Softball Season in Review

Although the 2024 season for the Chaminade University softball team ended in disappointment by falling just short of a postseason berth for the second straight year, it marked the end of one of the top senior classes in program history.
 
Head coach Kent Yamaguchi, the longest tenured coach at Chaminade after completing his 19th season, bid aloha to six Silverswords, four of them who stuck around after being granted a waiver to play an extra season due to the pandemic. All six played a role in turning the 'Swords into one of the top hitting squads in the Pacific West Conference with a .276 team average over the past two seasons.
 
Catcher Keaolani Takemura-Brehme (Pearl City, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mid-Pacific Institute) wrapped up one of the top careers in program history. The two-time first team all-conference selection finished fourth in the program's all-time batting list at .342 and base hits with 151. Her 83 career RBIs ranks her third only behind Rainelle Matsuoka (84) and Brandi Sasaki (90).
 
Kobe Brown (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), Kailah Gates-Coyaso (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waianae) and Jaeda Kumaewa-Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Roosevelt) all took their fifth-year waivers.
 
Brown, a career .268 hitter, made 150 starts, all at first base, and was a defensive stalwart, departing as the school's career leader fielding percentage (.992), putouts (1,268) and double plays (65). She also drove in 44 runs in her career.
 
Gates-Coyaso was the 'Swords' Swiss Army knife, playing everywhere on the field during her five-year career except pitcher and first base. A catcher her first two-and-a-half seasons, Gates-Coyaso finished the 2023 season in right field and played second base throughout 2024. Despite not having caught for over a year, the Waianae native still ranks fourth all-time in runners caught stealing by a catcher with 19.
 
Kumaewa-Cabunoc, completed her career primarily at third base and pitched as well, being part of the rotation in 2022 and parts of 2023. In 2024, she earned her third All-PacWest honor (two at third base) and was also the 'Swords' closer, making two saves and not allowing an earned run all season. Kumaewa-Cabunoc was also the winning pitcher at Concordia University Irvine, Chaminade's first win in Southern California in 32 years, and the program's first-ever road victory against a nationally-ranked opponent.
 
Another departing senior, centerfielder Chasity McKean (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Nevada/Kapolei HS), was given a third-year of eligibility after transferring from the junior college ranks. McKean, an all-conference outfielder, missed a majority of the first half of the season then returned to the lineup during the team's Southern California trip.
 
Haley Hayakawa (Torrance, Calif./South), the Silverswords' sixth senior, battled injuries throughout her career. An injury suffered at the 2023 Tournament of Champions, which ended her junior season, lingered throughout her senior year and limited her just six at-bats in '24. However, when healthy, Hayakawa was an exceptional slugger, hitting .377 as a freshman and .255 in 2023 with three triples, along with two career walk-off hits, prior to her injury.
 
The 2024 season was also a breakout year for junior shortstop Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City), who became the first Chaminade softball player to earn PacWest Player of the Year honors. Fujioka became the first player since 2014 to lead the conference in batting (.415), on-base percentage (.481), slugging percentage (.529) and OPS (1.125).
 
Larchelle Tuifao (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kapolei) earned all-region honors for the second straight season, hitting .358, 21 RBI and four home runs. Three of her homers left the yard at cavernous Silversword Field with its fences at 225 feet, the furthest distance of any field in the conference. Her blast against Texas Permian Basin on Feb. 14 was the first to leave the park since Silversword Field opened in 2023.
 
In the circle, the 'Swords hurlers posted a 2.86 ERA, the sixth-lowest in program history and the lowest since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season (2.67).
 
Kamryn Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) was outstanding particularly out of the bullpen, finishing with an 8-4 mark and a 1.66 ERA. Her 19-inning scoreless streak at the beginning of the season broke the previous mark of 18 set by Kumaewa-Cabunoc in 2023.

Ashley Ogata (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), the 'Swords' ace, added four more wins and a 2.97 ERA while her 32 Ks lead the team. Chaminade's No. 2 starter, Bailey Benson (Cheney, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) was much improved from her freshman year, logging a 4.62 ERA. Her most noticeable area was in control, walking just nine and one hit batter in 2024 after issuing 39 walks and 12 hit batters the previous year.

Among the team accomplishments in 2024, the 'Swords proved they could finally win in Southern California. After snapping their 48-game losing streak against CUI, they also won for the first time at both Biola and Azusa Pacific. Their infield defense was their usual stellar self, finishing second nationally in double plays per game at 0.58. Their pitching staff also plunked just three batters, the fewest in Division II and second-lowest across all three NCAA divisions.