Pagampao’s three home runs propel Mililani to OIA softball championship

Makayla Pagampao’s Three-Home-Run Performance Leads Mililani to OIA Softball Title

HONOLULU — Makayla Pagampao put on a show for Mililani in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I softball championship game against Kapolei, blasting three massive home runs to secure a 13-2 victory and the league title.

Pagampao’s incredible performance included two home runs in the fifth inning, bringing the game to an early end at McKinley on Saturday night. The win marked Mililani’s first league title since 2017 and their 12th overall.

After Kapolei started the game with back-to-back solo home runs in the first inning, Pagampao’s three-run homer in the third ignited a comeback for the Trojans. The senior, who is headed to Hawaii Pacific University, continued her dominance with a solo shot in the fifth inning that put Mililani within one run of ending the game via mercy rule.

Pagampao’s outstanding display left even her coach, Rose Antonio, in awe. Antonio, who picked up her seventh OIA championship as head coach, praised Pagampao’s hitting prowess and noted that she had never seen one of her players hit three home runs in a single game before.

In addition to Pagampao’s heroics, catcher Ka‘ui Garcia hit a grand slam in the fifth inning to seal the victory for Mililani. Freshman pitcher Hinano Bautista also played a crucial role, bouncing back after Kapolei’s early strikes to secure the win with a five-hitter and one strikeout.

Despite the loss, Kapolei coach Enson Quepo commended his team’s performance and expressed confidence in their prospects heading into the state tournament. Aiea also emerged victorious in the Division II championship game, defeating Radford to claim their first OIA title since 2017.