HONOLULU – One would have to excuse the Chaminade University softball if they were a bit flat in the first real competition of the truncated 2021 season.
Because City and County of Honolulu gathering restrictions in public parks, the Silverswords couldn't practice as a full team at their normal venues at Palolo Recreational Park or Wilson Park in Kahala, instead having to resort to Saint Louis Field as the only alternative.
It may have been a factor in the first game of the season, a 14-0 loss against the University of Hawai'i, their Division I cousins down the street at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
But the 'Swords regrouped nicely in the nightcap of their afternoon twin bill, falling by a 4-0 count. All four games this weekend are exhibitions.
Game 1
The Rainbow Wahine bats were blistering hot in the first two frames as they got after 'Swords' ace
Madelyn Stockslager (Torrance, Calif./South), scoring 13 runs on nine hits including a grand slam by Rachel Sabourin.
Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney) came in with two outs in the second and allowed a run to score.
But that would be it for UH. Genera did not allow a hit and surrendered just one base runner – who was plunked – in the final two innings with two strikeouts.
Meanwhile Chaminade was able to get three singles off UH's tandem of starter Jetta Nannen and Dominique Martinez. Genera,
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) and pinch-hitter
Kieren Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Frontier) each got the 'Swords' knocks.
Game 2
With Genera in the circle, the 'Bows were able to plate a first-inning run and were threatening for more but she induced an inning-ending groundout with the bases loaded.
Genera continued to work effectively, allowing no runs despite facing traffic over the next two innings. But UH got her with three runs in the fourth including a two-run homer by Nawai Kaupe.
At the dish, the 'Swords were able to rap out three hits courtesy of
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City), highly heralded freshman
Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) and senior
Malia Ka`akimaka-Moisa (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell).
Genera went 4 1/3 innings while Stockslager retired the final two batters she faced in the fifth.
Ashley Murphy picked up the win for Hawai'i.
The Silverswords will wrap up their four-game exhibition series against UH on Sunday.
