She was looking out the window at a steady rain that washed out any chance for a full practice while she kept an eye on the first rankings of the softball season that will eventually determine her team’s postseason fate.
Pacing the cage, at least in a mental sense, University of Hawaii at Hilo softball coach Peejay Brun spent most of Wednesday counting her team’s remaining opportunities to gain an NCAA Division II playoff berth next month.
The Vulcans are ranked 10th in the West Region, which will admit eight schools to the postseason, but three of those will be champions from the three conferences in the region. In reality, five spots are open.
“We’d like to be in better shape, but we’re not in bad shape,” Brun said. “It’s pretty similar to last year, actually when we were eighth at this point, but there have been so many changes, looking backwards isn’t really helpful.”
Brun’s 2016-16 squad, her second at the school, is composed of more first-year players than returning players, so the first goal of all the new players blending in has been a success for the fourth place Vulcans, 14-8 in the Pacific West Conference with eight games remaining.
They trail California Baptist (18-4), Azusa Pacific (14-4) and Dixie State (16-6) in the Race to the Regional, with doubleheaders this weekend at Chaminade (6-18) on Friday and at Hawaii Pacific (9-15), Saturday afternoon. Four wins would amount to a big forward step to the final weekend — next week — when the Vulcans host the same two teams in the final games of the regular season. Concordia (13-5), is also ahead of UHH in the conference but as a new member it is ineligible for postseason play this year and next year.
An eight-game sweep would be the best possible outcome, leaving UHH at 22-8, with 33 wins on the season, which might be enough to get a regional bid.
“We can’t control what happens the rest of the way other than the games we have left,” Brun said. “They figure in lots of different statistical factors and I think we’re standing all right in those things, but what happens the rest for the way is going to determine the future.”
One factor in the Vulcans’ favor is that they’ve completed their games against the top teams in the conference, going 2-2 against Asuza Pacific while losing both games at Dixie State, including an agonizing 7-6 loss in the second game of a doubleheader. The Vulcans had rallied for five runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh but the Red Storm scored twice to get the win.
“There have been ups and downs, no doubt,” Brun said, “but we have pulled together as team and that gives me hope. There has to be a bond and that bonding is always a challenge but we have done that, I think, and because of that, we’ve been able to push through some adversity.”
For the future, she needs more depth at pitcher, which is the most difficult position to fill, but nothing helps recruit like a playoff appearance.
“To get the kind of athletes I want, a winning record helps, obviously, but when you get to the postseason, and you’re known for that, players pay attention,” Brun said. “I want to recruit players who are athletic, competitive and both want and expect to be in the postseason.”
Friday’s first game in the doubleheader against Chaminade in Honolulu is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start with the second game to follow.
West Region
Record in regional, followed by overall
W-L W-L
1. Humboldt St. 35-2-1 35-3-1
2. Chico St. 30-10; 30-10
3. Azusa Pacific 20-8; 22-8
4. California Baptist 29-6; 34-6
5. UC San Diego 27-15; 28-16
6. Central Wash. 27-10; 27-10
7. Dixie State 27-8; 27-9
8. Sonoma State 24-14; 24-14
9. St. Martin’s 23-10; 23-10
10. Hawaii Hilo 24-16; 25-16
