Season Review: Softball

Wild could be the adjective that describes the 2019 season for the Chaminade University softball season. While the Silverswords got one of the top individual pitching seasons ever, their bats were not able to keep up.
 
However despite all the inconsistency, the 'Swords still finished with a 13-34 mark and a 10-25 mark in the Pacific West Conference with both wins totals being the most since 2013.
 
Sophomore ace Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South) had a memorable season in the circle, finishing 11-15 with a 2.48 ERA, the lowest earned run average by a Chaminade hurler since 1993 (LaTisha Herzfeld, 1.61). Her 106 strikeouts are the second-most in program history and third-most in the PacWest and received all-conference third team honors for her efforts.
 
But what ultimately hurt the 'Swords were being unable to plate runs and getting a consistent No. 2 starter behind Stockslager.
 
Chaminade hit just .227 on the year while clutch hitting was also problematic, hitting just .192 with runners in scoring position. Stockslager's pitching kept the Silverswords in games against the PacWest's top teams including eventual conference champions Concordia, Biola and Azusa Pacific, as well as nationally-ranked UC San Diego in the Tournament of Champions. However the team averaged just 2.36 runs in Stockslager's 25 starts while her run support dwindled to 1.36 in each of her 15 losses.
 
Meanwhile Kayla Higuchi (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea), who entered the season as the established No. 2 starter, battled a shoulder injury which became more pronounced as the season progressed. Super utility player Michelle Sasaki (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kalaheo) was pressed into action as a spot starter, making nine starts despite rarely playing the position in high school. The duo was roughed up at times to a combined 2-19 record and an 8.43 ERA.
 
Ultimately, the season will be remembered as one of head coach Kent Yamaguchi's top senior classes who lived up to the billing as the much-heralded recruiting class of 2015.
 
It starts with third baseman Rainelle Matsuoka (Honolulu/Kaiser) whose 23 career homers is second all-time in team history, falling just two shy of the record. Her 84 RBI is also No. 2 in the record books while Matsuoka departs as the school's all-time leader in runs (82), doubles (36) and total bases (266).
 
Catcher Kiana Ulufale (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) started 135 games behind the plate. Her pitch-calling as well as her defense were stellar, throwing out 36 would-be-base-stealers throughout her career including 12 this season which ranked No. 1 in the PacWest. She also demonstrated power at times with her nine career home runs being tied for sixth all-time.
 
Kayla Henmi (Torrance, Calif./South) and Ashlyn Yagin (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) were mainstays in left and centerfield, respectively, with Henmi's .810 stolen base percentage (a minimum of 20 career attempts) ranking fourth while Yagin's 17 sacrifice hits is fifth. Higuchi's 65 career pitching appearances is seventh in the record books.
 
The season also established the emergence of Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell), who earned All-PacWest Second Team at utility after a four-homer, 19-RBI season. It also saw a pair of freshmen solidify the middle infield in second baseman Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) and shortstop Hailey Matsumura (Honolulu/Saint Francis), both of whom started all 47 games.
 
Chaminade also got good production from first baseman Alexis Velazquez (Fontana, Calif./Howard College/Alta Loma HS) who finished second in average (.289) and RBI (13). Sophomore third baseman/outfielder Makena Kealoha (Corona, Calif./Norco) hit .245 on the year, a 114-point improvement from her freshman season.
 
With an excellent recruiting class to help fill the void left by the seniors, including a pair of standout high school pitchers, next season could be the year the 'Swords make some noise in a softball league that is considered one of the best in the nation.