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Over the past three seasons, Kelly Majam and Jessica Iwata have set new standards in the University of Hawaii softball program’s record book.
As seniors, they’ll again be counted on to set the pace for the Rainbow Wahine.
UH opens the season Thursday with the top two home run hitters in the program’s history back in spotlight roles —Majam in the leadoff spot and Iwata hitting clean-up.
"With Kelly and Jess, it’s imperative that they set the tone. They set the desire of the rest of the team to play up to their level," coach Bob Coolen said. "They can’t let down at all."
There haven’t been many letdowns since the duo entered the lineup as freshmen in 2010. They lead the Wahine into the season-opening Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic as one of the most prolific hitting tandems to come through the program.
UH opens with games against Mississippi and UAB on Thursday, then faces No. 16 Washington and St. Mary’s (Calif.) on Friday. Bracket play is scheduled for Saturday.
"It’s going to be bittersweet starting my last year, but I’m definitely excited," Majam said. "I’m going to thoroughly enjoy this year, regardless. It’s going to be a blast."
Majam has had more blasts than anyone to play for the Rainbow Wahine. The senior center fielder begins the season with 54 career home runs. Iwata returns at shortstop with 47 homers and holds UH’s career RBI record with 159.
Majam set UH’s single-season home run record with 30 in a remarkable freshman year and Iwata led the Wahine with 15 as a sophomore. Last year, Majam’s late-season surge pushed her to a team-high 15 homers, with Iwata one behind.
"We have friendly competitions here and there. I tell her I’m coming for her home run record," Iwata said.
"It’s fun. We like to hit the ball and we like to hit the ball hard. It’s something we enjoy having and everyone gets excited when we hit home runs. That’s what we’re known for as a program and that’s what we strive for as a team."
Iwata was named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year watch list last week. Last season she helped pace a UH offense that finished third in the country in home runs per game (1.49) and 10th in scoring (6.26 runs per game).
Although there’s unmistakable ferocity in their swings, Iwata and Majam don’t exactly take an all-or-nothing approach to the plate. Iwata became the eighth UH player to hit .400 in a season last year, and her .373 career batting average is fourth-best in the program’s history. They also rank first and second in career walks, contributing to places in the top five in runs scored.
"Since I am the leadoff batter, my main mind-set is getting on base," Majam said. "That’s something I’m proud of, I get on base and am able to score a lot of runs.
"Hitting is contagious and getting on base is contagious."
Despite holding the home run records, Majam said, "sometimes I don’t see myself as a power hitter just because I see the power around me."
Following Majam in the order are sophomore catcher Kayla Wartner, first baseman Leisha Li‘ili‘i, Iwata, and junior left fielder Sharla Kliebenstein, all proven long-ball threats.
"We have five kids who could potentially wreak havoc on any pitcher," Coolen said.
The lower half of the order features a mix of veterans and newcomers looking to establish themselves as regulars in the lineup.
Junior Kaile Nakao is slated to start at second base, with Jazmine Zamora and freshman Kristina Akiona contending for the designated player role. Freshman Alyssa Villalpando takes over at third and will hit eighth, with senior Brynne Buchanan or possibly freshman Keiki Carlos (who will also be in the pitching rotation) in right field.
"It’s a matter of having them all jell and all believe in one another and complement one another," Coolen said. "When someone’s having a bad day somebody has to pick it up."
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ALL-TIME WAHINE SOFTBALL LEADERS
Batting Average
1. Tia Morenz (1995-98) .377
2. Dana Degen (1997-00) .374
2. Stacey Porter (2001-03) .374
4. Jessica Iwata (2010-present) .373
5. Tyleen Tausaga (2004-07) .356
6. Jenna Rodriguez (2010-11) .346
7. Kelly Majam (2010-present) .342
Runs Scored
1. Tia Morenz (1995-98) 187
2. Kelly Majam (2010-present) 176
3. Clare Warwick (2006-09) 160
4. Jessica Iwata (2010-present) 145
5. Tanisha Milca (2006-09) 136
6. Kaulana Gould (2005-08) 126
7. Stacey Porter (2001-03) 119
7. Kehau Cofran (1995-98) 119
Home Runs
1. Kelly Majam (2010-present) 54
2. Jessica Iwata (2010-present) 47
3. Kate Robinson (2005-08) 44
4. Stacey Porter (2001-03) 38
5. Amanda Tauali‘i (2007-10) 35
6. Tanisha Milca (2006-09) 34
7. Tyleen Tausaga (2004-07) 33
Runs Batted In
1. Jessica Iwata (2010-present) 159
2. Tyleen Tausaga (2004-07) 156
3. Kate Robinson (2005-08) 149
4. Dana Degen (1997-00) 148
5. Stacey Porter (2001-03) 115
6. Kelly Majam (2010-present) 113
7. Julie Luft (1993-96) 112
Walks
1. Kelly Majam (2010-present) 117
2. Jessica Iwata (2010-present) 80
3. Tyleen Tausaga (2004-07) 76
4. Stacey Porter (2001-03) 75
5. Melissa McGie (1997-00) 74
6. Kate Judd (2000-03) 63
7. Dana Degen (1997-00) 58
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM