The Baldwin High School girls softball team won the battle yesterday over adequate practice and playing fields.

Gov. Linda Lingle released $1 million to build a new practice field for the Baldwin team as part of a settlement of a lawsuit against the state and Maui County for gender discrimination.

The state also agreed to pay $75,000 for the girls' attorney fees and said starting next season, all Maui high school softball games will be played in a newer stadium at Maui High School.

“;It's pretty awesome that they responded really quick,”; said Trisha Nobriga, a senior on the team and one of the plaintiffs. “;I'm excited for the next year's girls. They're going to get all the things that we wanted.”;

U.S. District Judge David Ezra accepted the agreement yesterday between the plaintiffs and the defendants, which include the state Department of Education and Maui County.

Three players, their parents and their coach filed the lawsuit March 18 with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union and law firm Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing.

In the suit, the plaintiffs complained that the county moved the team to a distant, rock-strewn field that is inferior to the boys' facility—the 1,500-seat Iron Maehara Stadium, which has batting cages and is close to the school.

The girls asked to play on their old field, despite it being inferior to the boys stadium, because it was better than the current field.

The county replied that the old field was under repair and it would be unsafe for the team to use. The girls can't use the stadium because it's a different size.

Ezra issued a preliminary injunction on March 19, requiring the defendants to immediately correct the problem by sending an expert to determine how fast the old field could be repaired.

In the hearing yesterday, the defendants announced the agreement and said Maui County made improvements to the current field such as picking up stones, filling in a depression, adding clay to the pitcher's circle and erecting a fence.

The new practice field will be ready by the start of the 2012 season.

Ezra said the settlement was “;perfectly appropriate”; and rectifies the problem.

“;This will ensure for generations to come that women's athletics at Baldwin High School will be provided the same ... attention and financial support to which it is entitled under Title IX,”; he said, referring to the federal statute requiring gender equality in school sports.

He said the suit provides a “;wake-up call”; to the state that public accommodations must be equal. “;We have an obligation in this country to provide equality.”;

He commended the girls for coming forward, adding, “;It took a great deal of courage for them to stand up for what they believed was right.”;

Tina Colman, an attorney with Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing, said the girls will endure the extra distance to the current softball field while the new practice field is built.

“;We're very happy with the resolution,”; she said.

Nobriga, who cut her ankle on a rock on the current field, said playing there has been a hassle because teammates have to drive there and everyone has to rush because it is shared with another school.

Some teammates were criticized because of the suit, she said, but she learned it's best to speak up when there is an inequality.

“;Hopefully,”; she added, “;I can come back and be a coach on the new practice field.”;