Aisha Sueda, third-year head UH-Hilo softball coach, announced Thursday the addition of 14 newcomers for the upcoming 2024 season — nine freshmen and five transfers.
The Vulcans return eight players after 12 departures — six to graduation/eligibility exhaustion — from a season ago. The 2024 lineup features just five upperclassmen with a total of 13 Hawai’i products — two from the Big Island — along with seven from California and one each from Washington and Oregon.
UH-Hilo will have 47 games this spring, starting the second weekend of February at the Division 2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona. First official home-opening series is set for the beginning of March against Dominican.
First official practices are set to start next Monday, Jan. 8.
Mia Joaquin
A 2022 Kealakehe High graduate reared in Waikoloa, Joaquin played four seasons of varsity for the Waveriders under coaches Loni Mercado and Teizha Kaluna.
She also played club softball for Hilo’s RBI Nobu Yamauchi.
“It is a privilege to be able to play the sport that I have been devoted to majority of my life for my home state,” Joaquin said in a UH-Hilo press release. “As I represent my family name, I also get to represent my home, while being able to pursue a higher education and strive for the career I have always aspired to achieve.”
Chenoa Cainglit
Cainglit was born in Hilo, but spent most of her life on O‘ahu — graduating from Kapolei High in 2023.
She played on the Hurricanes’ 2022 OIA Div.-I champion team, and also played for Mililani High’s 2019 OIA JV champion team.
“Hilo has always been a special place for me,” Cainglit said in a UHH release. “Not only was I born in Hilo, but most of my immediate family still lives in Hilo. Most importantly, I get to study and play the sport that I love at this awesome school.”
She plays catcher and third base.
Madison Rabe
Rabe is a sophomore transfer from Georgian Court University in New Jersey — a NCAA DII program.
Rabe appeared in 27 total games — making 21 starts in the pitching circle (12-7 record), totaling 109.0 innings with eight complete games, notching three shutouts and 48 strikeouts.
She was raised in Waipi‘o, O‘ahu and graduated from KS-Kapalama in 2022.
Chloe Sales
Reared in ‘Ewa Beach, O‘ahu, Sales graduated from Campbell High in 2022 before furthering her softball career Weatherford College in Texas — a NJCAA (junior college) Div.-I school.
She appeared in 26 games in the pitching circle (3-2 record), totaling 50.1 innings with three saves.
Kiani Nakamura
Raised in Redmond, Ore., Nakamura played two seasons for Oregon State.
The utility player appeared in 14 games with two starts for the Beavers, and was part of 2022 OSU team that made it to the NCAA College Softball World Series.
Nakamura graduated from her hometown’s Ridgeview High in 2021. During her high school career, she collected accolades such as 2021 Intermountain Conference Player of the Year, 2021 Oregon Class 5A All-State First Team, 2019 IMC All-League First Team and 2018 IMC All-League Second Team.
Ashley Griffith
A sophomore transfer from Illinois’ Trinity International University (a NCAA DIII school), Griffith started 29 games for the Tigers — finishing with 22 hits (.262), 41 putouts and 35 defensive assists.
The utility player also made six appearances in the pitching circle, totaling 11.2 innings and finishing with an 0-1 record.
Megan Yoruba
Yorba was a pitcher for Holy Names, a former Pacific West Conference rival of UH-Hilo that closed its doors in 2023.
As a sophomore, she has transfered to UH-Hilo to play for the Vulcans.
She started in nine games for the Hawks (0-0) record, totalling 58 innings with an ERA of 4.83.
Lauren Otsubo
Otsubo is a freshman pitcher and infielder from Kahului, Maui — graduating from Baldwin High in 2023.
During high school, she was twice named to the Maui Interscholastic League All-Star First Team.
Quela Leopoldo
A freshman and 2023 grad from Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama, Leopoldo played four seasons of varsity — and started on the Warriors’ 2023 ILH DI champion and DI state runner-up team.
She also earned an honorable mention from ScoringLive’s All-Hawaii awards — playing catcher and first base.
Leopoldo was raised in Kaneohe, O‘ahu.
Ke‘alohi Markham
Markham is a utility player and freshman, graduating for I‘olani School in 2023.
She also played on the Raiders’ 2022 ILH champion team.
Kamyla Cerda
Cerda hails from Whittier, Calif. and played softball at Le Serna High — graduating in 2023.
Like Cainglit, she plays catcher and 3B.
Victoria Macias
The first and third baseman graduated from Centennial High School in 2023.
She grew up in Riverside, Calif. and twice eanred earned Big VIII All-League honors while playing high school softball.
Tara Skinner
Skinner is a 2023 graduate of Heritage High in Menifee, Calif — where she earned First Team All-League honors.
She plays third base and pitches.
Linsea Strauch
Another freshman, Strauch is a pitcher hailing from Ranco Santa Margarita, Calif. — where she played softball for Santa Margarita Catholic High.