It’s a new season for the Konawaena Wildcats, and with the arrival of spring and softball also comes a new head coach and brand new players for the BIIF Division II squad.
Jacob Medeiros, who served as an assistant last year under Wesley Takimoto, has taken over the fresh-faced Wildcats team, with Takimoto, who has also previously coached the Kealakehe Waveriders, now in an assistant role.
Medeiros, who said he will benefit from Takimoto’s knowledge of the team, said he understands that the Wildcats have a tough season ahead.
“I just want the girls to go out and have fun and try their best, because everyone is raw,” Medeiros said. “Some of them, they’ve never played softball before. We have a handful that played last year, but they never got much playing time. A lot of them have never played softball in their life or baseball, so we’re just looking for them to see if they can improve from day one and learn more about the game as they go.
“We’re really raw this year.”
The Wildcats open their season Saturday, when they host Kohala at 11 a.m. Medeiros has been training the team on the basics in the offseason, but their season depends on whether the players can obtain a deeper understanding to the game, a lesson that will ultimately decide where they end up in the BIIF standings.
“Physically, we can push them, but just getting them to know the knowledge of the game and understanding why we do certain things will be important,” Medeiros said. “And they’re getting it. They’re learning. They’re learning really quick.”
Medeiros said he’s hoping the team can remain competitive despite many of the players’ lack of experience. Medeiros has in the past worked with players on the Kealakehe, Honokaa, Hawaii Prep, and Hilo teams, he knows what the Wildcats are up against.
“We’re just hoping to be competitive. The rest of the teams, they pretty much have girls that play softball elsewhere too, and we don’t really have that,” Medeiros said. “We’re just looking to improve as we go, basically. A lot of teams are going to be tough for us.
“It’s going to be an interesting season.”
In 2018, Konawaena reached the state semifinals, losing to the eventual champion that year Saint Francis 8-7. Last year didn’t hold the same fate of reaching the HHSAA tournament for the Wildcats. The team finished the 2019 season in the BIIF Division II semifinals, in a 8-0 loss to Kamehameha, a team that would then go on to win the BIIF title.
One of the few players on that 2019 team that will return for Konawaena is junior Jayla Medeiros, who will move from her primary position of catcher to shortstop this season. The change doesn’t faze Medeiros, who wants to see her numbers improve on offense.
“I definitely want to improve my batting average this year,” Medeiros said. “It wasn’t as high as I wanted last year so I definitely want to work on seeing the ball better.”
Medeiros is more than ready to step in as a leader for the rookie players.
“I’m excited to just have all of them learn and love the game of softball as much as I do,” Medeiros said. “And have a great experience out there, because everyone tells us this — if you’re not going to love what you do, then why are you doing it? Love what you’re doing and keep working hard and pushing toward whatever goals we set for ourselves, and I want the team to be proud of what we do no matter the score or outcome of the game.”