When Waiakea was last seen on a BIIF softball field, the Warriors were wild and wacky in their own harmless way, and, most importantly, they were winning.
When asked on the phone if he expected another gregarious bunch in 2018, coach Bo Saiki chuckled Saturday and said, “Yes.”
The pitching, with two promising sophomore returnees and two new faces in the fold, got a thumbs-up as well.
Fielding is a work-in-progress, Saiki said, as it is for many teams this year, especially with wet conditions hampering practices in East Hawaii.
However, if there is a wet blanket covering up Waiakea’s warm team spirit, it’s the cool and sometimes downright cold bats that Saiki witnessed during 1-3 preseason trip to Oahu.
“Right now, we’re really not swinging our bats,” he said. “Earlier in the preseason, we were ahead of our team last year (hitting), but it’s not working right now.
“We’re capable.”
Yes, they are.
Even with two-time BIIF Player of the Year Skylar Thomas firmly entrenched at UH-Hilo, the three-time defending Division I champion Warriors, fresh off their first unbeaten league season since 2011, boast an ample amount of offensive firepower. In all, seven returnees hit it at least .290 last season and six hit home runs, according to Waiakea statistics.
Start at the top with senior second baseman Brandee Chinen, a future Vul, who hit a team-best .561 in 2017 with 44 runs scored. Chinen will bat leadoff because she reached base in two-thirds of her plate-appearances.
“She gives us the best possibility of scoring runs,” Saiki said.
Or start at the bottom. Junior Jolene Hirata hit eighth a lot last season but helped round out a circular lineup by batting .318 with 16 RBIs.
“She could hit second,” Saiki said.
Senior Shaily Moses steps in for Thomas at shortstop and bats cleanup in the middle of a lineup that also features sophomore Alize Capana at third base and pitcher/outfielder Halee Sweat, another sophomore.
Sweat came on as a freshman and gave Waiakea a huge boost in the circle, finishing 8-1 with a 3.1o ERA, but she’s just as proficient at the plate, where she hit .426 with 16 RBIs.
Saiki also is comfortable giving the ball to sophomore Kelsie Imai to pitch big games after she became more comfortable in the circle as last season wore on. Sweat is the more seasoned of the two since she plays club softball in the summer, whereas Imai focuses first and foremost on basketball.
“When they are not pitching, they can both play right field,” Saiki said.
The other freshman contributer from a year ago was Johnacy Mackwelung, who swatted six home runs and almost hit .400. Mackwelung will catch this season after the graduation of Kristi Harata, who’s ability to block balls behind the plate could be missed.
Mackwelung will hit in the bottom of the order early in the season since she’s been scuffling at the plate, while Capana, a first-year varsity player, has shown her coach enought to bat third.
“She’s very aggresive,” Saiki said. “She bats how Johnacy batted like last year.”
Seniors Gracie Patao and Emma Fincher are slated to play center field and first base, respectively, as first-year starters.
Saiki wanted to bring up Alyssa McKeague from the junior varsity last season, and he’ll get his chance this time. The junior can pitch, either as a starter or in relief, as could freshman Tristin Cullio.
Another freshman looking to make an impact is outfielder Ziara Tosie, while junior Lyndsey Carvalho transferred from Kealakehe and can play first base.
The Warriors are scheduled to open the season Monday against Pahoa, but Mother Nature could have other ideas. The rain has already altered practices.
“They are not hitting and not fielding, which is what they need to work on,” Saiki said.