HPU's Choy Foo, Garcia give offense a 3-4 punch

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Brandy Choy Foo is hitting .361 this season for the Hawai'i Pacific softball team. Photos courtesy Hawai'i Pacific University

HPU first baseman Holly Garcia is hitting. 374.

Together, the two hitters have anchored the best offense in the Pacific West Conference, and positioned the Sea Warriors to earn their 10th winning season in 11 years under head coach Howard Okita.

Choy Foo, a shortstop, is hitting .361 as the team's No. 3 hitter. Garcia, a first baseman, is hitting .374 in the No. 4 spot in the batting order.

"We can't ask for anything more," said Okita, whose 21-20 squad is hitting .307. "They're both having outstanding seasons."

Choy Foo, the 1998 state player of the year from Kailua High School, and Garcia, an all-state selection from Campbell, are two homegrown talents who have blossomed in college.

Last weekend, the duo helped host HPU win three of four games from defending NCAA Division II national champion UC Davis. In the series, the two players combined to hit .423 (11 of 26) and drove in eight of HPU's 18 runs.

As a result, Garcia earned her second Pacific West Conference Player of the Week honor by hitting .389 with seven RBIs in six games last week. Choy Foo earned the same honor in February.

This season, Choy Foo brought HPU national notoriety when she appeared on the Fox Sports Net program, "NCAA On Campus." The segment highlighted Choy Foo's ability to balance motherhood, school and softball. The show also featured the Brigham Young-Hawai'i men's basketball team as having nine married players, believed to be the most on any roster in the NCAA.

"I didn't think much of (the fame)," said Choy Foo, who added she was a little embarrassed by the attention. "But the compliments I got from everybody made me feel good."

Choy Foo previously worked two jobs to provide for her family. But the rigors of school and softball limited her to one job at the Kaiser High School cafeteria, and caused her to relinquish a second job as a student mentor.

"Working in the cafeteria, they kind of worked around my schedule," Choy Foo said. "They knew that I was in school and playing softball. They were willing to give me the days off that I needed."

On a typical Monday, when she's off from work, Choy Foo said she practices in the morning and attends school twice from 2 to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. When she returns home, she devotes her attention to her 3-year-old son, Bruddah Spencer-Choy Foo, and daily chores.

"Sometimes at night, whenever I can, I would wash clothes," Choy Foo said. "Or sometimes, I would do it early in the morning."

On occasion, Choy Foo said she receives childcare help from her parents and in-laws when she gets overburdened with her job, school and softball responsibilities.

"The best thing is having a lot of help," Choy Foo said. "But they always make sure that my son is my responsibility. When I do have the time, it's my time to go back and take care of him."

Choy Foo redshirted the 2000 season to care for her son, but has since returned to HPU with a new sense of purpose.

"I wanted to prove to everyone even though I had my child, he wasn't going to hold me back," Choy Foo said. "He was actually someone who pushed me forward."

Choy Foo, who has taken a liking to forensic science, said she plans to graduate during the summer with a degree in justice administration.

"She could have quit and not come back, but she keeps her family together," said Garcia, her teammate. "She comes out and practices. She does her schoolwork and still plays great ball. It just goes to show how much of a person she is."

Much the same can be said about Garcia. This season, Garcia became HPU's career home run leader when she hit her 12th long ball at Montana State-Billings on April 10.

"I just think base hits and home runs come naturally," said Garcia, who broke the HPU record of 11 held by former teammate Kristin Fujii (2000-'03).

Fujii said she couldn't think of another player who was more deserving of the home run record than Garcia. Garcia and Fujii entered HPU together in 2000 and were teammates for three seasons. Garcia redshirted in 2002.

"For me, it's nice to pass that title on to somebody who I know deserves it," Fujii said. "I hope she'll have it for a long time."

Garcia credited her father, Lenny, for helping her polish her skills, and keeping her focused during home games.

"When I play home games, and I'm in the batter's circle, I look at my dad watching on the hill," said Garcia, who in her four-year career has always batted .331 or better. "He calms me down and brings me positive energy."

Garcia said she's aiming to graduate next spring with a degree in psychology.

"I'm leading toward helping juvenile delinquent children in detention homes," Garcia said. "I'm a people person. I like to work with kids."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.