The fantastic freshmen got most of the headlines. But the unheralded nucleus of the University of Hawaii softball team — four senior starters — was just as important in the 2010 College World Series run.

Actually, indispensable. Without them last year, the Wahine didn’t come close to the unprecedented heights of the previous season when they set an NCAA record for home runs. “I feel like (the seniors) were very important,” says Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu, a sophomore reserve on the team that went to Oklahoma City.

Now UH is off to its best start ever, thanks in large part to a new group of senior position players; they are relatively unknown compared to big-name stars Jessica Iwata and Kelly Majam, now juniors.

UH is 12-0 and ranked 25th in one poll. Pitchers Stephanie Ricketts and Kaia Parnaby have been nearly untouchable. The entire lineup is hitting, either for average or power, or both.

“Totally unexpected,” said coach Bob Coolen, of being unbeaten. “Coming out of the fall we knew we had the pitching. But the ingredients in the lineup? We knew we had some pukas to fill.”

Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu at first base and Sarah Robinson at third are seniors finally living up to big potential. Robinson is batting .444 and Duhaylonsod .379, each with two homers. Another senior, second baseman Dara Pagaduan, also has two homers and is batting .345.

Left fielder Alex Aguirre is the most widely known senior position player, since she started and starred in 2010. Aguirre has been hit by pitches nine times this season and leads UH with a .595 on-base percentage and four stolen bases.

Majam, the center fielder who led the nation in homers as a freshman, has three to pace the Wahine — along with freshman Leisha Li‘ili‘i and sophomore Sharla Kliebenstein.

UH has OUTHIT the opposition .375 to .182 and outblasted it 18 homers to four.

And Coolen says everyone is trying to be a complete offensive player. “The so-called power hitters can bunt and hit behind the runners when they’re needed to. We just weren’t getting it done last year. There were too many situations where people were looking over their shoulder looking for someone else to get the job done.”

Robinson says the magic of 2010 is back. “We had great chemistry. We all believed in each other and trusted each other. I see that building this year.”

The project is on hold as the Wahine take an 11-day break before March 2 and the start of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational (which includes 9-0 Florida State, ranked 25th in one poll).

Young players might want to keep the momentum going and play everyday if they could. But the seniors know this is a good chance to recover. “Three years straight before this we’d go to another road tournament and get worn out. It feels good to get back and have a chance to reset,” Pagaduan said.

Added Coolen, “This is good for us. In years past we’ve gone to the Cathedral City tournament and fall on our face. We’d always go there very tired and spent.”

So far, everything’s perfect, including the record. And the same nine batters have started every game.

“Why change something right now that is working? No need to experiment,” Coolen said.