Work on the Hawaii softball team’s new home field is complete, but the first phase in the construction of the Rainbow Wahine season takes place on the road.
The installation of artificial turf at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium led to a hectic offseason and a rare season-opening road trip for the Wahine.
During the renovation, the Wahine practiced at Les Murakami Stadium and Mid-Pacific Institute until the field was cleared for use on Jan. 16. After breaking in the turf with an exhibition doubleheader on Sunday, they’ll open the season on the mainland for the first time in 16 years when they face BYU today in the Marucci Desert Classic in Las Vegas.
“We were kind of all over the place practicing on different surfaces and different fields,” senior center fielder Danielle Garcielita said, “and just getting prepared to go on the road immediately is very different, but I think we’re all adapting really well to everything that we’ve been given so far.”
Given the scope of the project at RWSS, UH coach Bob Coolen built in some cushion into the schedule by starting a week later than usual and opening the season with a 12-day road trip.
The Wahine play seven games in five days in Las Vegas, starting with longtime nemesis BYU (1-4) in the opening game of the Desert Classic hosted by UNLV. The trip continues to Los Angeles next week where UH will play five more games in a three-day tournament hosted by Loyola Marymount.
By the time the Wahine make their home debut against California on Feb. 28, they’ll be nearly a quarter through their 50-game schedule.
“Being on the road for 12 days, it’s going to be an experience,” junior third baseman Nicole Lopez said. “It’s going to be super different but I think it’ll be good for our team chemistry and just getting closer with each other.”
“I’m just going with flow at this point. I didn’t even know we opened up on the road, to be honest. I’m just ready to play.”
Lopez, a first-team All-Big West selection last season, returns to the middle of an experienced order after hitting a team-best .331 with 12 home runs. She hit one of UH’s five home runs in Sunday’s exhibition split with Josai University of Japan. Catcher Callee Heen and shortstop Angelique Ramos, BWC all-freshmen picks last year, also went deep in a 6-5 loss in the opener.
“Most of our players are similar (to last year’s lineup), except now we have to replace Heather (Morales),” Coolen said, referencing last year’s first baseman who hit .319 with eight homers as a senior. “Hopefully Cheeks (Ramos) and Callee can do that on a consistent basis and then the rest of the lineup fills in and everyone complements each other.”
Garcielita, a senior center fielder, hit .323 last year and is back to ignite the offense in the leadoff spot. The Wahine also return senior Jordian Hicks in left and sophomore Chardonnay Pantastico in right. Bree Soma had a promising freshman year cut short by a knee injury and homered in Sunday’s second game.
The right side of the infield has been rebuilt and junior college transfer Alyssa Sojka went 4-for-5 with a homer on Sunday in her UH debut at second base. Senior Rachael Turner and freshman Madison Veldman split time at first.
Heen and junior Heather Cameron will share time catching for senior pitchers Brittany Hitchcock and Dana Thomsen. Hitchcock earned first-team BWC honors after going 19-12 with a 1.85 earned-run average. Thomsen got out to a 6-2 start last season before struggling in Big West play and finished 8-7 with a 2.59 ERA. Freshmen Emily Klee and Dominique Martinez join the rotation.
“They’ve come a long way,” Lopez said of the staff. “Dana improved a lot. Facing her last year, you could see her spins. This year you can really see how her ball is different and she’s increased velocity.”
