Choy Foo a big hit for HPU softball
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The junior shortstop has become one of the most feared hitters in the six-team Pacific West Conference by hitting buckets after buckets of softballs inside the school's batting cage.
"When we don't have practice, I'll come down with coach and bat in the cage," Choy Foo said. "I'll stay as long as my coach wants to stay. Usually, I'll hit four buckets."
In just two years, the former state Player of the Year from Kailua High has worked tirelessly to become one of jewels of the conference. The Division II softball season starts Feb. 3.
Last season, Choy Foo earned a spot on the Pacific West Conference first team. She led HPU in nearly every offensive category and finished among the conference leaders in batting average (.356, 3rd), home runs (5, tie 3rd) and stolen bases (12, 4th).
"Brandy's basically a Division I player," HPU coach Howard Okita said. "She can probably play for most Division I teams.
"She's very athletic," Okita added. "She can hit the ball, she can field and she has a strong arm. She played baseball with the boys when she was in high school, and started for the varsity. That's a big accomplishment."
When she's not practicing with her coaches, Choy Foo can be found hanging out with her brother, Bruddah, who is an infielder in the Cleveland Indians farm system.
"I practice with my brother when he comes home," Choy Foo said. "I practice with him baseball and he practices with me softball. We bat and hit ground balls to each other."
As good as Choy Foo is in softball, she never played the sport until high school, choosing instead to play baseball while growing up.
"I started playing baseball at age 5," Choy Foo said. "It was a family sport that we always did together. I was raised around baseball."
At Kailua High, Choy Foo played three years of baseball and four years of softball, graduating in 1998. She is believed to be the first girl to play in a varsity baseball game in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association.
Choy Foo played her first collegiate season in 2001 after sitting out her first two years because of a redshirt year and family concerns.
After two successful seasons, Choy Foo said she wanted to transfer to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa this season, but was told by UH officials that she could not because she had used up her Division I eligibility.
"She wanted to go up there and prove to everybody that she was a Division I player," said Okita, who granted Choy Foo permission to transfer. "I already knew that she was a Division I player."
Choy Foo, who admitted she has a "tough time in school," said she plans to graduate next year in Human Services. It's an accomplishment that Okita is waiting for.
"The thing that we're proud of her the most is staying in school," Okita said. "The best reward is going to see her graduate."
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Hawai'i Division II teams
(In order of last season's finish)
Hawai'i-Hilo
The Vulcans return 12 players, including seven starters, from a second-place team that finished 36-19 overall and 17-3 in the conference.
Senior infielder Claresa Asuncion (.271 batting average, 0 home runs, 16 RBIs), senior infielder/outfielder Leinani Hashida (.341, 2, 27) and senior pitcher Kristine Kahoalii (16-8, 1.08 ERA) are three-year starters, while junior catcher Kayla Kahuli (.309, 1, 26), senior infielder Diana Kim (.283, 1, 16) and junior catcher/infielder Nancy Vega (.275, 2, 18) are two-year starters.
Hashida and Kahoalii earned conference first-team honors, while Kim and Vega received second-team honors. Freshman left-hander Leo Sing Chow, last year's state Player of the Year from Kamehameha, is expected to pitch and play first base.
"I think our strength will be in pitching," UH-Hilo coach Callen Perreira said. "We have four pitchers this year."
Perreira said his defense will also be solid with returnees in the majority of the infield and outfield positions except for first base and one of the outfield spots.
Chaminade
The Silverswords finished third at 26-23 overall and 12-8 in the conference. They return senior catcher Alicia Quindt (.339, 0, 13), a first-team PacWest honoree, and sophomore infielder Loihi McKeague (.318, 2, 17), a second-team honoree.
Hawai'i Pacific
The Sea Warriors will be led by junior shortstop Brandy Choy Foo (.356, 5, 18) and sophomore outfielder Jamie Reyes (.348, 2, 11), both conference first-team honorees.
Senior infielder Kim Fukumoto (.282, 1, 24) and senior outfielder Kristin Fujii (.271, 0, 14) were second-team honorees.
HPU returns 13 players from a fourth-place team that finished 21-21 overall and 4-12 in the conference.
"Our strength this year is maturity," HPU coach Howard Okita said. "We have seven out of nine returners who are starters. For us to do well, our pitchers are going to have to step it up."
Brigham Young-Hawai'i
The Seasiders return four players, including three starters, and look to improve on their last-place finish at 10-30 overall and 2-18 in the conference.
They return senior shortstop Crystal Elton (.275, 0, 9), a PacWest second-team honoree, and senior first baseman/designated hitter Michelle Gibson (.261, 0, 3).
BYUH coach Jackson Mapu said the team will overcome its lack of experience this year with enthusiasm.
"Our work ethic is going to be strong," Mapu said. "We have almost a completely new team."
