It’s a sure bet that whenever there’s a hint of dry weather in Hilo, a Vulcans softball scrimmage is sure to follow.
More often than not lately, UH-Hilo finds itself practicing indoors. During a recent workout at UHH gym, some Vuls swung away at Wiffle balls, whiles others hit into a net or worked on bunting.
It’s less than ideal, but the program makes a habit of being resourceful.
“For the most part, we all do a good job of staying focused in the gym, because we all have a firm goal of going to regionals,” senior slugger Vevesi Liilii said. “We do what we need to do.”
During Callen Perreira’s two stints as coach, the Vuls almost always have.
UHH racked up its 32nd winning season in 34 years during a pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, though after a near playoff miss in 2019, Perreira celebrates his silver anniversary season as coach looking to guide the Vuls to their first regional berth in eight seasons. UHH felt it was just hitting its stride with a three-game sweep of defending PacWest champion Concordia when the season came to an abrupt end at 11-10.
“Last year, we left off at such a high point, and I think we have a lot more to prove,” junior catcher Markie Okamoto. “A lot of Hawaii teams are overlooked, so we definitely have unfinished business.”
Liilii and pitchers Valerie Alvarado and Leah Gonzales — who have combined to go 44-27 for the Vuls – certainly had that in mind when they decided to come back for do-over senior seasons, bolstering a solid corp that includes junior all-star shortstop Kiarra Lincoln, first baseman Skylar Thomas and Okamoto.
“Our chemistry was so strong last season, and I wasn’t ready to let it go yet,” Liilii said. “I just want to go out with a bang. Live in the moment and control what we can control.”
Something the Vuls can’t control: the weather.
Practice is one thing, but UHH is scheduled to open Saturday and Sunday with noon doubleheaders against Hawaii Pacific at Walter Victor complex, and moving indoors, obviously, isn’t an option. Nor can UHH take refuge from the rain at Kealakehe High in Kailua-Kona as it has in the past, because the Waveriders’ field is off-limits because of the pandemic.
That’s why Perreira’s biggest concern is “getting all the games in. As far as being ready mentally and physically, they are. They can’t wait to play someone other than themselves.”
Less than week before the season, Perreira hadn’t determined who would bat second in the lineup, but there’s time to spare because he doesn’t have to waste any of it worrying about his leadoff hitter. He just writes Lincoln’s name into the top spot and watches her go. The former Kamehameha-Hawaii standout looked well on her way to a third consecutive all-PacWest season, and Lincoln’s average has steadily climbed from .308 to .332 to .356 while offering power, plate discipline and speed.
“In my opinion, the best shortstop in the conference,” Perreira said.
Perhaps no hitter was hotter last season when the pandemic hit than Liilii, who abused Concordia with two home runs and had a third, a grand slam, wiped out by a rainout. The Iolani (Oahu) alum hit four blasts in 21 games to match her 2019 total, and while she brings an impressive first-player-off-the-bus physical presence, she also has enough range, Perreira said, to play center field.
“She can move,” he said, “she gets a really good jump on the ball. She gets the job done.”
Liilii likely will bat third and be protected by Okamoto at cleanup. Okamoto led the team with 16 RBIs while lifting her average to .328, and after throwing out 12 base streakers in 2019, the 2017 Mililani (Oahu) grad didn’t make an error last season. Promising freshman Taisha Bratton offers depth.
With nine career home runs, Thomas has offered middle-of-the order power ever since she moved across the street from Waiakea, and the former two-time BIID Division I player of the year, raised her average above .300 last season for the first time, drawing 16 walks for a team-best .484 on-base percentage.
“I think we have power throughout the lineup,” Liilii said.
Dependable gloves as well, Perreira said.
The options at second include slick-fielding sophomore Darian Obara (Pearl City, Oahu) and Nikki Zielinski, who Perreira may try to get into the lineup anyway he can after the sophomore transfer hit .447 with 13 home runs in just 20 games for the College of Southern Idaho last season.
Sophomore Chloe Domingo – who won three HHSAA championchips at Oahu’s Campbell High – enters her third season at third base, where Alana Alvarez will also see time, while junior Kamalei Labasan (Mililani) was steady in batting .289 in left field in her first season with the Vuls.
There is a battle for playing time in right field between junior Angela Prewitt, a transfer from D-II Concordia-Portland, and former Waiakea all-BIIF standout Brandee Chinen, a sophomore who looks poised to increase her role after playing mostly as a pinch-runner last season. Chinen also can play left.
“She’s been improving,” Perreira said, “She’s been working really hard on and off the field, and she’ll get her chances.”
For the Vuls to have a chance to make regionals, they know they’ll likely have to finish with a gaudy record in the PacWest Hawaii pod while playing 12 games apiece against HPU and Chaminade. The Sharks traditionally have the stronger program between the two Oahu schools, but the Silverswords on Sunday recorded their first sweep of HPU since at least 2003, when record-keeping started. In the West Region, six teams will qualify for the postseason, and Perreira expects the PacWest’s automatic qualifier – as voted on by the league’s athletic directors – to almost certainly come from one of three Los Angeles-area teams: Concordia, Biola or Azusa Pacific.
“I think every game for us is must-win,” Okamoto said. “We only have 24, and that’s half a normal season, so there is no room to take anyone lightly.”