Wahine softball team welcomes exhibitions

Seeing another team in the opposite dugout this weekend will be a welcome change for the University of Hawaii softball team.

The Rainbow Wahine have been competing in intrasquad scrimmages over the first three-plus weeks of fall practice and are looking forward to lining up against someone else in the Fall Paradise Classic, starting tonight.

"We’re tired of playing against each other," UH head coach Bob Coolen said.

The exhibition tournament begins today at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium with Chaminade facing Kumamoto International College of Japan at 5 p.m. UH then plays Kumamoto at 7 p.m.

Three games are scheduled for Saturday, starting with Chaminade and Kumamoto playing at noon. The Wahine face Chaminade at 2 p.m. and Kumamoto at 4 p.m.

Developing chemistry within the lineup and getting the newcomers acclimated to game conditions will be among the top priorities for the Wahine.

"There are eight freshmen and they haven’t played at the college level yet so this is super exciting for them," senior Kelly Majam said. "It will definitely will be a different lineup than people have seen before in the past. There’s a lot of holes to fill so there’s a lot of girls who need to step up and they have been, so it should be exciting."

Majam returns to a veteran outfield in center field with Sharla Kliebenstein in left and senior Brynne Buchanan in right.

The infield will have a new look this weekend with Leisha Lii’li’i, the team’s designated player last season, taking over at first base and juniors Jazmine Zamora and Kaile Nakao at second and third respectively. Freshman Kristina Akiona will get a shot at shortstop while Jessica Iwata rests her throwing shoulder. Iwata is slated to fill the designated player spot.

Coolen is also looking for a second pitcher to complement senior Kaia Parnaby with freshmen Keiki Carlos and Loie Kesterson joining the staff.