It’s a new era for the Hilo softball team, which welcomes a first-year coach in Keri Kameoka-Vincent and a bunch of new starters, including the all-important big puzzle piece of staff ace.
Last season, the Vikings won their third straight BIIF Division I title behind the fastballs of Aliesa Kaneshiro, and the offensive firepower of five other All-BIIF first-team picks. They all graduated and left big shoes to fill.
Hilo opens its BIIF season against Hawaii Prep at 3 p.m. Friday at Walter Victor Stadium, and returns a few key starters in two All-BIIF first picks in Shalyn Guthier and Caitlyn Price.
The new-look Viks will have their hands full fending off chief rivals Waiakea, the BIIF runner-up, and Keaau, which returns its ace in senior right-hander Lohi Kamakea-Wong.
The Cougars qualified for the HHSAA tournament in 2012 and ’13. They’ll be a strong contender for their first BIIF title because they’ve got a leverage asset in Kamakea-Wong.
She’s a true ace who has pretty good velocity and command, plus a wealth of big-game experience. When her season is on the line, it’s old hat for Kamakea-Wong, who’s been there and done that.
More than ever, pitching for BIIF baseball and softball takes on an increased role because of the best-of-three series for the semifinals and championship, in its second season.
Kamakea-Wong suffered a pair of losses to Hilo, 11-0 and 18-7, in the BIIF championship series. Kaneshiro fired a one-hitter and nine-hitter, but she’s gone, and the Keaau senior will be a key factor in whether her team goes to states or stays home.
The HHSAA hasn’t released the league representation for states yet. (Last year, Waiakea lost to Leilehua 7-2 in a play-in game to states.)
The Warriors graduated only two starters, and return a lot of depth, including juniors Taylor Ogawa, Taylor Nishimura and Tierra Teves, who all received All-BIIF honorable mention, and sophomore pitcher Alyssa Hara.
Kealakehe coach Wesley Takemoto doesn’t quite have the seasoned roster that he worked with in 2011 when the Waveriders last went to states, but he said the team’s preseason trip to an Oahu tournament provided it with an invaluable experience.
“That’s one of the best things we’ve done here,” Takemoto said. “I think it got the girls to work together more and see the big picture.”
He does have the luxury of five seniors, including middle infielder Kelina Palmer-Kahananui and catcher Leisha Nakagawa, who will both bat in the middle of the order.
Like Palmer-Kahananui, junior shortstop Tavian Taketa also made All-BIIF first-team last season. Palmer-Kahananui and Taketa can both pitch, but Takemoto plans to have sophomore Kiara Cantiberos handle most of the duties in the circle.
Takemoto is high on his sophomores, a group that also includes Breanna McLeod.
Meanwhile, Hilo had three pitchers apply for the job of staff ace, and juniors Guthier and Samantha Saltibon, and freshman Zoe Cabarloc were all hired.
“Right now, we have three girls,” Kameoka-Vincent said. “Sam has location over velocity. Zoe is the most consistent of the three as far as throwing strikes, and Shalyn has the best velocity, choosing the strength of each.
“We kind of want to utilize all three pitchers. We have the advantage of three strong pitchers, instead of one star pitcher. We have to rely on our bats in order to produce runs. Our defense is pretty solid. It’s a good group of girls. They work well together and will play well together.”
Price, a senior catcher, is a vocal Viking and she’s a pretty good bat as well. She hit .306 with seven RBIs last year.
“She takes charge on the field and is a leader as a catcher,” Kameoka-Vincent said. “She does a good job talking to the girls, bringing them up, making sure they know what’s going on.
“In the dugout, she cheers. She’s a great leader, has a great pop time (to second base on steal attempts), and hits just as aggressively as she plays at catcher.”
Saltibon or sophomore Patricia Marcus, who never played fast-pitch softball before, are the candidates to start at first base.
The three Viking basketball players will man the infield positions: Guthier at shortstop, Chailey Cabalis at second and Sharlei Graham-Bernisto at either of the two spots.
“Shalyn is a solid athlete. She’s got a good arm, great lateral range, and can hit the ball,” Kameoka-Vincent said. “She one of the captains along with Sam, Caitlyn and Chailey.”
Saltibon or sophomore Moana Pinner will draw the nod at third base in the new Hilo coach’s practice-hard-and-play philosophy.
“Moana can be a really good corner. She has potential,” Kameoka-Vincent said. She’ll be one of our power hitters, if she puts the bat on the ball, along with Shalyn and Caitlyn and Patricia.”
Cabarloc will likely start in center field and on the flanks are a host of candidates, including fellow freshmen in Jayzarae Souza, Emani Hart, and Gaylynn Ha, the sister of 2014 Kamehameha graduate Gayla Ha-Cabebe.
Senior Maekayla Evangelista, junior Yaeko Tagami, and sophomores Tiare Agbayani and Tia Ujano are also in the outfield mix.
What the first-year coach is most proud of is her team’s book work rather than the nice run of being the three-time BIIF champs.
“Nobody on our team is on academic probation. All the girls are over 2.4 and our next goal is making a 3.0 grade-point average by the end of the season,” Kameoka-Vincent said. “We’re making them realize that without academics there is no sports.
“We’ve got a great young team this year. There are sleepers on the team no one knew about, from the junior varsity girls to the returning players. The girls are easy to coach and are willing to learn. It’s been awesome.”