Frank Degele has a lot of inexperience on his Pahoa softball team, and he figures the Daggers will take their lumps.
With that in mind, the inaugural Pahoa Softball Tournament will be held Friday and Saturday at the school field.
Besides preseason games don’t count in the BIIF standings, so what better way to prepare a young roster?
“The majority of the team is ninth and 10th graders,” he said. “For a lot of them, it’s their first year playing. They don’t know the fundamentals, like when to run on the bases. We wanted to get them more playing time and get to know the game better.”
Last season, the Daggers finished 0-14. The last time they went to the state tournament was in 2009.
Since then, Kamehameha has emerged a powerhouse on the Division II level, winning the last eight BIIF titles.
In the last seven years, Kamehameha, Konawaena, and Kohala have represented the league at states. The trio holds one thing Pahoa doesn’t have. And that’s experience.
“We’re young but willing to learn. That’s the best part,” Degele said. “Our attendance at practice is good. We’ve got 14 girls.”
Ashlynn Kahele-Kia is one veteran the Daggers can count on. The senior third baseman has played for three years and was on the Junior Olympic team that went to Honolulu.
Jamie Pabro-Andres is a senior shortstop and another who can provide experience.
“She tries extra hard,” Degele said. She’s not afraid of the ball if it whacks her. She hustles and is a leader.”
Zhu Che Fley-Seumanutafa is a sophomore pitcher, hitter, and good leader. But the Daggers will wave goodbye to her after the season.
“Next year, she’s going to Ka’u because she’s going to live in Volcano,” Degele said. “She can play any position.”
A pair of freshmen, Kuuipo Silva and Riensel Haili, will share second base.
They’re fast learners, and they listen,” Degele said.
Jacile Palma, a freshman shortstop, will also be part of Pahoa’s young infield core.
“Her brother played for me,” Degele said. “She’s athletic and also played basketball. She’s a quick learner. The freshmen try hard.”
The BIIF season opens Saturday, March 7, but Pahoa’s first game is Saturday, March 14 against Konawaena.
“We wanted this tourney so we could play all the girls,” Degele said. “We don’t play our first game until March 14.”
He’s in his 48th year coaching at Pahoa. The first 33 years were spent as the Daggers baseball coach and the last 15 as the softball coach.
Through the decades, Degele has discovered that coaching girls are more enjoyable, even one with so much inexperience.
“To me, coaching the boys was different,” he said. “If they were getting lickings and gave up a lot of runs, they would give up. The girls are all chatter. They still make noise, and their morale and attitude are way different. If they score one run, they think they won the game. They back up each other and play as a team.”
One of his assistants is Derek Lincoln, the father of UHH’s Kiarra Lincoln and Kamehameha junior Dioni Lincoln.
Kiarra Lincoln helps to coach the Daggers. It’s an inspiration for the Daggers to see a local girl, who is playing for her hometown college, helps them out.
“She comes down to help us once in a while,” Degele said. “The girls know that she played the game and knows the game. The girls respect her and try to do like how she does.”
Small schools like Pahoa have to adjust their goals. Not everyone can chase BIIF championships. Degele will settle for other things.
“It’s going to be rough. We’ll try to win a game or two,” he said. “I want them to play hard and enjoy the game and learn something from the game, like sportsmanship and how to play the game. The main thing is I don’t want them to get hurt.
“Not everybody can win the championships, but through the game, you can learn how to make friends.”
Pahoa tournament schedule
Friday
Pahoa vs. Ka’u, 3:30 p.m.
Ka’u vs. Kamehameha, 5 p.m.
Kamehameha vs. Keaau, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Keaau vs. Ka’u, 9 a.m.
Ka’u vs. Hawaii Prep, 10:30 p.m.
HPA vs. Keaau, 12 p.m.
Kamehameha vs. Pahoa, 1:30 p.m.
HPA vs. Kamehameha, 3 p.m.
Pahoa vs. HPA, 4:30 p.m.
Keaau vs. Pahoa, 6 p.m.