CAPTION: HBA senior Colton Gallano plays for the Pac-5 baseball team.
Pac 5’s baseball and softball teams have both completed unprecedented seasons.
PAC-5 SOFTBALL
The softball team won their latest tournament, their first state title since 2023 and seventh overall. The 2026 team comprises four HBA girls—senior Kate Iida, junior Emi Yamane, and sophomores Sasha Moritomo and Ava Wu. On Saturday, May 9, the softball girls faced off against Nanakuli in the Division II state finals, where they won 7-6. This was their eleventh win of the season and their sixth consecutive win. Iida, in-fielder and team captain, has been a starter on the Pac-5 team since eighth grade, and has made significant contributions to the team’s success. As for the reasons for her team’s achievements this season, Iida said, “Knowing we had a shot at the title this year put extra weights on all of our shoulders. We knew what it had to take and so we put in the countless hours of hard work and reps even when it was difficult. In the end, it was all worth it. The practices till the sun set, the long drives to the cages, and the injuries were all worth it in the end.”
According to scoringlive.com, Yamane, threw out Nanakuli’s runner, which led to the Wolfpack’s comeback during the state finals. Yamane’s favorite moment was when everyone rushed the mound as they sealed their victory. “Getting to lift the koa and celebrate together afterward was easily one of the best nights of my life,” she recalled. Moritomo, first-year varsity player, has had a rich season to build on. She said, “I feel very honored and privileged to have the ability to say that I was a part of this team! I love the perseverance from everybody, and I believe everybody is so deserving of the win.”
PAC-5 SOFTBALL
For the first time in HBA history, the Pac-5 baseball team, one of HBA’s two Division I teams, advanced to the state finals. Even though they were where beaten by Mililani, the team had much to celebrate. Three HBA athletes were on the Pac-5 team— seniors Colton Gallano and Jaxson Cadiz, and sophomore Conner Cormack. Gallano, an infielder, said, “The results weren’t really what we were expecting, but I’m still proud…We come from one of the poorest teams in the state, and it took a lot for us to even just practice. So we take every opportunity seriously as much as we can, and I think it’s just that grit and that hard work that really played into how we got there.” One of Gallano’s favorite moments was when the team beat Waikea in the semifinals. “I know a lot of guys on the Waiakea team, and it just felt good to beat out some of my friends,” he said. Gallano has committed to play for Big Bend Community College in Washington State.
