Friday, February 6, 1998

Wahine have high hopes

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

The pitching is young but solid. The defense is experienced and solid.

What Bob Coolen hopes will bridge the gap between his veterans and his rookies is hitting. It's going to have to be a team effort if the University of Hawaii softball team is going to make some noise in the Western Athletic Conference this season.

"I think we have a chance to be a top-three team in the WAC and a Top-25 team in the country," said Coolen, who opens his seventh season with today's Preseason Classic. "We're not really together yet and hopefully this tournament will bring us closer.

"This tournament is going to prove how good our pitching is and if the team is going to be able to manufacture runs."

If batting is the question mark, then pitching could be the exclamation point for the Wahine, who are looking to improve last year's 37-25 record and fourth-place finish in the WAC.

Coolen likes the looks of his bullpen, which contains junior Kelly Gentle and two freshmen, left-hander Desi Duran and high school All-American Janelle Gonzales.

Gentle (8 strikeouts in 4 innings) picked up the victory in last Saturday's 4-1 exhibition win over the Wahine alumnae team. Duran earned the save.

Injuries have prevented Hawaii from settling on a lineup, despite the return of seven starters. With second baseman Regina Ka'aihili out another week (fractured index finger), Coolen is playing musical gloves in the infield, moving sophomore Melissa McGie from third to second and sophomore Alison Rapanot over to third.

Back are four of the team's top six hitters, including designated player Dana Degen (.410), outfielder Tia Morenz (.392) and shortstop Kehau Cofran (.344). Sophomore first baseman Joyce Lum is also "stinging the ball," according to Coolen.

Hawaii-Hilo transfer Kanani Bona has planted herself in center field and adds speed to the already quick lineup. Bona was 18 of 20 in stolen base attempts and hit .284 for the Vulcans.

Preseason Classic

Where: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Today: Chaminade vs. Hawaii Pacific, 4 p.m.; Hawaii-Hilo vs. BYU-Hawaii, 6 p.m.; Hawaii vs. BYU-Hawaii, 8 p.m.
Tomorrow: Chaminade vs. BYU-Hawaii, noon; Hawaii Pacific vs. BYU-Hawaii, 2 p.m.; Hawaii Pacific vs. Hawaii-Hilo, 4 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Hawaii-Hilo, 6 p.m.
Sunday: Hawaii-Hilo vs. Chaminade, 10 a.m.; Hawaii vs. Chaminade, noon; Hawaii vs. Hawaii Pacific, 2 p.m.

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