HONOLULU – The Chaminade University softball team on Sunday closed out the annual University of Hawai'i Fall Preseason Classic with a dramatic 3-2 win over Fullerton College at the UH Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Behind the arms of four freshmen pitchers, the Silverswords closed out their fall non-championship weekend with positive momentum as they head into their spring season.
Anissa Vital (San Pedro, Calif./Mary Star of the Sea),
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial),
Ashley Ogata (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) and
Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) all saw action in the circle, scattering eight Fullerton hits. It came just two days after surrendering 13 knocks to them in the tournament opener.
Benson, who started at designated player, ripped an RBI single in the top of the first inning to open the scoring. In the fourth, Benson got her second hit of the day and was lifted for pinch runner
Elora Tonaki (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Technology Academy), who began the game at second base (because it was an exhibition, free substitutions were allowed).
Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) then brought Tonaki home on an RBI fielder's choice to put Chaminade up by two runs.
After Fullerton got its first run in the bottom of the sixth, the 'Swords got it back in the seventh when
Haley Hayakawa (Torrance, Calif./South) hit a line drive into the left-field corner, allowing Cabunoc to jog home, making it 3-1.
The Hornets managed to scratch a seventh inning run off Benson, who moved into the pitcher's spot with two outs in the sixth, and had the tying run at second with one out when Chaminade's vaunted defense showed off their stuff.
Fullerton bounced a single into center field and the Hornets' runner made the turn at third to make a mad-dash to the plate. Centerfield
Kailah Gates-Coyaso (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waianae) came up with a clean pickup and proceeded to fire a dart to home where
Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) tagged out the potential tying runner by five feet to preserve the 'Swords' one-run lead.
Benson then got a comebacker to end the game.
Vital got the start and tossed three shutout innings while Lopez threw the next two, also without allowing a run.
Ashley Ogata (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) threw 2/3 innings and allowed a run before Benson closed out the final 1 1/3 innings to earn a four-out save. Vital was credited by the official scorer with the win.
Like their Sunday's pitchers, the 'Swords also got a look at freshmen in various positions on the field with
Alicia Amaya (Bellflower, Calif./Bellflower) at first, Lopez at third,
Isabel Rodriguez (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) in centerfield and
Jaycie Chun (Kahului, Maui, Hawai'i/Maui) in right. Regular starters and returnees
Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City),
Kieren Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Frontier) and
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) joined them in the starting lineup card.
Chaminade inserted what their projected 2023 opening day lineup might look like in the fourth inning with
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) at first,
Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City) at second, Cabunoc at third, Hayakawa in left,
Chasity McKean (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Nevada/Kapolei HS) in center and
Bailey Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress) in right.
Sunday was originally going to be two games but because of overnight rains, first pitch was pushed back two hours and Chaminade's scheduled contest against host Hawai'i was canceled.
The Silverswords are projected to open their 2023 season against Saint Martin's University and debuting their new home venue, Silversword Field at Sand Island Park, on Sunday, Feb. 19.
