Kamehameha suffered through a rare absence at last year's state tournament, so this year the Warriors looked to senior pitcher Noe Esperas to lead them back to the promised land.

Esperas delivered in a big way, starting every game and going 13-1 to help Kamehameha win its fourth Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship in five years. She capped her season by being named ILH Player of the Year after a vote of league coaches.

Esperas pitched 93 innings, allowed only 42 hits and 26 walks, struck out 87 and had an earned run average of 0.68. She also did more than her share at the plate, batting .341 with three doubles and 12 runs batted in.

In two of the Warriors' most crucial games of the season, Esperas went the distance, going 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs in an 8-2 victory over Iolani and pitching 12 innings in a 6-2 win over St. Francis.

She was one of six Kamehameha players named to the ILH's all-star first team. The others are second baseman Charina Sumner, third baseman Dara Pagaduan, shortstop Kaui Tom and outfielders Alyssa Bergado and Shalesse Javillo.

League runner-up St. Francis placed four players on the first team: first baseman Shannon Lum, outfielder Tawni Glushenko, catcher Ashley Smith and pitcher Brittney Akana.

Iolani was represented by three players: catcher Kai Masutani, utlity player Chelsey Keola and designated player Allison Chu.

Pac-Five pitcher Jessica Ghazali rounds out the first team.

St. Francis' Mark Glushenko was named Coach of the Year after leading the Troubadours to a runner-up finish one season after they won the league's Division II title. This was only St. Francis' second season as its own program; the Troubadours previously combined with players from other small schools.