University of Hawaii softball seniors say goodbye

Four years after walking on with the Hawaii softball program, Rachael Turner represents the last link between UH’s 2015 freshman class and the group of five Rainbow Wahine seniors to be honored following Saturday’s home finale.

“We’ve had people come in every year,” said Turner, who rose through the depth chart to take over as UH’s starting first baseman this year. “We build up the family as we go.”

While attrition in various forms whittled the original class, four others joined in after starting their careers at other colleges. The common thread: an affinity for Hawaii predating their commitment to the Rainbow Wahine.

They’ll make their final appearances at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium when UH (21-23, 5-10 Big West) hosts Cal State Northridge (20-33, 5-10) in a single game today and in Saturday’s senior-day doubleheader.

“They all had their way to get here and they ended up in a good place where they wanted to be and play,” UH coach Bob Coolen said.

>> Danielle Garcielita, California high school standout, spent her first two years at North Carolina. Her mother, Kathleen (Rodriguez), grew up in Waipahu before starring as a pitcher at Whittier College, and Danielle’s search for a fresh start led her back to Hawaii prior to her junior year.

“It’s so funny because we kind of traded places,” said Garcielita, a .280 hitter in the leadoff spot in her two years at UH. “She left when she was 18 to go to the mainland. Now I’m leaving the mainland to come to her home. … It’s kind of like we’ve come full circle.”

>> Courtney Hiruko committed to BYU Hawaii as a high school infielder in Chandler, Ariz., a year before the Division II school announced it would shutter its athletic program. Hiruko, whose father grew up in Kaneohe, played a season in Laie and contacted Coolen about transferring. She earned a spot on the roster as a second baseman and stuck for a three-year Division I career, making 88 appearances primarily as a runner,

“It’s really cool because not a lot of people make it to their goal,” Hiruko said. “Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to keep going until college and I felt like I accomplished a huge goal.”

>> Jordian Hicks was just 16 when she graduated from high school and went straight to Santiago Canyon (Calif.) College. UH’s youngest senior at 20, Hicks was a frequent visitor to Hawaii growing up and envisioned playing softball in the islands well before transferring prior to last season.

“I knew softball, if I worked hard, would take me where I wanted and this is where I wanted to go,” the outfielder said.

After graduating in May, Hicks will head to Guatemala in September to serve in the Peace Corps.

>> Dana Thomsen thought her pitching career might be over after a year out of the game following her two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College. She took a shot at contacting Coolen and was invited to join the program. She went 8-7 last year, then took over the No. 1 spot in the rotation early this season due to a season-ending injury to Brittany Hitchcock. She enters the week at 13-14 while throwing a Big West-leading 1672⁄3 innings.

“It’s definitely crazy, because growing up I always said I wanted to go to the University of Hawaii,” Thomsen said. “Then actually coming after going to a JUCO was really awesome. It is crazy how all of our paths came together … because I felt like I’ve known them my whole life.”

>> Turner was the first to arrive in Manoa, leaving Las Vegas to walk on with the Rainbow Wahine. She appeared in just two games as a freshman but has made 43 starts as a senior and delivered one of the season’s signature moments with a walk-off homer — the first longball of her career — to complete a home sweep of Cal Poly on April 7.

“It just makes everything a little bit sweeter, a little bit more special,” Turner said of her ascent. “It’s really nice to come into a program and have to work your way up and earn what you get. I’ve had a really good staff behind me and teammates … helping me through this journey.”

Hitchcock, the sixth senior on this year’s roster, will petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility after her season ended in early March and hopes to be part of next year’s class.