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POYs still hard at work with Titans

Baldwin’s Kahahawai-Kekona, Lanai’s Montgomery led respective teams to MIL championships

By Robert Collias 7 min read

The Maui News 2022 MIL Softball All-Stars

L.B. Kahahawai-Kekona and Keala Montgomery were both unquestioned leaders for their Maui Interscholastic League softball teams in 2022.

Now, each are busy traveling on the Mainland, playing for the Maui Titans club team.

Montgomery, a pitcher, is a rising senior at Lanai High School and Kahahawaia-Kekona, a shortstop, is a recent Baldwin graduate -- both are currently with the Titans in Oregon as they work on improving their softball skills by taking part in clinics, camps and playing games against top-notch competition.

They each found out over the phone within the last week that they are choices of the league's coaches as The Maui News MIL Players of the Year, Kahahawai-Kekona in Division I, Montgomery in Division II.

Kahahawai-Kekona seriously pondered staying home for her final summer before starting her college career at Utah Tech University, formerly known as Dixie State.

"It's good, it sounds refreshing because I worked hard for it and, I don't know, it's just like a full circle, playing since I was young and my high school career ending," Kahahawai-Kekona said.

Kahahawai-Kekona was the MIL first-team All-Star selection at shortstop as a freshman in 2019 before the pandemic wiped out the middle two years of her high school career.

"It meant a lot because we were kind of doing nothing for two years when we were in quarantine and we were all scared," she said. "And then going back and having a season with your friends, it just felt like we were back to normal, doing what we love."

The L.B. in her first name stands for Lakaiya-Braessia -- "My dad wanted Kaiya, but my mom wanted La in my name because her name's Latasha, so then they had Lakaiya and then my mom just kind of made up Braessia," L.B. said.

Kahahawai-Kekona had a special motivation to play the game as a senior -- her mom, Latasha Kekona, passed away in late September 2021 after a battle with COVID-19. She had seemingly won a battle with cancer before passing away.

"She was already in remission and then COVID hit and then, yeah ..." Kahahawai-Kekona said, adding that she played the 2022 season to honor her mom.

"When she first passed away I was, like, debating on even playing, but I still played," Kahahawai-Kekona said. "I played for her. And, yeah, that's what she would've wanted, for me to have fun and all that stuff."

Her senior season worked out well.

"It kept me in lane, softball kept me in lane," Kahahawai-Kekona said.

Her father, Branden Kahahawai, helped L.B. get through the loss of her mother.

"He helped a lot, he was my coach since I was 3 years when I started playing baseball," Kahahawai-Kekona said. "He was my coach since then until I stopped playing baseball (before high school) and then he kind of let me spread my wings."

Kahahawai-Kekona's older sister Jessasha Tanoue-Kekona, 21, who played college softball for Corban University in Salem, Ore., came home to help take care of their mom when she developed cancer.

"Oh, she helped a lot, just her being the older sister, she took a lot of things on and we just helped each other get through it," Kahahawai-Kekona said.

Both older sisters have helped take care of their 4-year-old brother, Mauloa, since their mom passed away.

"We try to help (Mauloa) a lot, he's like confused -- he was really confused in the beginning and then now he's starting to realize everything," Kahahawai-Kekona said. "He's going to school so that keeps him busy."

Now, Kahahawai-Kekona is excited for her new journey at UTU in St. George, Utah.

"I'm excited, it's a new chapter in life and I get to be independent and just live on my own and have new experiences," she said.

Still, it is somewhat hard for her to realize that she is done as a Baldwin Bear.

"Yeah, it's very hard to believe," Kahahawai-Kekona said. "I'm going to get homesick a lot. I'm not looking forward to that. FaceTime is going to get me a long way."

Kahahawai-Kekona is joined on the MIL D-I first team by Baldwin teammates Lauren Otsubo (pitcher), Briana Maio-Silva (second base), Makanani Sonognini (outfield) and Rocky Palmeira (outfield); Maui High's Jer-Zee Ragasa (pitcher), Breani Kahalehau (first base), Eliana Ulufale (third base) and Jovita Laloulu (utility/DP); Lahainaluna's Leimamo Arruda (outfield) and Brogan Mitchell (utility/DP); and Kamehameha Maui's Laieikawai Keahi (catcher).

Baldwin coach Sanoe Kekahuna Montilliano is the MIL D-I Coach of the Year after leading the Bears to the league crown and a sixth-place finish in the state tournament.

Montgomery is experiencing playing with several MIL D-I All-Stars with the Maui Titans for the summer -- she hopes it will help her lead the Pine Lasses to higher levels than the MIL title that came with a two-loss showing at the state tournament.

"Oh, it's super cool, I mean starting the year off this season, I don't know, I definitely wasn't expecting that," Montgomery said of her award. "I've worked pretty hard these past few years. Especially during COVID, I was working every day in the field with my dad.

"So, I thought maybe first team when the season started, but to be Player of the Year is crazy. I wouldn't have thought it would happen."

Montgomery said that being on the same club team with Kahahawai-Kekona is special. The two MIL POYs are good friends.

"Oh, it's crazy, oh my gosh, it's super cool," Montgomery said. "She's great. I mean, I was pitching today in the game and I could hear her the whole time, saying, 'You and me, we got you, the defense has you, the team has your back.' It's great, she's super supportive, she's a great leader on the field, yeah, I love it. I love having her out there."

Montgomery is joined on the MIL D-II first team by Lanai teammates Rylee Sanches (catcher), Veniza Jackson (third base), Alanna Manuel (shortstop), Vanessa Kaahanui-Peralta (outfield), Anuhea Kapua (outfield) and Noelani Sigrah (utility/DP); and Molokai's Lia-Chae Meyer (pitcher), Natalia Pastrana (first base), Kailani Bicoy (second base), Kailana McGuire-Guerrero (outfield) and Piimoku Victorino (utility/DP).

Lanai coach Robbie Sanches is the MIL D-II Coach of the Year after guiding the young Pine Lasses to the MIL crown.

Montgomery is slated to be the only senior on the Lanai softball roster next year, but it is a responsibility she is looking forward to.

She will take the valuable experience of playing with the Titans with her -- Maui High and Kamehameha Maui also have players on the 18-under roster. Molokai and King Kekaulike are also represented on the 14-under Maui Titans team.

"Oh, it definitely boosts my confidence," Montgomery said. "I mean, these girls are good. They're all headed to play ball in college, so being able to play alongside them, it's definitely a confidence booster.

"It forces me to look at the game from a different perspective, the way I play from a different perspective, really appreciate where I am, who I'm playing with. Definitely ... it allows me to say, 'Hey, I can do it. I'm playing with some of the best girls on Maui.' "

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

*****

Division I Second Team

Makenzie Alexander Lahainaluna Pitcher Junior

Piikea Keahi Kamehameha Maui Pitcher Senior

Paige Beatty Maui High Catcher Junior

Cheylee Akina Lahainaluna First base Senior

Lexijade Kaalakea Maui High Second base Senior

Leimana Purdy KS Maui Third base Senior

Satsuki Dumlao Maui High Shortstop Senior

Jaycie Chun Maui High Outfield Senior

Lahela Painter Baldwin Outfield Sophomore

Kaala Kahoohalahala-Watanabe Kamehameha Maui Utility/DP Freshman

Jasmyn Yoshikawa Baldwin Utility/DP Sophomore

Kristen Otsubo Baldwin Utility/DP Junior

Division II Honorable Mention

Hana--Asa Kalalau, Lexi Phillips; Molokai--Kailiah Chong-Kalima.

Starting at /week.