By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai‘i Pacific is the unanimous preseason choice to repeat as Pacific West Conference Pacific Division softball champion, but no one, including HPU head coach Howard Okita, is willing to assume anything in a season so full of question marks.
"It's a cliche, but any team can win on any given day," Okita said. "BYUH and Chaminade have almost everybody back, and Hilo did a good job in recruiting."
All four Hawai'i teams return a significant number of starters from last season, but losses at key positions because of graduation and injury, and an influx of talented but inexperienced players make any prediction tenuous.
The four Hawai‘i schools play a 24-game schedule that does not include Western New Mexico and Montana State-Billings, the other two Pacific Division schools. The Western Division plays a 20-game schedule. Division champions are joined by two other schools, determined by a power rating system, in the conference tournament, hosted by the Western Division.
In conference voting, Western Washington was favored to unseat two-time PacWest champion Humboldt State (Calif.) in the Western Division.
The top four teams in the West Regional poll also qualify for the NCAA Division II West Regional playoffs.
HAWAI‘I PACIFIC
The Sea Warriors return seven position starters from a team that finished this past season with a 36-14 overall record (16-5 in the PacWest) and won the Pacific Division title. However, among those not returning are pitchers Jennifer Woodard and Susie Schoales, who combined to allow a conference-best 1.07 ERA this past season.
With Woodard and Schoales gone, HPU will have to defend its division title with a pair of freshmen on the mound. Okita said both Jessica Parra and Malia Sullivan can throw in the 60s with good movement and control.
"They're good," he said. "They just need to be tested."
In a double-header against Chaminade this past Sunday, Parra allowed two runs on five hits, struck out five and walked two as the Sea Warriors took the first game, 3-2. In the second game, Sullivan gave up nine hits, but just one earned run and no walks for another 3-2 win.
HPU’s infield is set with Holly Garcia, last season's PacWest Freshman of the Year, at shortstop, sophomore Kim Fukumoto at first base, senior Samee Fernandez at second, sophomore Natasha Berinobis at third, and junior Lauren Okimoto at catcher. Senior Ashelle Acosta, sophomore Kristin Fujii, junior Milonne Chapman and junior Christine Miranda will likely compete in the outfield.
The Sea Warriors will face Brigham Young-Hawai'i in a double-header tomorrow at 2 p.m.
HAWAI'I-HILO
Vulcan rivals are anxious to see what kind of impact UH-Hilo's newcomers will have on the team. So is head coach Callen Perreira.
The Vulcans, who finished last season 23-21 overall and 1-9 in the PacWest, begin conference play against BYUH on Friday at 2 p.m., without the benefit of any preseason games.
"We've been beating each other up in practice for four months," Perreira said. "That's fine, but it gets tired. We need to face some real competition."
With just two seniors, UH-Hilo fields a young but talented squad this season. The new faces include freshman catcher Kayla Kahuli, a three-time all-state selection at Leilehua, redshirt freshman shortstop Nancy Vega of Mililani and junior center fielder Trisha Holley from California.
Perreira said he'll need continued improvement from pitchers Taysha Anderson (4-3, 1.65 ERA) and Kristine Kahoalii (4-5, 1.92) to offset the graduation of Michelle Canchola (10-8, 1.56).
Abby Padasdao will share time at first with fellow junior Michelle LaRose. Sophomore Claresa Asuncion moves from shortstop to second base. Sophomores Diana Kim and Chenelle Chikazawa will battle for a starting spot at third.
The outfield mix will include top returning hitter Leinani Hashida (.383, 29 RBIs), senior Rachel Loo, sophomore Melissa Martinez, Holley and Kahuli. Hashida earned PacWest first-team all-star honors this past season. Kahuli is the niece of New York Mets slugger Benny Agbayani.
CHAMINADE
The Silverswords (23-22, 13-9) finished second in the Pacific Division last season with only one pitcher, junior Melissa Marquez, on the roster. This season, the pitching staff doubles with the addition of University of Hawai‘i-Manoa transfer Kelly Kaaihili.
Kaaihili, a junior, underwent shoulder surgery a year ago, but was in good form against HPU this past weekend.
"She looked great," said Silversword coach Allison Nihei. "I thought she kept (the HPU batters) off balance for most of the game. She has a lot of enthusiasm."
Kaaihili will bolster a squad that returns all nine starters. Senior Christine Pascua, another UH-Manoa transfer, will start at first. Junior Kim Ballas and sophomore Alicia Quindt will return at second and third, respectively, while sophomore Jillian Umeda will play shortstop. Senior Melisha Ausua (nee Fernandez) will split time at catcher with freshman Coreen Iwamoto.
The outfield will include seniors Anuhea Kekauoha and Brandi Yarnell, and Êsophomores Amber Bareswill and Shanelle Yamane.
"Last year, we came close, but I think our lack of depth hurt us," Nihei said. "I think we're closer this year based on how we played against HPU (on Sunday)."
BRIGHAM YOUNG-HAWAI‘I
Jackson Mapu is hoping for better results through chemistry.
"Last year, we had a good team, but we didn't jell as well as we could have," the BYUH coach said. "This year, from Day 1, you could tell there was a good mix. This team really came together. The chemistry is much better and I hope that shows up on the field."
Things could hardly get worse. The Seasiders finished 3-19 in the PacWest, 9-33 overall this past season.
BYUH will have to compensate for the loss of one of the squad's best players, junior catcher Michelle Gibson, who could be out for the season with a twisted knee. Sophomore Marie Maese of Arizona will start in her place.
Promising freshman Lyndi Frei of Utah joins junior Summer George in the pitching rotation.
"She looks good," Mapu said of Frei. "The thing with her is to try to get her to calm down a little bit. She’s really anxious to get out on the mound."
The Seasiders have nine returnees, including juniors Lyza Halas (first) and Keri-Ann Naheapihi (second), and seniors Holly Harn (third) and Tammy Layton (shortstop).
Sophomore Roxane DelGado, and juniors Juanita Vega and Magie Reynolds will play the outfield.
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