Aloy, Kaahanui deserve top honors | News, Sports, Jobs

Aloy led Baldwin High School to the State Championship Game and the Bears’ 11th straight MIL title. Kaahanui led Molokai to his eighth straight MIL pennant.

The two were selected by the league’s coaches as The Maui News MIL Player of the Year, Aloy in Division I, Kaahanui in Division II. Both players enjoyed two seasons midway through their high school careers that were wiped out by the pandemic.

“It’s very cool, especially being one of the top players on Maui.” Aloy said of the award over the phone while driving with his father Jamie Aloy en route to Medford, Oregon on Wednesday. “And without my team I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

The Aloys drove to southern Oregon from Sacramento, Calif., because Wehiwa Aloy, who signed with Sacramento State University in the fall, is already playing in a collegiate summer league for the Sacramento Saints.

2022 MIL Baseball All Stars

He will never forget his time as a bear.

“It was really fun being a senior after missing two seasons. We were able to lead our team and also become better leaders, in baseball and in life.” said Aloy. “And our coaches have been a big part of that. You helped us alot.”

The Bears stormed through the MIL DI ranks 14-0 — Aloy hit .311 along the way while leading a steadfast defense — and then defeated Hilo 6-3 and Kailua 17-5 from standing in a game in which Aloy was 4-4 with two runs, five RBIs and a double.

Then the perfect season collapsed in the State Finals, a 3-2 loss to Waiakea. In the championship, Aloy hit a triple and scored the first run of the game in the top end of the fourth inning.

Aloy knows that he and his seven senior colleagues made their impressive mark in founding the program, although he did not leave Baldwin with a state title like his father did in Hawaii in 1995 before a distinguished career.

Saven Kaahanui and the Molokai Farmers rolled through the MIL Division II game unbeaten 8-0 to capture the program’s eighth consecutive championship. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

“I’m pretty sure we helped a lot.” he said. “Especially without those two years, we had to rebuild Baldwin baseball, and that went pretty well last year.”

Aloy is joined in the MIL DI first team by teammates BA Oto (pitcher), Anu Chaves (catcher), Levi Maddela (first base), Makane Honokaupu (second base), Christian Dominno (third base) and Isiah Kekahuna (outfield). . ; and Maui High’s Jonah Richardson (pitcher), Zach Dando (outfield), Haiden Sanchez (outfield), Christopher Mata (utility/DH) and Kahiau Teruya (utility/DH).

Aloy, Oto, Honokaupu and Kekahuna are all done as Baldwin Bears.

“It’s time for the next step in my career” said Aloy. “And I will definitely miss it very much.

“I’m very excited.”

Kaahanui plans to take a showcase trip to Idaho next month to help find his next baseball target.

“I didn’t expect that, I didn’t expect that at all” Kaahanui said about his award. “I led our team with everything I had.”

Kaahanui said his downtime due to the pandemic has been tough, but he’s grateful to have had a senior season.

The Farmers rolled through the MIL D-II game unbeaten 8-0. They lost both games at the state tournament while battling a team COVID outbreak in Hilo.

“It felt good to be back after missing two years” said Kaahanui. “It felt really good, man. I was excited, I was really excited about how this year was going to end for me.”

Kaahanui, a utility pick for the All-Star Team because he can also pitch, is joined on MIL D-II’s first team by Molokai teammates Hoolei Arce (pitcher), Angelo Duvauchelle (first base), Miken Loo ( Second base), Kobra Cariaga-Abafo (third base), Solomon Kikukawa-Teriong (outfield) and Gavin Ainoa (outfield); Carter Rosenthal (pitcher), Finn Hagen (catcher) and Cole LoGrande (shortstop) of Seabury Hall; Lanai’s Sam Dimaya III (outfield); and Hanas Loea Helekahi-Matsuda (Utility/DH).

“Oh man, I had a lot of fun — I pretty much grew up in little league with this whole team.” said Kaahanui. “We knew each other pretty well and knew how we all play. We all played well this year.”

The MIL Coaches of the Year are Baldwin’s Craig Okita in DI and Molokai’s Keahi Rawlins in D-II.

“It was really fun playing for Coach Buddy (Rawlins),” said Kaahanui. “We did our best to leave our mark on Farmer Baseball. It’s pretty cool. I’ve worked really hard on my game this year, we all have.”

* Robert Collias can be reached at rcollias @mauinews.com