Second baseman Noelle Izumi said: "I thank Bob (Coolen, the head coach) for bringing all of us together. Softball brought us together, and our friendship formed from that."

Tabion, Izumi, pitcher Melissa Coogan, catcher Denise Dahlberg and outfielder Tracie Uchima will play in their final regular-season series with a game tonight and doubleheader tomorrow against San Jose State at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

In four seasons, highlighted by the Rainbows' Western Athletic Conference championship in 2003, the seniors have been five easy pieces in their version of the Breakfast Club.

The pitching staff's ace, Coogan, is the joker.

"She would be the one to most likely try out for American Idol," Tabion said. "She's outgoing, and she loves to sing. She'll take one word and sing it. She'll sing a word."

Tabion said Dahlberg is the "party animal."

Izumi is reserved. "I'm not much of a talker," she said. "I guess I'm the quiet one."

Uchima said of Tabion: "Shannon is a drama person."

Uchima described herself as "a bookworm."

"Tracie is always studying," Tabion said. "If we had (a hoss) election, she would be voted, 'Most Likely To Succeed.' "

Uchima, who aspires to be a veterinarian, also has a surprising side. She likes to wear bright nail polish, and she wants to own a pet cow, although, "I don't think it will be a house cow."

Coolen said each has emerged as a leader.

"We're always picking each other up," Coogan said. "We motivate ourselves within the team."

Asked about the senior leadership, Dahlberg said, laughing, "We just like telling people what to do. Just kidding. Actually, we just came in and knew what we wanted to do."

The seniors have been instrumental in the Rainbows' current nine-game winning streak, which has pushed them into contention for a postseason berth.

The Coogan-Tabion-Coogan rotation has frustrated opponents. Coogan mixes downballs and change-ups; Tabion overpowers batters with risers of up 65 mph.

Dahlberg is a rare hybrid of speedy catcher.

Izumi, who hit .400 in the past nine games, has shown great range at second. She has a team-high 33 assists in 15 WAC games.

Uchima also has excelled at the plate (.331 average) and in right field, from where she has thrown out 12 runners and committed one error.

"We call Tracie 'Alien,' " Tabion said, "because she makes the weirdest plays. She's out of this world."

"All five of us, I'd say, are very different from each other," Dahlberg said. "We do get along really well. We've all stuck together for the four years, and now we're going out together."

Izumi said: "We love that everyone is so different. It makes it a lot funner, if that's a word. It's just like a family. I'm happy to be part of such a great team."