Gould is WAC's freshman of year
Advertiser Staff
University of Hawai'i outfielder Kaulana Gould yesterday was named the Western Athletic Conference's Freshman of the Year for softball.
Catcher Denise Dahlberg, first baseman Tyleen Tausaga and outfielder Tara Harbert also joined Gould on the All-WAC first team.
Gould
Dahlberg
Tausaga
Shortstop Ashley Ruff was named to the second team, and pitcher Melissa Coogan was an "at-large" selection.
"Kaulana came on and had a great year for us," UH coach Bob Coolen said of the Kamehameha Schools graduate, who started 42 of the Rainbow Wahine's 52 games and hit .311 with one home run and 26 RBIs. She threw out nine baserunners.
After moving to third in the batting order, Gould hit .400 in the final 12 games.
Dahlberg, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., started 52 games, hitting .288 and stealing nine bases in 10 attempts.
Dahlberg was recruited as a catcher, but struggled behind the plate as a freshman. She was moved to the outfield, but eventually returned to catcher.
"She worked hard and made a name for herself," Coolen said.
Tausaga, a sophomore from Kaimuki High School, led the Rainbows in hits (54), home runs (4) and RBIs (33). Tausaga, who appeared to tire near the end of her freshman year, remained strong last season.
"She worked hard in her workouts," Coolen said.
Harbert, a junior from Longmont, Colo., batted a team-high .423 and stole 14 bases.
"She never quit," said Coolen, noting Harbert joined UH as a walk-on. "She took two years to earn a scholarship. She finally got it last year. She's like (former UH football player) Chad Owens. You come in as a walk-on, and then you're all-conference."
