai, Sacred Hearts; Marche Llanos, Kamehameha; Corrie Murashige, Mid-Pacific; Krysta Yasui, Kaiser. Third Basemen: Kacy Aoki, Mid-Pacific; Malania Eseroma, Waiakea; Meleina Fraga, Sacred Hearts; Gabrielle Maxwell, Waialua; Maycee Moe, Castle. Shortstops: Shauna Ah Yen, Baldwin; Nicole Arata, Campbell; Mel Awa, Kamehameha; Jessie Hathaway, Kaiser; Jessica Iwata, Kauai; Ululani Reyes, St. Francis; Shay Shibata, Maryknoll; Sloane Thomas, Waiakea; Jana Tokuhama, 'Iolani; Kristin Yama, Mid-Pacific. Outfielders: Alyssa Carvalho, Kauai; Hoku Dela Cruz, Moanalua; Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua, Sacred Hearts; Kalena Lessary, Castle; Samantha Murakami, Roosevelt; Randi Schoening, Campbell; Tiffany Pereza, Kailua; Sydney Vegas, Sacred Hearts. Utility players: Winona Pauline, Mid-Pacific; Kaitlyn Wills, Castle; Scottlyn Wong, Hilo.