By Paul Honda
paul@hondareport.com
Friday, Feb. 2, 2007

How odd it seems, after years of domination by the ILH, that recent years have brought us parity.

After all, the state softball championship, version Division I, will be claimed by a public school. Again.

Last year, it was Pearl City. The year before? Mililani.

Club softball, like soccer and other sports, has been a huge boost to public school teams. Mililani, which got a shutout from Makani Duhaylonsod tonight, was all over Iolani from the start. Four runs in the opening frame and their ace coasted the rest of the way against a tough, but overmatched Iolani squad.

(Theoretically, Iolani could compete in Division II with hardly a complaint. Iolani is a smaller school that already plays D-II football.)

Baldwin, with its core of nine seniors, hasn't won a state title since 2001. Ace Nicole Alconcel and her catcher, Sanoe Kekahuna, were on target all night. The chemistry, especially with a catcher who makes every pitch call, was sweet and smooth. Alconcel finished with a one-hitter, and also delivered the only runs of the game with a two-run blast in the first inning.

Mililani has talent, an ace and experience. So does Baldwin. This final was inevitable. There are no ties in softball.

Drama coming, Saturday night at frigid Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Anyone got earmuffs?

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