UH softball coming into focus
Experience matters, even on team picture day.
The Rainbow Wahine softball team broke out the gameday uniforms last week Friday for the annual photo session prior to practice. Guided by the sports media relations staff, the Wahine made quick work of the process, leaving enough time for a few candids on their phones before getting changed for practice.
The veteran nature of the roster has created similarly efficient practices as the Wahine work toward their Feb. 7 opener.
“I think everyone on the field is a returner, so I think having that is a boost because we all know what it’s about and we have experience playing at this position,” senior third baseman Nicole Lopez said.
“Practices were flowing better and we didn’t really have to cover basics and we get to go straight into things.”
Prior to opening the program’s 35th season, the current Wahine will test themselves against those who came before in their alumnae game on Feb. 2 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The regular season starts five days later with a matchup against Georgia State in the Hawaii Paradise Classic. The season-opening tournament also features meetings with UCLA, Saint Mary’s and Fresno State to lead off a challenging nonconference schedule.
Coming off a 23-27 2018 season, UH returns its top three hitters and three members of the pitching staff.
Lopez and junior catcher Callee Heen started all 50 games last season with Heen leading the Wahine in hitting at .333 with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs on her way to All-Big West second-team and NFCA All-West Region second-team honors. Lopez was second in all three categories (.306, eight home runs, 26 RBIs) and made the All-Big West first team for the second straight season.
Sophomore outfielder Britnee Rossi was next at .269. Rossi had four home runs last season, including a walk-off shot against Cleveland State. In all, UH returns eight players who logged at least 24 starts last season — Heen, Lopez, Rossi, senior outfielder Jennifer Iseri, senior catcher Heather Cameron, junior utility player Chardonnay Pantastico, junior shortstop Cheeks Ramos and senior second baseman Alyssa Sojka.
Brittany Hitchcock returns for her sixth year with the program after a herniated disk ended her season after 10 appearances last spring. She was 5-4 with a 1.97 earned-run average when she shut it down and elected to have season-ending surgery, the same procedure she had as a freshman in 2014.
The graduate student enters the season with a career record for 47-33 with a 2.21 earned run average.
“It’s always talked about, ‘Oh it’ll go by so fast … unless you’re Brittany,’ ” Hitchcock joked.
“We’re ready for what’s ahead and this team I feel has all the parts together and and the potential is there and it’s just a matter of really buying in and committing to supporting each other.”
After a summer of recuperation, Hitchcock was back in the circle for the fall and the Wahine pitching staff breezed through four wins in the Fall Preseason Classic without allowing a run.
After Hitchcock’s injury, Dana Thomsen carried the pitching load and closed her senior season at 15-16 with a 3.02 ERA. Dominique Martinez (1-5, 5.00) and Emily Klee (2-2, 5.91) return after making 13 appearances each as freshmen.
Joining the staff are freshmen Ashley Murphy and Isabella “Izzy” Dino, a 6-foot-2 right hander.
Great to hear Brittany’s back! I hope the hitting will be more consistent along with the fielding. GO BOWS!!
Excited for this season. Good team returning. Just needed more pitching last season. With Brittany back, Wahine should be a contender.