LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Chaminade University catcher
Keaolani Takemura (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) and designated player
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) were named Wednesday to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II All-West Region Teams, in voting conducted by member coaches.
Takemura was named to the first team at catcher after a standout season where she finished as the Pacific West Conference regular season leader in RBI (41) and triples (11), the latter which ranks second in Division II. She also ranked among the conference's top four in several other major statistical categories including batting average (.389), on-base percentage (.455), slugging percentage (.584) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.039).
Tuifao earned second team honors at designated player after a breakout sophomore campaign, batting .347 with 25 RBI and a team-leading three home runs this past season. Her average was seventh-best in the PacWest while she also finished sixth in slugging percentage (.545), seventh in on-base percentage (.440) and sixth in OPS (.985).
Takemura and Tuifao, who last week were named to the All-PacWest First and Third Teams respectively, are the first Silverswords to earn all-region honors from the NFCA. Both are eligible for selection to the NFCA Division II All-America teams which will be announced on May 24 at the D-II Softball Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
