A year ago, the Rainbow Wahine swept Louisiana Tech to celebrate their first Western Athletic Conference championship in rural Ruston. They go into their final homestand today and tomorrow against the Techsters trying to salvage a winning season.

It is the way the softball bounces, particularly when Stacey Porter, Kate Judd and Trisha Ramos are no longer around to crush it, half your pitching staff is injured and every WAC opponent suddenly wants a piece of you.

"I've learned more this year than all my years playing softball — about my weaknesses and my strengths, and the challenges of life," says Jackson, who used to roam the outfield for Mililani and is now UH co-captain with junior Denise Dahlberg. "You try your hardest ... our coaches are not giving an inch so they don't expect us to."

Kahaku, an outfielder from California, plans to graduate next year in psychology. The academic all-WAC selection insists she is "OK with this year."

"I know our team tries its hardest everyday," she says. "That's all you can ever ask."

All the seniors have been with the Rainbow Wahine four years. With the exception of a low-key league, all expect the next two weeks to be the end of their softball careers.

Crowell, who wants to be a counselor after she graduates next spring in sociology, earned all-West Region and all-WAC second-team honors last season. She worries about what her father, Sherwood, will do without a game to watch for the first time since pre-Roosevelt High days .

Yamaguchi, out of Castle, plans to graduate in the fall in liberal studies and hopes to pursue a health career. Softball has been part of her life since age 7, along with twin sister Aloha, who plays for Pacific.

"Kea" senses the end is near. It is a "weird" sensation.

"I don't know what I'll do with my life," Yamaguchi says. "Softball has been my life, especially playing at this level. ... I don't know how it will be being a regular student. I'm thinking I better get straight A's."

Last year's blitz to the WAC championship was historical, but not the most memorable time in the seniors' careers. They recall it as seemingly so easy, especially after this season of struggle.

"We're playing our hearts out," says Jackson, a scholar-athlete in psychology who plans to transfer to Hawai'i Pacific to pursue a nursing degree. "We bust our butts just to beat a team by one run. Last year, it seemed like it just came. We'd swing the bat and whew ... the ball would just go."

Jackson and Kahaku characterize the first day of freshman practice as their most vivid memory. They recall being intimidated by the seniors and Crowell, whose imposing power will send her away fourth on the career home run list.

Their second impression of Crowell proved much softer. "She's just a sweetheart," Kahaku says now.

They first remember Ya-maguchi as exceptionally quiet — the polar opposite of Kahaku. That changed radically as they got to know her.

Crowell's most compelling memory is the first of two postseasons, that same freshman year. "Actually going to regionals (in Arizona) and seeing what's out there," she remembered. "It was overwhelming."

Yamaguchi has played in 32 games this year, starting 20 at third base and catcher. She played in 23 games her first three seasons, with just 12 at-bats and two hits. Her most vivid memory came March 7 when she, improbably, blasted a ball over the wall in left center.

"I hadn't had much playing experience, which is fine because the whole experience taught me a lot about character and friendship and everything," Yamaguchi said. "But to bring my team back into the game with a home run ... I'm not one of those players that hits home runs. That was memorable."

Hawai'i closes its season next week at San Jose State.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.

Porter bound for Athens Olympics

Advertiser Staff

University of Hawai'i softball All-American Stacey Porter was named to Australia's Olympic team yesterday, joining former UH All-American Brooke Wilkins on the 15-player roster.

Porter took this season off to train for the Olympics. She is playing third base for Australia.

The 2003 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year primarily played first base for the Rainbow Wahine the last three seasons.