Tournament Notes
The University of Hawai'i softball team (3-2, 0-0 WAC) heads to Las Vegas, Nev. for its first roadtrip of the year. The 'Bows will play five games in three days at UNLV's Louisville-Slugger Desert Classic (Feb. 19-21). UH will face stiff competition from Utah (5-0), UNLV (4-1), No. 10 Georgia Tech (4-0), San Diego (3-1), and Cal State Fullerton (2-3).
The Rainbow Wahine got off to a shakey start with a 2-1 loss to McNeese State to open the season. But the 'Bows shook it off, bounced back, and found their groove to capture the 2010 Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic title this past weekend. Hawai'i finished the tourney with a 3-2 record and a four-home run effort that fueled an 11-5 upset over No. 10 Stanford in the Championship game.
Senior catcher Katie Grimes was selected to the all-tournament team, while teammate Kaia Parnaby was voted Most Outstanding Pitcher and junior third baseman Melissa Gonzalez was selected Most Valuable Player.
Leading the 'Bows into their second week of action is senior first baseman Amanda Tauali'i, who finished the first weekend of play hitting .462 (6-for-13). Tauali'i, a preseason all-WAC pick, scored four runs, with two doubles, a home run and three RBI. Grimes had a strong opening tournament as well, hitting .400 (6-for-15) with two home runs and eight RBI. Her eight RBI topped her total for all of 2009 (6). Gonzalez came out firing with a double, a home run, and a .385 batting average and Alexandra Aguirre, a sophomore leftfielder who started the final two games, was a catalyst for the 'Bows'. She hit .500 at the plate (4-for-8) with three runs scored, a double, and she hit her first career home run against Stanford.
Parnaby made an immediate impact for the Rainbow Wahine in her first collegiate action. She went 2-0 with one shut-out and a 0.00 ERA in 12.0 innings pitched. She held opponents to a .152 average with four walks against 18 strike outs. In her first career start, Parnaby tossed a complete game shut-out, giving up just two hits with 10 strike outs and three walks. Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Ricketts finished the weekend with a 1-2 record. Ricketts dropped her first two decisions, but bounced back with a gritty win over Stanford. She completed all three games she started, throwing 21 innings with 12 walks, 10 strike outs and a 2.00 ERA. Still to make their 2010 pitching debuts are juniors Gonzalez and JC All-America transfer Jenna Rodriguez, and sophomores Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu and Sarah Robinson.
Head coach Bob Coolen is in his 19th season at the helm of the Rainbow Wahine program and enters this week with a 670-414-1 record at UH, and a 742-507-1 career record that spans 24 years.
UNLV Louisville-Slugger desert classic INFORMATION
When: Fri.-Sun., Feb. 19-21
Where: Las Vegas, Nev. [Eller Media Stadium (Feb. 19); Stephanie Lynn Craig Park (Feb. 20-21)]
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be on-line if available at HawaiiAthletics.com
UNLV Louisville-Slugger desert classic schedule
Friday, Feb. 19, 2010
Eller Media Stadium
1:30 pm vs. Utah
6:00 pm at UNLV
Friday, Feb. 20, 2010
Stephanie Lynn Craig Softball Complex
11:15 am vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech (SLC1)
3:45 pm vs. San Diego (SLC3)
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2010
Stephanie Lynn Craig Softball Complex
11:15 vs. CS Fullerton (SLC2)
