UH fifth in Big West preseason softball poll
A University of Hawaii softball team looking for a bounce-back season placed fifth in the Big West preseason coaches poll released on Tuesday.
After finishing near the back of the pack in 2014, the Rainbow Wahine landed in the middle of the poll with 31 points in voting of the league’s eight coaches.
Defending champion Long Beach State topped the poll with four first-place votes and 59 points. Cal State Fullerton followed with three first-place votes and 56 points. Cal Poly placed third with one coach picking the Mustangs to win the league title.
UC Santa Barbara was fourth, followed by Hawaii, CSUN, UC Davis and UC Riverside.
The Rainbow Wahine went 22-28 overall last season and 7-14 in Big West play to finish seventh in the league in the program’s first sub-.500 season since 2004 and just the third in Bob Coolen’s 23-year tenure as head coach.
UH opens the season Feb. 5 against St. Mary’s in the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic. The Wahine will also face No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 25 DePaul in the three-day tournament.
2015 Big West Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Long Beach State (4) 59
2. CS Fullerton (3) 56
3. Cal Poly (1) 50
4. UC Santa Barbara 40
5. Hawaii 31
6. CSUN 24
7. UC Davis 17
8. UC Riverside 11
() First-place votes
5th? Maybe good position to start the season. Too bad Loie Kesterson transferred out, as she had two good outings against Long Beach State last season, losing 3-5 and 0-3. Could have been different if UH’s bats were more productive.
Unfortunately for NaWahine, this season maybe like last. Hopefully one of Coach Coolen’s pitcher turns out to be an elite one. All good programs have one, most championship programs have two. Time will tell. Go Bows!
1. That’s bummer didn’t know that Loie left the program. Where did she go to?
I guess in softball if you’re not the starter you seat unless the starter is really bad or get hurt. Not sure if all the program is like that or just at UH.Maybe depends on the coach.
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“GO WAHINE”! Don’t worry whatever other programs, conference’s team’s or peoples says about you!. Let them say that!. But you’re Wahine will do really fine!. Just go out and show the nation what you really can do!. Again GO BOWS!