HONOLULU — History was made Saturday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
Honoka‘a baseball completed perfection in the Division II state championship — shutting out Damien 3-0 to clinch the first Koa Head Trophy in program history.
The Dragons finished the year a perfect 17-0, out-scoring opponents with a 162-14 run differential — which included 10 shutout wins. The green and gold routed Castle 9-0 in Thursday’s quarterfinals and won 5-2 over Kauai in Friday’s semifinals.
“It’s really special for our school and community,” head coach Waylon Salazar told 91直播. “Honokaa is a small school and these boys have worked really hard for this moment. To be able to bring home the first state championship in program history means a lot, not just to the team, but to the families, alumni, coaches and community members who have supported these players all season.
“I’m just really proud of the group and the way they represented Honokaa baseball. Hoping this gives a boost to Honokaa baseball and inspires the younger kids.”
While the Dragons scored less runs than they’re typically accustomed to, Honoka‘a never feared losing the lead — especially with Josyah Napoleon-Umeda on the mound. The senior pitched perhaps his best game this season — allowing no runs and three hits while striking out nine over the full 7.0 innings. It was Napoleon-Umeda’s second complete game of the season.
The Dragons’ ace ended the season tied with Ka‘u’s Caleb Crook for most strikeouts in the state with 59. Napoleon-Umeda also posted an impressive 0.42 ERA.
“All I had to do was throw strikes, and these boys made the plays for me, and I am grateful for them,” Napoleon-Umeda told the Star-Advertiser postgame. “I knew that we had it from the very beginning, I just wanted my boys to know that we had it.”
Honoka‘a’s pitching was definitely one of the team’s strong points throughout the season, as Napoleon-Umeda, Rory Crabbe and Jayden Salazar were the top-three pitchers in the state with the lowest ERA. Collectively, the Dragons led the state in team ERA (0.40), strikeouts (179) and wins on the mound (15).
But Honoka‘a’s pitching wasn’t all that made it a perfect team, as the Dragons’ hitting was arguably just as strong. The champs logged seven hits, heralded by Salazar and Crabbe with two each. Teammates Isaac DeRego, Chrys Coelho and Kiakahi Lindsey with one hit each.
While Napoleon-Umeda didn’t log any hits against the Monarchs, the star was still arguably the best hitter in the state this season — leading HHSAA Division II in hits (30), runs (32), batting average (.577) and home runs (6). The Dragons also had multiple players in the state’s top 10 for a number of major hitting categories.
As a team, Honoka‘a led the state in hits (171), runs (162), RBI (136), batting average (.365), doubles (35), home runs (18) and stolen bases (80).
“I think what made this team special was how complete a team it is,” Waylon Salazar said. “We had pitching, defense and offense and the boys played for each other and the team. Different players stepped up in big moments all season long. They stayed consistent, stayed humble and competed every game no matter the situation. A lot of these kids have played together all their lives so it was really special for them to get this achievement together.”
The state title also completes a chapter for many of the upperclassmen, who fell to Kapa‘a in last year’s state quarterfinal. Motivated to get back to states and complete the unfinished business, the Dragons were able to finish the job in the best way possible.
“I think last year’s experience stayed with them,” Salazar said. “A lot of those returning players understood how hard it is to get here and how quickly the tournament can end. They used that as motivation throughout the offseason and during the year. You could see their focus and maturity this season.
“They came back hungry, but also more confident and prepared.”
With the job finally finished, Salazar had no shortage of people to thank.
“We’re really thankful for all the support from our families, school, community and everyone who helped us get here,” he said. “We also had so many local businesses and supporters help us with fundraising and travel for states. Coming from a small town, you really feel everybody behind you and we’re thankful for that support.”
Damien, the defending DII state champs, was led by Kekona Begonia with two hits. Pitcher Max DeTrinis also logged a hit.
DeTrinis and Begonia pitched on the mound for the Monarchs. Starting the season 1-5-2, Damien turned things around quickly by the postseason — winning four straight before running into the Dragons.
The Monarchs finished the year 5-6-2.
“They are a great team, Josyah kept us off balance all day,” Damien coach Skylar Tengan told the Star-Advertiser. “Our hitters had a hard time and if you can’t hit the ball you can’t win. That was pretty much the bottom line for us. (DeTrinis) battled and kept us in the game and that’s all we ask, but you can’t win with zero runs.”
HPA falls in semis to Damien walkoff
For a moment, an all-BIIF state championship looked possible.
91直播 Prep led Damien 3-2 in Friday’s DII state semifinal at Les Murakami Stadium, and Ka Makani was just three outs away from playing Honoka‘a for the state crown. But the Monarchs had other plans.
At the bottom of the seventh inning, Damien loaded the bases, and Tanaloa Seguancia singled to left field — scoring two runs and punching the Monarchs a ticket to the big dance after a 4-3 win.
Despite the loss, HPA still out-hit Damien — as shortstop Ed Lustik, second baseman Asher Anderson and pitcher David Culbertson each logged two hits. Catcher Kahea Leleiwi also notched a double.
Culberston was the only Ka Makani player on the mound, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out two.
On Damien’s side, Seguancia, shortstop Kekona Begonia, catcher Tryten Vicari, left fielder Ikena Weisbarth and right fielder Riley Katakura-Villiatora each logged a hit.
On top of Seguancia’s late-game heroics, he was also named the game’s winning pitcher after allowing no runs over the final 3.3 innings. Mason Johnasen also pitched.
HPA was diverted to the consolation bracket, where Ka Makani fell to Kauai 5-2 in the third-place game.
Earlier in the week, Ka Makani upset first-seeded Waipahu 9-6 in the quarterfinals.
Warriors shut out in semis
In the HHSAA DI bracket, Waiakea suffered its first loss of the 2026 season, as the Warriors were shut out by PAC-5 by a score of 8-0 in Friday’s semifinals.
The loss placed Waiakea out of state contention and into the consolation bracket, where they fell to Kamehameha-Kapalama 5-1 in Saturday’s third-place game.
PAC-5 led 3-0 through five innings, but the game quickly got out of reach once the Wolfpack put together an impressive five-run sixth inning — crushing any hope of a late-game Waiakea comeback.
Alika Ahu was the star of the show for PAC-5, as he earned the win on the mound after allowing just two Warrior hits across 88 pitches — striking out eight batters. Ahu’s dominance didn’t stop on the mound, though, as he also tallied a game-high three hits and two RBI.
Teammate Espn Bennett logged three hits, while shortstop Colton Gallano and left fielder Titan Nixon had one each.
Waiakea mustered just two hits throughout the night — one each from DH Axel Akau and first baseman Connor Wallace. Hurley Soong, Micah Polloi and Keyan Wada shared time on the mound.
In Thursday’s quarterfinals, the Warriors routed Moanalua 13-1 in five innings.
