MEDIA RELEASE

The 2011 University of Hawaii at Hilo Softball School will run for 15 consecutive Wednesdays on the UHH softball and baseball fields beginning on Wednesday, September 7.

The school is divided into three sections – hitting (Sept. 7 – Oct. 5), fielding (Oct. 12 – Nov. 9) and pitching/catching (Nov. 16 – Dec. 14).

The hitting session will work on mechanics with advanced work on hitting in the nine zones of contact. Throwing and fielding ground and fly balls will be the focal point for the fielding sessions. Pitchers will work on mechanics and movement pitches while catchers will work on receiving, blocking, throws to bases and footwork for force and tag plays.

Participants must bring their own cleats, tennis shoes, gloves, hat/visor, sunscreen and water bottle. Catchers must provide their own shin guards, chest protector and mask.

Price is $15 per session. The price for all five sessions of each section is $50. Registration for two schools is $90 while registration for three schools is $125.

Call the Vulcan Softball Office at 974-7703 for more information or applications.

MEDIA RELEASE

The College of Southern Nevada Athletic Department is announcing the promotion of assistant softball coach Callen Perreira to head softball coach, effective immediately.

Callen Perreira

Perreira replaces Ysidro Jimenez, whom he assisted the last two seasons.

Prior to CSN, Perreira coached at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, where he was head coach from 1990-2009 before retiring. He had 18 consecutive winning seasons with the Vulcans, compiling a 585-344-3 (.640) record.

He led his 2004 and 2005 teams to Pacific West Conference championships. His teams also made appearances in the NCAA Div. II West Regionals in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The Vulcans were ranked as high as 11th in the nation in the 2007 NCAA Div. II rankings, and were consistently ranked in the NCAA Div. II West Region Top 10.

During his tenure, Perreira coached 51 Academic All-Americans, and also led Hawaii-Hilo to a 4th place finish at the 1992 NAIA Softball World Series.

Perreira is a member of the Easton 500 Victory Club. He is also a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), and served as the Pacific West Conference Representative to the NFCA in 2008 and 2009.

Before Hawaii-Hilo, Perreira’s coaching career began at Hilo High School, where he was head softball coach from 1978-1987. He compiled a 161-32 (.834) record, winning eight consecutive league championships and one state title – Hilo’s only state title to this day.

Founded in 1971 and educating thousands of students a semester, the College of Southern Nevada is the state’s largest and most ethnically diverse higher education institution.

CSN offers more than 200 degree and certificate options in more than 130 areas of study, including 25 degree and certificate programs available entirely online.

The Unified T-Ball Team

By Dave Ross | Special to Hawaii 24/7

Special Olympics West Hawaii traveled to Oahu May 27-29 to compete in the 2011 State Summer Games.  The West Hawaii team, comprised of 52 athletes, coaches and unified partners from Oceanview to Waimea, competed at the UH-Manoa campus with the 850 statewide athletes in softball, powerlifting, swimming and track and field events.

Opening ceremonies took place at Les Murakami Statium and welcomed over 2,500 volunteers participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run named for fallen police officer Troy Barboza.  Hawaii County Police Detective Renee Morinaka represented West Hawaii and enjoyed the run with endless smiles and enthusiasm.

The Sharks brought home five gold, five silver and four bronze medals from swimming events.

Special Olympics West Hawaii brought home seven gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals from the events.

The Sharks, led by head coach Holly DeGeal, medaled in 14 of the 20 events the swimmers entered with Kaiena Costa edging out two other swimmers in the 50m freestyle by less than one second.

The Cobras Tee-Ball team used the power of the the Phillip sisters, Malia Conner and Jennifer Poblano to net their fourth place finish.

Isaiah Wong crushed the competition with a 440 pound dead-lift in his 180 pound weight class.  The dual sport Phillip sisters also each took home a silver in the bench press competition.

Kona Speedsters in the track events.

The Kona speedsters burned up Ching Field track with Lendon Cariaga-Ventura and Damian Extor bringing home a combined four medals including a bronze in the 4x100m Unified relay.

The Kona Magua Unified Softball team played at Murakami Stadium to a third place finish behind the pitching and timely hitting of Don Tornow.  Unified sports teams are a team made up of a 50/50 mix of Special Olympics athletes and community partners without disabilities.

Special Olympics is dedicated to year-round sports training for children and adults with developmental disabilities.  We train all year round in 3 distinct sports seasons and are always open to new athletes and volunteers regardless of prior experiences with the developmentally disabled community.  Our next sports season consists of bocce ball and soccer.  We will host island wide teams on July 31st in a local competition and travel to Oahu in mid August for the State Aukake Classic.

If you have any questions about the program feel free to email us at specialolympicswh@gmai… or call Special Olympics West Hawaii Area Director David Ross at (808) 345-1344 and visit our website at http:www.sowh.org

MEDIA RELEASE

University of Hawaii at Hilo rightfielder Bryanna Hardy has been selected first-team Daktronics NCAA Division II West Region.

The junior from Simi Valley, Calif. led the Vulcans with a .369 batting average while starting all 42 games for the Vulcans. She collected 13 RBI and 5 doubles and was 5 of 7 in stolen base attempts.

Amber Waracka was a second-team selection. Waracka, who was named First Team as the flex player and Second Team as a pitcher in the PacWest, finished the season with a 14-6 overall record and a 1.85 earned run average. She also amassed 80 strikeouts, seven shutouts and 12 complete games in 24 appearances and 21 starts over 125.0 innings of action.

The Vulcans finished the season with at 28-14 overall record and were third in the Pacific West Conference with a 21-7 record.

— Find out more:
www.sportshigh.com

2011 DATAHOUSE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
TUESDAY-FRIDAY, MAY 3-6, 2011
CENTRAL OAHU REGIONAL PARK & RAINBOW WAHINE SOFTBALL STADIUM

— Find out more:
www.sportshigh.com

MEDIA RELEASE

A trio of University of Hawaii at Hilo players has been named to the 2011 all-Pacific West Conference Softball Team in a voting of conference coaches.

Junior Amber Waracka (Kaneohe, HI/Kamehameha) was named first team as the flex player and second team as a pitcher. Junior shortstop Nicole Alconcel (Kahului, HI/HP Baldwin) and junior outfielder Bryanna Hardy (Simi Valley, CA/Grace Brethren) were named to the second team.

Waracka owns a 14-6 overall record on the mound with a 1.85 earned run average. She is third in the league in ERA and in victories, while she also has amassed 80 strikeouts, seven shutouts and 12 complete games in 24 appearances and 21 starts over 125.0 innings of action. She was a three-time PacWest Pitcher of the Week and the NFCA National Pitcher of the Week in March.

Waracka was an All-PacWest First Team selection as a pitcher in 2010.

Alconcel is hitting .359 in 2011 with 37 base hits, 25 runs scored, six doubles and 19 RBI. She stole 11 bases and walked 18 times while producing a .469 on-base mark and a .476 slugging percentage. She is 10th in the PacWest in on-base percentage. Alconcel was also a PacWest Player of the Week.

Hardy is batting .369 in 42 starts with 45 base hits, 20 runs, 13 RBI and 23 walks. She is fourth in the league in on-base percentage with a .480 mark.

MEDIA RELEASE

KANEOHE, HI – PacWest Radio will provide a live worldwide Internet broadcast of the Hawai‘i Hilo at Hawai‘i Pacific softball doubleheader on Saturday, April 30, from Howard A. Okita Field in Kaneohe, HI.

The twinbill will begin at 12 p.m. HT (3 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. MDT) with PacWest Commissioner Bob Hogue and Director of Compliance Wayne Coito calling the games.

Listeners can tune into the contests by clicking on the PacWest Radio Show icon located on the right side of the front page of the conference website, or clicking on the following link – www.thepacwest.com

HPU, UHH and Dixie State all are in a battle for the PacWest Championship and the automatic quailifier for the NCAA II Tournament, with the conference winner possibly being revealed on Saturday.

Dixie State clinched a share of its first Pacific West Conference softball championship on Monday, April 25, after splitting a doubleheader with Hawai‘i Hilo in its regular-season finale.

The Red Storm dropped the opener vs. the Vulcans 4-1 but rebounded to defeat UHH 7-3 in the nightcap.

Dixie State ended the conference schedule with a 23-5 PacWest record and holds a two-game lead over Hawai‘i Hilo (19-5) and a one-game margin over Hawai‘i Pacific (21-5).

With all three teams tied in the loss column, the automatic qualifier will be decided this coming weekend.

If Hawai‘i Pacific sweeps the Vulcans, then the Sea Warriors would share the PacWest Championship with Dixie State and would claim the automatic berth in the NCAA II Tournament since HPU won three of the four games played between the two schools this year.

If Hawai‘i Hilo and Hawai‘i Pacific split their doubleheader, then Dixie State wins the title outright and heads to the NCAA post-season event.

If the Vulcans sweep the Sea Warriors, then UHH would need to sweep Chaminade on Sunday, May 1, to secure a share of the PacWest Championship and the automatic post-season berth.

Hawai‘i Hilo wins the automatic qualifier in a tie with Dixie State because the Red Storm would be 1-3 vs. third-place HPU while Hawai‘i Hilo would be 3-1 vs. the Sea Warriors.

Mobile version of slideshow here
Photography by Rick Ogata | Special to Hawaii 24/7

Keaau   100 002 1 —4 4 0
Waiakea 010 130 x —5 9 2

Kohala 010 074 3 — 15 8 3
Kona   300 001 0 —  4 5 3

MEDIA RELEASE

The beginning of March must be something special for University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Amber Waracka as she has been named the NFCA Division II National Pitcher of the Week for the second time in two seasons for games played during the same stretch.

Between March 7-13 of this year, Waracka won all three games in which she appeared and ended the stretch with 0.00 ERA, 19 strikeouts and an opponent’s batting average of just 0.93. She allowed just five hits and threw two-complete game shutouts.

One of the Kahalu‘u, Hawai‘i native’s shutouts came in the form of a 2-0 win over then fifth-ranked Hawai‘i Pacific in which she allowed just two hits and four walks. All three of Waracka’s wins last week came in the span of just 24 hours as the Vulcans schedule had to be adjusted due to the tsunami threat facing the islands
For the season, Waracka is 3-2 over 26.1 inning of work with a 1.86 ERA and 21 strikeouts. She also holds her team’s lowest opponent’s batting average at just .188.

Last year, Waracka was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Pitcher of the Week for games played March 8-14.

She won all five games she appeared in during that span allowing no runs, 11 hits and just eight walks over 28.2 innings of work. She limited her opponents to a miniscule .118 batting average on the week, while striking out 31 of them.

Waracka tossed a no-hitter against Dominican (CA), a one-hitter vs. Dominican (CA) and a two-hitter against Notre Dame De Namur. Waracka notched four complete-game shutouts and finished with a 0.00 ERA.

Photography by Rick Ogata | Special to Hawaii 24/7

In a Tuesday (March 15) BIIF girls’ softball game, the Waiakea Warriors defeated the visiting Kamehameha-Hawaii Warriors 11-3. The winning pitcher for Waiakea was Chelsea Maymay, while Kamehameha’s Kiani Wong took the loss.

MEDIA RELEASE

The University of Hawaii at Hilo completed the rarity of taking a softball tripleheader by beating Brigham Young University 8-0 (TKO), 2-0, and 5-2 in Pacific West Conference competition in Laie, Hawaii.

“We played solid today,” said UHH Head Coach Jaime Wallin. “It’s always good to win three in a day. It’s important to get these games in to help us get physically and mentally prepared to play.

“Now it’s a matter of digging down and getting some energy back.”

The tripleheader became a reality after a flight change pushed yesterday’s doubleheader back a few hours.

In the first game, Amber Waracka tossed a five-hitter with eight strikeouts and three walks in the five-inning TKO.

Brittany Spencer’s bases-clearing double highlighted a 5-run, 4-hit third inning.

Kanani Numata applied the knockout punch with a 2-run double in the 3-run fourth inning.

Tessa Truong led the Vulcans (7-4 overall, 5-1 PacWest) with three hits while Numata and Aisha Sueda paired hits.

Jessica Pepin tossed a 4-hit complete game and struck out six in the second game.

Nicole Alconcel picked up a pair of RBI on two hits to provide Pepin’s margin of victory.

Waracka and Christina Pedroza combined on a 4-hit, 9-strikeout performance in game three. Waracka gave up two hits and no runs while striking out eight while Pedroza gave up two runs on two hits with one strikeout.

Bryanna Hardy had a 3-for-3 game at the plate while Truong and Pepin picked up RBIs.

MEDIA RELEASE

University of Hawaii at Hilo junior pitcher Amber Waracka has been selected the Pacific West Conference pre-season Pitcher of the Year while senior outfielder Kanani Numata and junior second baseman Aisha Sueda were first-team selections.

Waracka was a 2010 first-team all-Conference pitcher with a 17-8 record and a 1.98 ERA. She was on the mound for 152.0 innings, walked 63 and struck out 122. She also held opponents to a .211 batting average. In March, she became the first Vulcan softball player to be selected the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week (March 8-14).

Numata has had a solid four-year career at UH Hilo. She started 48 of 50 games in 2010 and batted .346 with a team-high 34 RBI. She had six homeruns, a pair of triples and eight doubles. On the basepaths, she was 8 of 9 in stolen base attempts. Early in the season, she was a second-team 2010 MSUB Desert Stinger selection.

Although she started 50 of 51 games in 2010, Sueda had another quiet year although she batted .316 with 19 RBI, a triple and nine doubles.

The Vulcans were selected to finish fourth in the nine-team PacWest race with Dixie State College taking the championship. Dixie State barely nudged out defending NCAA Division II Champion Hawaii Pacific University by a point. They are followed by Grand Canyon University, Hawaii Hilo, Academy of Art University, Notre Dame de Namur University, Chaminade University, Brigham Young University-Hawaii and Dominican University.

MEDIA RELEASE

University of Hawai`i at Hilo Director of Athletics Dexter Irvin today announced the selection of Jaime Wallin as the women’s softball head coach. Wallin comes to Hilo from NCAA Division I Lafayette College where she guided the Leopards to a 15-33 record this past season.

In 2009, Wallin guided Sonoma State to its first winning season in nine years. Under her guidance, the Seawolves made two trips to the NCAA Division II postseason (2007, 2009) and recorded their first three postseason victories in program history. During her tenure, Wallin coached one California Collegiate Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year as well as one Newcomer of the Year and five all-region players. She picked up her 100th career victory in April 2009.

“I am very excited to welcome Jamie to our staff,” said Irvin. “She is a professional that will fit in well with our community and our staff. I am very proud of the accomplishments of our softball program and those that made it possible. We have had great community support, and the leadership of Fred and James has been outstanding. Vulcan softball is in good hands and I know our players will appreciate the strengths and experience Coach Wallin has to offer.”

Prior to her time at Sonoma State, Wallin was the assistant softball coach at Stony Brook (SUNY) for two years and was named the Stony Brook Female Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004.

Wallin began her coaching career as a student assistant coach at Queens College from 1999-2000 before spending three years as an assistant coach at the University of California-Davis (2000-03).

Wallin played collegiate softball at Pace University and Queens College. She was a 1997 all-conference selection at Pace and was a two-time all-conference player at second and third base while at Queens. The Knights captured the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference championship during Wallin’s senior campaign.

Wallin graduated from Queens in 1999 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in exercise science and psychology. She also received a masters degree in kinesiology with a concentration in sport performance from California State University in 2003.

Kozy Toriano, starting center fielder on the HPU softball team, hitting against UH-Hilo earlier in the year. File photo by Rick Ogata | Special to Hawaii 24/7

Photography by Rick Ogata | Special to Hawaii 24/7

MEDIA RELEASE

St. Joseph, MO (5/31/10) – HPU erased a two-run fifth inning deficit to win its first NCAA Division II Softball College World Series title. The Sea Warriors plated four runs in the fifth inning to hold on to beat Valdosta State, 4-3, in the title game.

“What a win,” said Coach Bryan Nakasone. “It was a long road and nothing came easily and especially not this game.”

HPU posed little threat through four innings, and trailed 2-0 after the Lady Blazers plated two first inning runs. Then in the fifth inning, the Sea Warriors sent 10 batters to the plate and put four runs on the board. VSU countered with a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the score to 4-3.

Sherise Musquiz (34-3) earned the win but not before some tense moments in the seventh inning. Colette Rollins walked to load the bases with just one out, but pinch hitter Amy Brightwell lined to Caira Pires at third for the second out. Musquiz then got April Hutchins to fly out to centerfielder Kozy Toriano for the game’s final out.

“What a way to go out in my last year,” said senior second baseman Casey Sugihara. “It still hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Holly Satterfield pitched four and one-third innings for the loss, allowing three runs on four hits. Alyssa Shirey posted two hits and two RBI for VSU, and Amber Shaw recorded two hits and one run scored.

Ciera Senas led HPU in her final performance as a Sea Warrior, recording two hits and one run.

After the game, Sugihara, Ciera Senas, Nicole Morrow, and Sherise Musquiz were named to the All-Tournament Team. Musquiz was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after going 4-0 on the week.

MEDIA RELEASE

Governor Linda Lingle issued the following statement:

“Today’s dramatic win by the University of Hawai‘i Wahine softball team was achieved through the type of determination and hard work that defines the spirit of Hawai‘i. The Wahine came into the regional as the 16th seed, and put their hearts and athleticism on the field to defeat the No. 1 seed – not once, but twice.

“The UH Wahine had an outstanding season, beating out some tough teams to earn their way to the Super Regional. They encountered lightening and a first-game defeat once they got there, but the Wahine kept their focus and got the job done in decisive fashion.

“This win is a testament to the caliber of the athletes and the commitment of Coach Bob Coolen and his staff.

“The Wahine softball team has brought pride to the University of Hawai‘i and the entire state. The Rainbow Wahine can be assured that all the people of Hawai‘i will be cheering them on as they advance to their first NCAA Women’s College World Series.

“Let’s Go Bows!”

MEDIA RELEASE

It took perfect execution to end the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s 2010 season as the Vulcans fell 2-1 in eight innings to Central Washington University in an NCAA Division II West Regional Championship game on Howard A. Okita Field in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

The Vulcans season ends at 35-16 while the Wildcats improved to 38-14.

With the game knotted and runners on second and third, CWU’s Meghan Kopczynski high chopper went untouched into left field for the game winner.

Not so perfect was the start of the game as the Vulcans took a 1-0 first inning lead on a pair of errors and a single. Tessa Truong beat out a bad throw to first then moved to second on Aisha Sueda’s single to right center. With only one out on the board, Truong scored on a bad throw as the Wildcats attempted a double play.

In the second, a two-out error and a pass ball gave the Wildcats a runner on second. A single later and the game was tied.

Both pitchers went the distance. UHH’s Sarah Weisskopf capped a four-year career with a seven-hit performance. She walked two and gave up one earned run while facing 33 batters.

“It was a tough season with all that has happened,” interim UHH head coach Fred Entilla said. “I always told them if it’s not meant to be, no matter what you do, it isn’t going to happen.”

Hawaii Hilo at Central Washington
May 15, 2010 at Kaneohe, HI (Howard A. Okita Fiel)

Score by Innings                   R  H  E
------------------------------------------
Hawaii Hilo......... 100 000 00 -  1  6  3
Central Washington.. 010 000 01 -  2  7  3
------------------------------------------

Campbell earned the state softball title in Division I, with a 5-1 win against Punahou. Mililani squeaked past Castle for third place.

In DIvision II, Pac-5 hung on in the seventh inning to win its third state crown in five years, edging Waimea 5-4. Kalani topped Waialua for third place.