The Lahainaluna High School softball team is in third place and battling for a shot at a state playoff slot.

LAHAINA — Despite the two-year pandemic washout, the Lahainaluna High School softball program perseveres as an upstart force in the 2022 Maui Interscholastic League campaign.

Leading into the home stretch of the MIL Division I regular season, the Lady Lunas are firmly entrenched in the middle of the pack, three games off the lead held by Baldwin and Maui High. With three games left to play before the postseason tournament, the young, rebuilding team still has a shot at state playoff slot.

Led by first-year head coach Lithe Pokipala Waiohu, the team has remained competitive as one of the youngest lineups in the MIL.

“This year is a rebuilding year for the team after losing the two years to the pandemic,” she explained last week. “However, they have shown that they are capable of competing no matter the outcome. The main thing is that we are just grateful to come out and play and have a good time. It’s been exciting and very rewarding to watch the girls compete and to be playing the sport they love.”

Coach Lithe, herself a Lahainaluna alumnus, is joined on the 2022 coaching staff by former Lady Lunas Ekekela Watson (Class of 2007) and Jade Chihara and Kekuulani Haake of the Class of 2013.

The player roster includes seniors Leimamo Arruda, Brogan Mitchell, Cheylee Ann Akina and Kaile Vasquez Momoa; juniors Makenzie Alexander, Belle Dagupion, Kauikeolani Alo Kaonohi Ah Loo, Sisilia Hafoka, Christine Chung, Christal De Brum and Mylei Kattil; sophomores Liahona Kaniho, Valeria Gonzalez Cruz and Sabrina Calma; first-year players Aubrey Haake McCarthy, Kawailani Kaonohi Ah Loo, Fiona Amram and Tanya Brillantes; and first-year bat girl Brynn Cabrera.

“These girls are self-driven and unique in their own special ways. They all play a major role in enhancing the team’s ability to execute. When they set their minds to it and believe they can, they will succeed. A positive mindset has played a key role, and this is a strength of the team,” said Coach Lithe.

In closing, she expressed her sincere gratitude to the West Side community for their support of the program.

“Thank you to all the parents and fans for supporting us and showing up. Thank you to my fiance and family for pushing me and for being there for me from the beginning — and seeing me through this new journey. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their love and support,” she said.

“Most of all, I would like to give a huge thank you to Coach Lei Nakamura for not only being my coach, but also a great mentor. She has taught me the other part of softball and much more. Thank you for believing in me and entrusting me to take on the softball team, as well as for your continued guidance and support.

“Thank you to all of my past coaches for helping to mold me into a successful ball player and now, a coach. And to Flint Nakamura (husband of Lei), thank you for being there for me and for teaching me how to maintain our beautiful field. And to the coaching staff, thank you for all your help and support along the way and for believing in me. I couldn’t have done it without you!”