HOMEGROWN REPORT
Kira catching on at Northwestern

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

J.C. Kira couldn't finish her high school softball career because St. Francis ran out of players and canceled most of its 2000 season.

But it turned out all right, because Kira accepted a scholarship offer from Northwestern and next week she'll lead the Wildcats of the Big Ten on their first trip to Hawai'i in 12 years.

Kira has started 57 of 58 games at catcher since she joined Northwestern and the sophomore from Kalihi is the team's second leading-batter this year with a .368 average (14-for-38).

"She's a great fit," coach Kate Drohan said. "She is what we needed and we are what she needed."

Drohan says Kira "has the best throwing arm I've ever seen from a position player — she can pick off anybody ... and she never lets a ball get by her in the dirt."

Kira's offense this season has been a bonus. "J.C. came to hit in our indoor batting cage every day last fall," Drohan said. "She said, 'I'm a hitter and I want to learn how to hit this faster pitching.' "

Result: Kira's batting average is up 213 points over last season's final of .155. "She had a total of 15 hits last season in 44 games. She already has 14 hits this year in 13 games," Drohan said.

"I'm trying to be more aggressive," said Kira, whose double off the top of the center-field fence started a winning rally against Northern Iowa March 1.

Softball has only been part of Kira's growing experience on the Mainland. It snowed nonstop during her recruiting visit — "She just stared at it. She didn't know what it was," Drohan said.

"She's seen a cornfield for the first time, and ridden in a car for four hours for the first time," Drohan said. "It's been fun showing her the country."

Kira says she also saw squirrels for the first time. "I thought they were mongooses so I got really scared," she said.

Kira thought it was cold when the temperature dropped to 60 in Hawai'i, but Northwestern has practiced when it was 30. "I tell her to try not to look cold," Drohan said. "It's OK if she is cold, but she can't look cold."

Northwestern recruited Kira when she was playing in a tournament for the San Diego Lightning in 1999. She threw out two runners from her knees and the coach asked to meet her immediately, Drohan recalls.

Northwestern will play five games in the Hawai'i Invitational March 22-24 and then will play UH March 25, all at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Part of the reason for scheduling the trip, which starts right after winter-quarter finals, "is that it's neat for J.C. to go home and play in front of her family," Drohan said.

"J.C. says her mom will be feeding us all week," Drohan said.

Kira, Drohan says, "is more laid back than our other players and she laughs and smiles a lot. Is that typical of Hawai'i?"

SHORT HOPS: Starting outfielder Brett Nakabayashi also has family, including grandparents, in Hawai'i. ... Northwestern last played at UH in single games in 1989 and 1990. ... Because of the cold in the Midwest, the Wildcats won't play their first home game until the Big Ten opener March 31. They are 6-6-1 in tournaments in Tampa, San Diego and Louisville, Ky. ... Kira plans to stay in Evanston for summer school this year. She has a B-plus average and has not decided on a major. ... Coach Kate Drohan's twin sister, Caryl Drohan, is Northwestern's batting coach and worked with Kira in the off-season.