After watching her team play seven games in three days, University of Hawaii at Hilo softball coach Peejay Brun took note of the Vulcans’ heart and energy.
Not to mention that her team can do a little hitting.
A tiebeaker relegated UH-Hilo to the bronze bracket at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif, but its hitting was golden. The Vulcans batted a tournament-best .360, and, not surprisingly, Colleen Aubrey led the way, going 12 for 25 (.480).
The senior outfielder shrugged off an 0 for 3 in Sunday’s opener in a 6-2 victory against Notre Dame de Namur by finishing with three hits, including a two-run double, as the Vulcans took bronze by beating California East Bay 5-1.
“She said, ‘We’re done with this,’ and just turned it on,” Brun said after a 6-1 tournament run.
Aubrey and ace Vanessa Salinas were both named to the all-tournament team, and they were among four players Monday who shared Pacific West Conference Player of the Week honors. UH-Hilo (22-14, 11-8) finishes its road trip Tuesday against Academy of Art (17-21, 9-9).
Salinas (14-7) was 4-0 on the mound with a 1.48 ERA at the tournament and hit .417 with a home run. The right-hander struck out five in a complete game against Notre Dame de Namur, and Danielle Wilson (7-7) provided a lift with a three-hitter against East Bay (20-15).
“We were really waiting for the composure to come, and she held on to it and was on fire,” Brun said of Wilson. “(East Bay) looked a little tired and we just fought through it.”
For the week, Aubrey batted 19 of 26 to raise her average to a PacWest-best .474.
But she and Salinas were far from alone in carrying a hot bat in Turlock. Emily Greene hit .438 with a home run, Brittany Huff batted .417, and Wilson (.381), Shelby Vickers (.353) and Melanie Morelos (.350) also shined.
