Bautista, Mililani have blast in 3-peating

Four home runs in three games, three wins in four days.

Hinano Bautista couldn’t do anything by herself, but she gave everything of herself again as the Mililani Trojans stifled Moanalua 9-3 to capture their third consecutive softball state championship.

Mililani now has six state championships, including five under Rose Antonio (2009, ’14, ’24, ’25, ’26). She got a healthy Gatorade shower from her team during the postgame celebration.

“They got me. I’m soaked,” she said. “It was a very tough week for us playing four games. What else could you ask from this team? I’m very proud of them and our coaches who help prepare us.”

Bautista overcame what she called a hitting slump recently. She broke out big this week. In the final, the junior southpaw went 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored in the biggest game of the season. In the circle, she allowed one earned run and seven hits over five innings. Taylor Adriano hurled the final two scoreless innings

Bautista finished the tournament with 11 hits in 16 at-bats (.688), with four homers, a triple, a double, 12 RBIs and five runs scored.

In the pitcher’s circle, Bautista was 3-0 with a 3.50 ERA. In 16 innings, she struck out nine and walked eight. She was at her best under duress, tamping down Moanalua’s constant comeback attempts.

“It’s just know that my team has my back through everything, through my ups and downs. They pick me up,” Bautista said.

Shortstop Kahiau Aina sparked another stellar night for the Trojans’ defense.

“For sure, it feels better each time,” she said of the three-peat. “I told Hinano, ‘All you need is three up, three down.’ That’s what she did. It’s really, everybody doubted us, said we’re overrated, this isn’t going to happen. We proved them wrong. I’m happy that we did.”

Moanalua was chasing after a first state title.

“I’m so proud of them,” Na Menehune coach Kylee Oshiro said. “Just to get here is an accomplishment. To be the first is a big deal. We’ll keep growing and hopefully get back here some day.”

Bautista had a slow start in the pitcher’s circle, walking leadoff batter Jolie Ann Mochizuki on four pitches. Karah Pasion followed with a bloop single over first base. Mochizuki advanced to third base on Kaylah Sato’s forceout grounder at second.

Alia Anzai followed with a ground single to right, scoring Mochizuki for a 1-0 Na Menehune lead. Bautista fanned Ramzy Bumagat and got Ava Atagi on a groundout to end the inning.

The Lady Trojans marched ahead with two runs in the bottom of the first against Moanalua’s most effective pitcher, Sato. Kamryn Aoki walked with one out, and on a 1-0 pitch, the left-handed hitting Bautista launched a rocket over left-center to give Mililani a 2-1 edge.

“Just trusting myself in the batter’s box, that I can throw my hands out there, and on the mound. It’s all in my hands, really,” Bautista said.