Alex Aguirre called the Hawaii softball team’s initial practice of the fall “the beginning of the end” for seven Rainbow Wahine seniors.
For the seven UH freshmen, it was simply the beginning.
Collectively, the Wahine welcomed the fresh start Monday as their preparation for the coming season began in earnest.
“We’ve wiped the slate completely clean,” said Aguirre, a senior outfielder.
Monday’s practice at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium opened a fall that will feature the annual alumnae game on Oct. 29, a three-game exhibition series with Chaminade on Nov. 4-5 and a game against UH-Hilo on Maui on Nov. 12.
The Wahine also will test themselves in weekly intrasquad scrimmages. UH head coach Bob Coolen said solidifying the corners of the infield, second base and right field will top the priority list during the fall.
“It all depends on who steps it up hitting-wise,” Coolen said. “We need to make sure we have a lineup that can produce runs because our pitching last year was phenomenal holding us in games into the sixth inning.”
Stephanie Ricketts, the reigning Western Athletic Conference pitcher of the year, and junior Kaia Parnaby return to a staff that ranked ninth in Division I with a 1.59 earned-run average, one of the highlights in a 37-18 season that fell short of a return to the NCAA regionals.
The Wahine also welcome back two-time WAC player of the year Jessica Iwata at shortstop. The list of returning starters also includes Aguirre and junior Kelly Majam in the outfield and sophomore catcher Sharla Kliebenstein.
The fall will also introduce the newcomers to Division I softball following decorated high school and club careers.
“I’m really excited knowing this is the collegiate level now and I have to step up my game even more,” said Castle graduate Leisha Li‘ili‘i, last season’s Star-Advertiser All-State position player of the year.
Li‘ili‘i and senior Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu will be among the candidates at first base and will also do some pitching in the fall.
The players had been working individually and in small groups, but Monday marked the first time they’d been on the field together.
“I think this group will be interesting,” Ricketts said. “I think personality-wise there’s a lot of enthusiasm this year, and that’s always needed.”
