Heather Morales’ initial exposure to Hawaii softball came about by introducing the Rainbow Wahine.
A middle schooler in Indio, Calif., Morales frequented the nearby Cathedral City Classic — an annual early season college softball showcase — and took a turn behind the mic as the public address announcer for a matchup between Hawaii and UCLA in 2008.
Many of the names she read off during that game have faded from her memory, but former UH standout Kate Robinson left an impression.
"She pitched and played first (base) and that was what I wanted to do," Morales said. "I told my parents that’s what I want to do in school so I had to look for that going to college."
Well into her softball progression by that time, she continued to hone both skills along with a swing ingrained by her father, Joe Morales, and when college offers began to arrive, playing in Hawaii — a seemingly far-flung prospect in middle school — offered the most appealing opportunity.
"It reminds me of home," she said, "instead I’m surrounded by water instead of dirt."
Now in her sophomore season, Morales has indeed contributed in the circle and at first base for the Rainbow Wahine and is swinging one of the team’s most productive bats as a mainstay in the middle of the order.
She’s undergone something of a reversal in her roles this spring following a freshman year spent as one of UH’s primary pitchers and a part-time hitter. She’s returned to first base while contributing to the pitching staff in spot duty out of the bullpen and is now a full-time threat in the batter’s box.
Morales said she’s comfortable in whatever capacity UH coach Bob Coolen sees fit, "but I love having a bat in my hand."
The Rainbow Wahine (19-14) enter Friday’s Big West opener against UC Riverside (28-7) at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium with Morales hitting a team-high .356. Her 26 runs batted in also lead the team and she’s provided steady defense while starting 12 of UH’s past 14 games at first base, sharing time with senior Leisha Li‘ili‘i.
Coolen knew Morales possessed potential with the bat when she signed with UH coming out of Indio High School and the highly successful Firecrackers club program. But she focused on pitching early in her freshman year and made her debut as UH’s opening-night starter.
She announced her arrival with shutouts in her first two appearances, but the season turned rocky for a thin pitching staff and she closed her freshman year at 12-11 with a 5.11 earned-run average.
Around this time last year, Coolen inserted Morales into the batting order in hopes of sparking the Wahine during the Big West season and she responded by hitting .283.
She’s built on the experience this season and developed into one of UH’s most consistent hitters, having hit safely in 22 of 33 games with five home runs, trailing only senior catcher Kayla Wartner in on-base (.459) and slugging (.556) percentage.
"We know there’s pop in that bat and she has to believe in that all the time," Coolen said.
Morales concurred that "staying confident in the box" is one of her objectives and her production so far should help, as well as batting practice sessions such as Tuesday’s when she lined several shots over the fences at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
"Personally, I’ve always been told, hit line drives and home runs will come," Morales said. "Sometimes when I think of the home runs, it’s a popup, it’s not my best at-bat. … I just think of getting a single and if I hit a home run, I hit a home run."
Although focused on first base lately, Morales remains a frequent visitor to the circle to provide motivation for Kanani Aina Cabrales and Brittany Hitchcock or break the tension with a joke.
"I’m pretty much one to always laugh, but when it’s time to be serious I can put a straight face on," Morales said.
The Wahine had some time to relax after a grueling stretch of non-conference tournaments and will have had 10 days between games when they open Big West play on Friday against a UC Riverside team off to the program’s best start since elevating to Division I. The Highlanders are led by reigning league pitcher of the week and national wins leader Chelsea Ponce (20-3).
"We had time to reflect on things and learn from our mistakes and it’s time we had a rest, so everybody is getting healthy again and fixing the little things," Morales said.
"I think everybody is coming out with vengeance right now. I think we’re all going to come out and give everything we have."
UPCLOSE / HEATHER MORALES
>> Position: First base/Pitcher
>> Class: Sophomore
>> Major: Family Resources
>> Hometown: Indio, Calif.
>> Beyond UH: Social work or speech pathology with special education students. “I had done job shadowing with special-ed kids before and I fell in love. Of course it’s going to be hard, but it was just the kids. They always had this smile and I said I could see myself doing that.”
