Hawaii softball: 2020 schedule officially released

Hawaii softball’s official 47-game 2020 schedule was officially released.

Thirty of those games take place at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, with the highlight the inclusion of Women’s College World Series team Minnesota of the Big Ten in the Rainbow Wahine Classic. UH will face the Gophers on March 11 and 13, just prior to the start of Big West play.

The opener is against Northern Colorado on Feb. 6 in the Paradise Classic.

Notably, UH is not participating in UNLV’s Desert Classic for the first time since 2002. Instead, it will participate in the Golden State Classic Tournament at Lake Elsinore, Calif., Feb. 14-16.

Power Five teams on the schedule are Iowa State (Paradise Classic, Feb 6-8); Iowa (Hawaii Invitational, Feb. 20-23), Oregon State (Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament, Feb. 27-March 1); and Texas Tech and Minnesota (Rainbow Wahine Classic, March 11-14).

Said coach Bob Coolen in a UH release: “Once again we will be playing a very competitive home schedule with the likes of Minnesota, Texas Tech, Oregon State to name a few participating in our home tournaments in February and March. The teams we will be playing represent leagues from across the country. Our lone mainland tournament this season will be the Golden State Classic in Lake Elsinore, Calif. which is hosted by San Jose State.”

UH enjoyed a resurgent year in 2018, finishing second in the Big West (14-7) and 33-16 overall. Coolen returns 12 from that squad, including two-time All-Big West first-teamer at catcher/1B, Callee Heen, who hit 15 homers in 2019.

The full schedule is below.

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UH previously announced its six-player recruiting class for 2021 (they will not appear in the upcoming season).

Mya’Liah Bethea – L/R | 5-4 | Catcher/First Base | Las Vegas, Nev. | Cimarron-Memorial HS
Hayley Johnson – L/L | 5-6 | Catcher/First Base | El Cajon, Calif. | Granite Hills HS
Mackenzie La Neve – R/R | Utility | Henderson, Nev. | Liberty HS
Piper Neri – L/L | Outfield | Manhattan Beach, Calif. | Mira Costa HS
Kayla Stone – R/R | 5-5 | Second Base/Shortstop | Gilroy, Calif. | Salinas HS
Chloee Agueda – R/R |Outfield/Third Base | East Union HS | French Camp, Calif.

UH’s first-year players for the 2020 season are: Cira Bartolotti (Fr. P/OF, Kapolei HS); Ka‘ena Keliinoi (Fr. C/2B, St. Francis School); Haylee Clay (Fr. C/2B, La Serna HS, Calif.); Sammie Ofoia (So. DP/1B/3B, Saint Francis School/SIU-Edwardsville); Maya Nakamura (Fr. U, Roosevelt HS); Nawai Kaupe (Jr. SS, Maui HS/Washington); Amanda Ajari (Fr. 1B/P, Benicia HS, Calif.); Rachel Sabourin (Fr. 2B/SS, Eaglecrest HS, Colo.); Jetta Nannen (Fr. P/1B, Silver Creek HS, Colo.); Lepepaina “Princess” Matavao (Fr. SS/OF, Walnut HS, Calif.).

Players with remaining eligibility after last season not listed on the 2020 roster are: Madison Veldman (1B/3B); Sissy Pantastico (U); and Tatumn Satow (2B/OF).

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2020 schedule
Record: 9-15 overall, 0-0 Big West