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The Maui News 2017 MIL Softball All-Stars

Going out on top: Asio, Keliihoomalu earn Player of the Year honors after helping teams to MIL crowns

Lahainaluna High School’s Taylor Asio helped lead team to Maui Interscholastic League championships this season. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

College softball awaits for the best players in the Maui Interscholastic League.

Taylor Asio left her mark at Lahainaluna High School, saving her best season for her senior year. Molokai’s Brooke Keliihoomalu learned the game in the MIL, accomplishing a goal as a senior that she set for herself as an 8th-grader.

The Lunas’ right-handed pitcher and the Farmers’ center fielder are the choices of the league’s coaches as The Maui News MIL Players of the Year for Divisions I and II, respectively.

Both players were instrumental in their teams’ return to the top of the MIL — the Lunas won the D-I title for the time since 2012 while the Farmers claimed the D-II pennant for the first time in three years.

“I’m very happy, very proud to be named player of the year, especially my senior year,” said Asio, who will play for NAIA power Hope International University in Fullerton, Calif., next season. “I’m happy to leave this Lahainaluna program knowing that I got player of the year my senior year. It feels good.”

Molokai’s Brooke Keliihoomalu helped lead team to Maui Interscholastic League championships this season. The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo

Asio was a team manager as an 8th-grader before taking the field for the Lady Lunas.

“It feels good to finally bring back the MIL title after that many years,” she said. “It was awesome. I’m just so happy I can bring the title back to Lahaina, back to our school.”

Asio is joined on the MIL D-I first team by teammates Kiani Motooka (second base), Kaaina Kalanikau (third base), Liliola Vehikite (outfield) and Daisha Dagdag (outfield); Maui High’s Cira Bartolotti (pitcher), Destiny Kama (first base) and Nawai Kaupe (shortstop); Baldwin’s Saree-Ann Kekahuna (catcher) and Sasha Tanoue-Kekona (outfield); King Kekaulike’s Tanisha Valdez (utility); and Kamehameha Maui’s Montana Vaught (utility).

Kaupe, who will attend the University of Washington next year, said Asio deserved the Player of the Year nod.

“I expected to see her step up,” Kaupe said of her former club teammate. “She’s an amazing pitcher. She knows how to move her ball and it’s all because of maturity. She learned from her freshman year all throughout her high school career. That’s amazing, that’s all any coach could ask for.”

Keliihoomalu, who was also an MIL All-Star in basketball and volleyball this year, will continue her career next at Lake Region State College in North Dakota — Lanai’s Sadie Schilling and Baldwin’s Beige Reinhardt will be her teammates there.

“I was super surprised, but when I first found out about it, I set goals for myself and that was the top of the list,” Keliihoomalu said of being Player of the Year. “Since my freshman year, that was the one thing I wanted the most.”

Keliihoomalu is joined on the D-II first team by teammates Cahlvrie Horner (pitcher), Cami Horner (catcher), Kaydence Oswald-Kalawe (first base), Sydney Rawlins (third base) and Camille Ledesma (shortstop); Lanai’s Schilling (utility), Jasmine Molina (second base) and Raquel Leboeuf-Malacas (outfield); Seabury Hall’s Hiilei Luuwai (outfield) and Nanea Andrade (utility); and Hana’s Shaylee Roback (pitcher).

“It does feel real, honestly right now,” Keliihoomalu said of being done at Molokai High. “I’m still surprised at everything. I’m still trying to adjust that I’m not going to be playing for them anymore.”

The coaches of the year are Lahainaluna’s Lei Nakamura and Molokai’s Kawehi Horner.

Keliihoomalu will miss basketball and volleyball, but she knew softball was her game as soon as she started playing.

“From when I first started playing, softball was my No. 1 sport,” she said. “I honestly feel that Hawaii can bring some of the best players. We have a lot of well-rounded athletes that can really play.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

Second Team

Division I

Aliya Harmon, Baldwin, Pitcher, Fr.

Keiley Higaki-Belaski, King Kekaulike, Pitcher, Sr.

Braylee Tovio-Asato, Lahainaluna, Catcher, Jr.

Beige Reinhardt, Baldwin, First base, Sr.

Sadie Sakamoto, King Kekaulike, Second base, Jr.

Kaycee Arase, Maui High, Third base, Jr.

Nohili Hong, Lahainaluna, Shortstop, So.

Alyssa Ferreira, Baldwin, Outfield, Fr.

Kaimi Lay-Fuentes, Maui High, Outfield, Sr.

Cathy Hokoana, King Kekaulike, Outfield, Fr.

Avei Silifaiva, Baldwin, Utility, Fr.

Mia Gerbig, Lahainaluna, Utility, Jr.

Division II

Claire Vila, Lanai, Pitcher, Sr.

Leah Vidad, Lanai, Pitcher, Jr.

Bella Lallo, Seabury Hall, Catcher, So.

Precious Rawlins, Molokai, First base, Sr.

Felicity Pestrana, Molokai, Second base, Fr.

Milena LaMonica, Seabury Hall, Third base, Sr.

Gina Anton, Lanai, Shortstop, So.

Shya Roback, Hana, Outfield, So.

Nadia Augustiro, Molokai, Outfield, Sr.

Jana Ohashi, Lanai, Outfield, Sr.

Kianne Demello-Galam, Molokai, Utility, Fr.

Micah Manuel, Lanai, Utility, So.

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