Kanani Aina Cabrales had multiple reasons for relocating clear across the country to continue her college career.
The University of Hawaii softball team, in turn, added a dual-purpose pitcher to the roster.
Aina Cabrales went to high school in Lawrenceville, Ga., and spent her freshman year career at nearby Georgia Tech. When she sought a change, the opportunity to connect with her heritage and family in Hawaii while pitching for the Rainbow Wahine compelled her to sign with UH.
"I was so excited just being able to come out here for the first time, being in touch with my culture, meeting the majority of my family and just helping out this team," Aina Cabrales said.
Aina Cabrales has family on her mother’s side in Hilo and Kaneohe, but had never visited Hawaii prior to her recruiting trip last summer. Since joining the Rainbow Wahine she’s been a regular in the circle both as a starter and a reliever.
She’s appeared in 13 of UH’s 16 games so far and is slated to get the start on Thursday when the Rainbow Wahine (9-7) open the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament against No. 19 California (12-1).
Aina Cabrales (4-4, 3.63 earned-run average) has four complete games in her seven starts and earned her first save last Sunday in her sixth relief appearance behind freshman Brittany Hitchcock.
"She usually does a great job of shutting a team down that’s starting to catch up to Brittany," UH coach Bob Coolen said.
Hitchcock (4-3, 3.42) is scheduled to pitch Friday against San Jose State (12-3) and Coolen will make game-time decisions for Saturday’s meeting with Longwood (2-3) and Sunday’s rematch with SJSU.
Aina Cabrales entered the circle in all five games of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational last week and picked up a win in relief in the opener against UTEP. She closed the weekend with a save in a rematch with the Miners.
She entered the third-place game with UH protecting a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning and the tying runs on base. She got a pop up to get out of the inning and retired six of the next seven batters she faced, an error accounting for the exception, while the offense broke away to the 9-2 win.
"She came in and UTEP wasn’t ready for that," Coolen said. "She throws hard. When she wants to bring it, she can bring it."
Aina Cabrales went 7-10 in 23 appearances at Georgia Tech last year and hit .333 (33-for-99).
She first became aware of Hawaii softball while watching the Rainbow Wahine win the NCAA Super Regional at Alabama in 2010 and the memory stuck when she sought a transfer.
"When I saw that game it kind of inspired me," she said, "It was like, ‘Hawaii is amazing, it’s the place to be, they look like they’re having so much fun and their fan support is incredible.’ "
Close to five years later, she finds herself far from the familiar yet right at home.
"I feel I’m at the place I need to be and where I was meant to be," she said.
PEPSI MALIHINI KIPA ALOHA TOURNAMENT
At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
Thursday
California vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m.
Friday
Longwood vs. California, 1 p.m.; Longwood vs. San Jose State, 3:30 p.m.; San Jose State vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m.
Saturday
San Jose State vs. California, 1 p.m.; Longwood vs. Hawaii, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday
Longwood vs. California, 10 a.m.; Longwood vs. San Jose State, 12:30 p.m.; San Jose State vs. Hawaii, 3 p.m.
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