Softball has been a plane ticket for Kristy Odamura, who traveled the world playing the sport she loves.
The former UH-Hilo second baseman from 1995 to 1999 and played in two Olympics: Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004.
Odamura was born in British Columbia and lived in Hilo for 12 years as an athletic trainer for the Vulcans. Like former teammate Melanie Hipwell, Odamura was inducted in UHH’s Hall of Fame.
In the curious case of where are they now?, Odamura, 42, is living in Las Vegas and, no surprise, coaches softball.
She works at Sunrise Hospital in the rehabilitation department and coaches the Las Vegas Blast 18U club team and is an assistant at Bishop Gorman High, famous for its football program.
UHH coach Callen Perreira spotted Odamura at a tournament in Southern California and recruited her. Now both live in Las Vegas. Perreira owns an offseason home there.
Odamura made her mark at UHH, where she’s fifth in career batting average (.386), second in hits (227), first in runs scored (157), fifth in RBIs (99), first in runs (157) and steals (48).
Perreira remembers her well for her talent and work ethic, a powerful combination that helped her claim a spot on Canada’s national team.
“She’s very quick, could drop a bunt down and hit for power,” he said. “She stole a lot of bases. Her hard work got her to where she got. She had a good work ethic, and it rubbed off on the rest of the team. She made the rest work harder.”
After eight years, she had the itch to play softball and moved up to Las Vegas in 2007 to train with Lonnie Alameda, now Florida State’s coach.
Odamura made the 2000 Sydney team that finished eighth. The 2004 Athens squad took fifth.
To this day, she can’t forget the feeling of competing against the best players in the world and being among fellow athletes with the same tough-minded mentality.
“It was the greatest sporting experience I ever had, surrounded by athletes in ever other sport with the same goal and mindset, who are the best at their sport,” she said.
It was not only a special moment for Odamra, but also for her childhood friend Erin Woods, who also made Canada’s Olympic team.
“She was my childhood friend,” Odamura said. “I played with her all my life and my dad (Rich) was our coach. We made the highest level together.”
While in Las Vegas, she and Perreira have crossed paths, but he hasn’t recruited any of Odamura’s players yet.
“I’ve talked to him about some players when he was at College of Southern Nevada but nothing serious.”
Odamura started to play softball at 8 years old under her dad, who worked at Colgate. Her mother Barb worked at a hospital in payroll.
“Yes, we used to get free tubes of Colgate,” Odamura said. “I used to play baseball with the boys in the neighborhood. My dad coached me my first year. Then I moved up to A ball and played almost every sport. I had to pick between softball and swimming, and I made the right decision.
“My parents were always supportive. They traveled everywhere to watch me play. My older brother Bryan works in Japan at a gym. He played hockey. My mom and dad and I went to Japan last September for their 50th anniversary. I loved it there.”
Now, it’s Odamura’s turn to give back.
“I like to do more about life vs. softball skills,” she said. “I put a lot of accountability on the players because when they go to college they won’t have their parents with them.”
Like Hawaii, Las Vegas high school sports have been postponed and juggled. It’s the way of the world with the COVID-19 pandemic.
So Odamura follows her routine, work and waiting to get the word that she can pass her passion for softball to the next generation.
