UH-Hilo softball coach Callen Perreira loathes looking at the weather report ahead of an upcoming home series.
It’s often bad news, and even when it’s not, it’s unpredictable anyway.
Forecasting the level play Vulcans are about to face is much simpler: one challenging league contender after another is set to roll into Hilo. UHH starts Pacific West Conference play at the top of the preseason pecking order, though it’s certainly preferable to get Azusa Pacific, Biola and Concordia in its friendly confines this season.
“It’s early in the season, and we’re ready to go,” Perreira said. “We had 12 good games on the road to prepare for them.”
Each of the Vuls’ next 12 games involve teams picked to finish in the top four spots in the conference.
Azusa Pacific (4-7, 0-2) comes in for doubleheaders Thursday and Friday after getting swept by Concordia (8-1, 2-0) last Saturday. Concordia, the two-time defending PacWest champion and runaway preseason favorite, starts its Hawaii journey on Oahu before making its way to UHH March 5-6, and sandwiched in between the visits by the Cougars and Eagles is Biola (7-2, 4-0) early next week.
“The (Southern California) teams are all comparable,” Perreira said. “Good hitting and good pitching. They will be really good games.”
UHH faced the same three teams back-to-back-back last season on the road, going 5-7, a mark that could have been stronger if not for three close losses at Concordia.
During its season-opening 5-7 trip on the mainland, UHH hit .308, which is third-best in the conference. It’s team ERA of 4.67 is seventh.
“We’ve been focusing on being more consistent, more with our defense as well as our pitching,” Perreira said. “Working on our two-strike approach at the plate.
“The good thing is the team chemistry has been really strong.”
What he’d like to see become stronger is his pitching. Seniors Leah Gonzales (2-1, 4.99 ERA) and Valerie Alvarado (3-3, 6.23) will get the first shots at taming the capable bats UHH is primed to face.
“I just hope we get them all of the games in on our home field,” said Perreira, who just may have sneaked a peek at a weather report after all.
