KEAAU — It’s a new era for Kamehameha softball, which is missing its Big Three, now depending on supporting players from a year ago to become standouts, and breaking in a pair of talented freshmen. ADVERTISING KEAAU — It’s a
KEAAU — It’s a new era for Kamehameha softball, which is missing its Big Three, now depending on supporting players from a year ago to become standouts, and breaking in a pair of talented freshmen.
The Warriors graduated four-year ace and four-time BIIF player of the year Mykala Tokunaga, who was also a significant part of the offense along with Kekai Wong Yuen, and Makena Wagner.
In their place are junior Taylor Sullivan as the new ace, freshman catcher Kawai Kauahi-Raquel, and freshman third baseman Leiloa Bustamante, who’s an impact cleanup hitter.
But the best source of the offense starts at the top with senior shortstop and leadoff hitter Kiarra Lincoln, who struggled with her swing last year, but still batted .583 and made the All-BIIF Division II first team.
Swinging powerful bats, five-time defending BIIF Division II champion Kamehameha overwhelmed Kohala 18-3 in an anticipated BIIF showdown on a sun-baked Saturday at Kamanawa softball field. (Kamanawa was a royal twin and uncle to Kamehameha; the baseball field is named Kame‘eiamoku, the other royal twin.)
Lincoln batted 3 for 3, hitting a double and three-run homer in an eight-run first inning, and had three RBIs. Bustamante went 4 for 4, including a two-run homer, and had four RBIs. Sullivan was 2 for 3 with two RBIs; last season she hit .527 and also made the first team.
Brooke Baptiste, a right fielder, went 2 for 2 with an RBI on a solo homer, and Kauahi-Raquel batted 1 for 2 and made Sullivan’s life comfortable in the circle with her pitch calling and receiving skills.
Sullivan pitched four innings of three-run ball (one unearned) on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts for the win for the Warriors (2-0), who put the four-inning game to bed by TKO.
Mikayla Kekoa tossed three innings and gave up 14 runs (six unearned) in the loss. Jurnee Keawe followed with an inning and surrendered four runs (one unearned) for the Cowgirls (4-1).
Perhaps most impressive was that the Warriors didn’t strike out. Or maybe what’s better is that they scored all eight runs in the first inning with two out. Or maybe best of all, everyone in the lineup had at least one hit and looked polished at bat.
“The team is more cohesive because they realize it’s really a team effort, and we can’t rely on one hitter or one person to carry us,” Kamehameha coach Akea Kiyuna said. “Everyone is recognizing their roles and fulfilling them. If we can do that, we’ll be successful.”
The other returning starters are sophomore left fielder Nevaeh Fukui-Stoos, junior second baseman Jessica Cameros, senior center fielder Elexis Emmsley, and sophomore first baseman Kuulei Ili.
Besides the freshmen, the third new starter is Baptiste, a sophomore in right field, who will also pitch along with Cameros.
It’s a young team with two freshmen starters, three sophomores, and two juniors. Only Lincoln and Emmsley are senior starters.
Kiarra’s bat
Lincoln has a unique but beautiful compact swing. She holds the bat in front of her right shoulder and barely draws the bat back. Despite her short load (a position before the ball is pitched), she whips her lethal weapon through a flat plane and generates tremendous bat speed.
“She’s really worked on her core strength,” Kiyuna said. “She’s at her best when she’s comfortable.”
Last year, that wasn’t the case. Lincoln had a hitch in her swing, drawing the bat back, not once but twice. Her timing and rhythm were not always consistent. Her swing looked different but not her bat speed.
“Last year, I had many different coaches on Oahu with club ball,” she said. “I’m now focused with my dad (Derek Lincoln). I feel comfortable. I have a compact swing and try to hit the ball hard. Homers and hits will come. I just want to hit the ball hard.”
Lincoln signed with UH-Hilo, where playing for coach Callen Perreira will provide her with a golden opportunity. She gets to watch her sister Dioni play for the Warriors as a freshman next year. The Kamehameha eighth grader is a pitcher/catcher/infielder.
“I think she’s going to be better than me,” Lincoln said. “She’s really clean with her fielding and has good movement. She hits just as well as me. I’m looking forward to watching her play.
“I just wish she were born one year earlier so we would have had one year together at Kamehameha.”
Tips from Lisa
Sullivan has been to UCLA camps twice, recently in January and worked with assistant coach Lisa Fernandez, the three-time Olympic gold medal ace pitcher and legendary Bruin.
Though she also plays basketball at Kamehameha, Sullivan’s passion is softball, particularly hitting. And it’s not the hitting or pitching advice Sullivan remembers from Fernandez but the mental toughness tips.
“I got to hit against her in batting practice, and it was an amazing opportunity,” Sullivan said. “She said it’s all about mindset. We’ve been playing the sport so long we know what to do. She said it’s 10 percent physical and 90 percent mental.
“It’s about execution and having a tough mindset to prepare for what will happen. It’s really good advice, and I hope it’ll really help the team.”
Sullivan, who batted sixth, deepens Kamehameha’s lineup, but it’s her pitching and defense that will define the team. After all, it’s not every day the offense will pound out 17 hits, including three homers by Lincoln, Bustamante, and Baptiste.
“Even though we lost Mykala, Kekai and Makena, we have freshmen filling in, but nobody will replace them,” Lincoln said. “For our pitching, we have Taylor, Brooke and Jess. Even though they don’t throw as hard as Mykala, they have to be smart where they pitch and mix up their pitches.”
Then Lincoln sounded like coach Akea.
“I just want the team to stay together, back each other up, and play as one,” said Lincoln, a four-year captain. “We need to play as a team. You can’t win just by yourself.”
Kohala 0 1 2 0 — 3 2 3
KS-Hawaii 8 2 4 4 — 18 17 2
