BIIF Softball Semifinal Schedule Set

Waiakea High School softball field. File photo by Josh Pacheco.

Four remaining spots in the Datahouse/Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Softball Championships will be decided over the next few weeks as the Big Island Interscholastic Federation opens postseason play on Thursday.

Both state berths are at stake in Division I, as Waiakea and Kealakehe clinched a share of the league title. League rules state that only the outright regular season champion would earn a berth to the state tournament. Both teams finished 11-2 on the season, but Waiakea earned the top seed in the semifinals based on its run differential against the Waveriders, thanks in large part to its 18-5 win last Tuesday.

That means the winner of each semifinal series will punch a ticket to next month’s big dance, with the championship series determining who would get a seeded spot in the tournament. Waiakea will host a three-game series against Kea’au, while Kealakehe will host Hilo.

In Division II, Kamehameha-Hawai’i clinched one of three berths into the Division II state tournament by running the table in league play, finishing with a 16-0 record. The Warriors will host Konawaena on Thursday to open the three-game semifinal series.

Kohala will host Honoka’a in the other Division II series. Both teams split their season series this year, with Honoka’a winning the most recent matchup at home on March 23.

Because there are three berths in the Division II state tournament, the semifinal losers will meet in a winner-take-all game for the final spot on Saturday, April 23 at 1 p.m., hosted by the highest seeded team in the matchup.

Big Island Interscholastic Federation softball semifinal schedule

Thursday, April 14 (Game one)

Division II

#4 Konawaena (7-8) at #1 Kamehameha-Hawai’i (16-0) – 3 p.m.

#3 Honoka’a (9-6) at #2 Kohala (11-5) – 3 p.m.

Division I

#4 Kea’au (3-10) at #1 Waiakea (11-2) – 3 p.m.

#3 Hilo (7-5) at #2 Kealakehe (11-2) – 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 (Game two)

Division II

#4 Konawaena at #1 Kamehameha-Hawai’i – 11 a.m.

#3 Honoka’a at #2 Kohala – 1 p.m.

Division I

#4 Kea’au at #1 Waiakea – 11 a.m.

#3 Hilo at #2 Kealakehe – 1 p.m.

Monday, April 18 (game three, if necessary)

Division II

#4 Konawaena at #1 Kamehameha-Hawai’i – 3 p.m.

#3 Honoka’a at #2 Kohala – 3 p.m.

Division I

#4 Kea’au at #1 Waiakea – 3 p.m.

#3 Hilo at #2 Kealakehe – 3 p.m.