Tabion 'perfect' for honor
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
 |
|
|
The right-hander from Wailuku, Maui, was named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the league announced yesterday. It is her first weekly award.
All Tabion did was go 5-1 with a 0.92 ERA, tossing three shutouts in the process. One of them was a six-inning perfect game in an 8-0 win against Siena on Saturday. The game was shortened because of the eight-run mercy rule.
Last season, Tabion made 20 appearances, or less than half of ace Melissa Coogan's 45. Tabion, who was 6-8 with a 2.46 ERA last season, already has logged 14 appearances this year.
"Last year, I was too critical and stressed out too much," Tabion said. She said she is taking a more positive approach this season.
Rainbows coach Bob Coolen sees the difference.
"She just goes out to the mound with more confidence," Coolen said. "With that, we just play better."
Tabion said she was aware of her perfect game in the fifth inning.
"I didn't want to say anything, so I sat in the back of the dugout and let my team do their thing," she said. "I don't know if they knew (at the time), but I didn't want anyone to tell me and jinx it."
Coolen said he wasn't aware of the perfect game, as he was busy with substitutions in the lineup. He remembers Tabion ran a number of three-ball counts and the outfielders made some nice catches to keep the perfect game alive.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
