Before the start of the HHSAA Division I baseball tournament, Waiakea coach Eric Kurosawa presented his team a challenging goal: It’ll take a five-game winning streak to bring home a state title.

Kamehameha sophomore Anela Manuia competes in judo, golf and soccer and runs cross country and in her spare time slays giants.

Kohala senior Mikayla Kekoa was dependable as ever, and No. 8 batter and freshman Leiana Carvalho drove in the go-ahead run.

On a perfect day for baseball with sunshine and no dark clouds in sight, Logan Wilson painted a masterpiece on the mound and fired a five-hitter to lift Hilo over Waiakea 4-3 for the BIIF Division I championship.

By KEVIN JAKAHI

KEAAU – Hilo starter Ocean Gabonia got a no-decision, and Waiakea senior Ty Honda got tagged for a tough loss in Game 1 of the BIIF Division I championship series, which doubled as a test of perseverance.

KEAAU – At first glance, Kamehameha senior left-hander Tai Atkins’ numbers didn’t look particularly dominant: 5 2/3 innings, three runs and nine strikeouts with one walk and three hit batters.

HILO – Makua Lani played to its strength — balanced firepower — while Hawaii Prep couldn’t overcome its season-long weakness — ball-control — in an unlikely BIIF Division II championship, one team deep in tradition and the other a bunch of hard-working greenhorns.

Only the underdogs saw this one coming.

Once Makua Lani and Hawaii Prep stopped beating themselves, order was restored to the BIIF Division II volleyball universe.

It was gold-collecting day, otherwise known as the BIIF individual championships where Waiakea senior Raelyn Ai-Yoneda and Hilo senior Hula Kahookaulana stamped their legacies as four-time champs.

PAHOA — It’s been a remarkable building process on the volleyball court for Makua Lani, which didn’t have a team two years ago.

UH-Hilo has won eight games straight on the diamond, not quite halfway to the school record of 19 games in a row, which was set in 1982.

Last season, Chanelle Hwang had a fine freshman golf season for Hilo with a fifth place finish at the BIIF championships.

KEAAU — Hawaii Prep’s ball-control woke up just in time against Christian Liberty for a volleyball battle with a nice little prize on the line.

Last year, the UH-Hilo men’s tennis team produced a landmark season with a first-round loss at the NCAA Division II championships, a shocking achievement considering Hawaii Pacific is seen as the state’s preeminent program.

Kerwyn Tokeshi knew all about the history and odds of his Hilo girls judo team going into the BIIF championships.