HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team opened their fall exhibition season Thursday at the annual Fall Preseason Classic, hosted by the University of Hawai'i Manoa at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Although they were shut out 7-0 by host Hawai'i, their Division I neighbors, the Silverswords got a chance to get their returning starters back on the field while looking at their newcomers during the tournament which does not count towards regular season records.
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) got the nod in the circle for Chaminade in the tournament opener while six of the 'Swords returnees took the field behind her.
The 'Swords had two newcomers in starting roles. Freshman Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) filled in for injured shortstop
Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) while junior college transfer Chasity McKean (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Nevada/Kapolei HS) started in center field, which is normally occupied by Cabunoc.
The Silverswords' highlight of the afternoon occured in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Hawai'i put runners on at first and second with no out, Cabunoc got Princess Matavao to hit a sinking liner to
Hailey Matsumura (Honolulu/Saint Francis HS) at third base. Matsumura caught the liner at her shoe tops, and with the runners moving on contact, relayed a throw to second at
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City), last year's Pacific West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Obara stepped on second then fired a dart to
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) at first to complete the 5-4-3 triple play.
Chaminade also got fine defensive plays with Brown making two grabs at first on tough hoppers while catcher
Kailah Gates-Coyaso (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waianae) threw out Maya Nakamura trying to steal second base in the second inning.
The new starters were also impressive. McKean made a sensational, over-the-head running grab to take extra bases away from Kalena Keliinoi in the fifth and Fujioka had both of Chaminade's base hits including a double to the right-center field wall in the first.
The 'Swords had a prime opportunity to score in the first, loading the bases with no outs. However, two fielder's choices and a strikeout kept them off the board. The Silverswords did exhibit patience at the plate, drawing six walks and put runners on base in five of their seven innings.
The UH Fall Preseason Classic continues Friday when the 'Swords face Fullerton College at 4 p.m. The tournament concludes Saturday when Chaminade takes on Fullerton at 10 a.m. then UH at noon.
