Congratulations to Sheridan for winning the 2025-26 Oahu AJA Baseball League Championship by defeating Mililani 9 to 3 in the Championship game at Hans L’Orange Park on Wednesday (3/25/26) night.
Sheridan scored 3 runs in the 1st inning, 4 runs in 2nd inning and a single run in the 3rd to take an early 8 to 0 lead and withstand a comeback by Mililani who responded to Sheridan’s onslaught with 2 runs in the 5th and 1 run in the 6th to close the gap to 8 to 3. Sheridan answered with 1 run in the 6th to retake the momentum and close out the scoring and make the final score 9 to 3.
In the 1st inning, Sheran scored 3 runs as Joey Maekawa started the rally by working a walk, after a base hit by Jared Yara, with 2 outs, Lanson Yamamoto got a 2 run rbi base hit and Sean Tanaka followed with another rbi base hit. In the 2nd, Sheridan broke the game open by scoring 4 runs on consecutive rbi base hits by Josh Inaba, Yara and Dylan Sugimoto after Will Harrington started the rally with a base hit and Maekawa kept it going with another walk. Sheridan scored their 8th run when after 2 outs started the inning, Bronson Ichimura singled to get on base, hustled to 3rd on a base hit by Harrington and scored on a rbi single by Maekawa. Sheridan led 8 to 0 after 3innings.
Mililani fought back by scoring 2 runs in the 5th inning by stealing bases. After 1 out, Matt Matsuda walked then stole 2nd and 3rd base. After 2 outs, Ryan Ohira walked and stole 2nd base with Matsuda remaining on 3rd. Zach Gushiken delivered a clutch 2 out 2 rbi single to bring Mililani back into the game. In the top of the 6th inning, Mililani continued to rally as CJ Ibara led off the inning with a walk, stole 2nd base and advanced to 3rd on a throwing error, scoring on a rbi single by Jared Fujiwara, who then stole 2nd base. Sheridan starting pitcher Randyn Rios regained his composure to get out of the inning without any further Mililani runs scoring.
With the score 8 to 3 and momentum swinging to Mililani, Sheridan gained it back as Josh Inaba singled with 2 outs and hustled to score from 1st base on a soft liner double down the left field line by the next batter Jared Yara to make the score 9 to 3.
Sheridan’s starting pitcher Randyn Rios earned the win, dominating in the early innings but tiring in the 5th and 6th innings but still striking out 12 Mililani batters, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. Sheridan’s Jared Yara got the save, pitching the final 3 innings, allowing no runs on 1 hit, striking out 3 and hitting 1 batter. Jared Yara led Sheridan hitters with 3 hits and 2 rbi as Joey Maekawa, Josh Inaba and Sean Tanaka each contributed 2 hits and 1 rbi. Dylan Sugimoto and Lanson Yamamoto each had 2 rbi on 1 hit.
Mililani was led by starting pitcher/designated hitter Zach Gushiken with 2 hits and 2 rbi, Relief pitcher Ryan Ancheta pitched a solid final 6 innings, holding Sheridan to 2 runs on 7 hits, striking out 5, walking 2.
Sheridan moves on to represent Oahu in the 89th Annual State AJA Baseball Championship Tournament hosted by the Maui AJA Baseball Memorial League on April 4-5, 2026 at the Ichiro “Iron” Maehara Baseball Stadium against champions from Kauai, Maui and Hawaii island. Maui is the 3 time defending Champion, having defeated Manoa in 2023 on Oahu, Waipahu in 2024 on Kauai and Waialae in 2025 on Hawaii island. Good luck to Sheridan and hope to see all Oahu AJA Baseball fans on Maui.