They have the same squad as last year, the same gritty team, the same KIF walk and the same hokey HHSAA seeding. Shall we hand the Waimea Menehune softball team the same consolation prize at the Chevron Softball State Championships
They have the same squad as last year, the same gritty team, the same KIF walk and the same hokey HHSAA seeding.
Shall we hand the Waimea Menehune softball team the same consolation prize at the Chevron Softball State Championships that they received in last year’s Hawaii finale?
Menehune head coach Pat Baniaga doesn’t think so. If anything is going to stay the same for Waimea in this tournament, it will be the drive to win.
But in terms of placement, Baniaga, who has taken the HHSAA Championship trip seven times in his nine years as coach, is looking for more than just a consolation prize.
“We have the same team as last year and we have been underestimated again,” said Baniaga of the questionable seeding process that has them ranked below teams like Baldwin, who the Menehunes had beaten early preseason, and Maui, who lost five MIL games this season.
“But that’s ok, because our girls are ready for this. They know what they have to do and have worked really hard to get here, so they are expecting a lot from themselves come tomorrow.”
The Menehunes, who lost only once in the KIF season, aren’t going into this one with blinders.
They face Kaimuki today, a team they saw play in the Waimea Invitational preseason tournament. And because of the seeding that puts them in the same position as last year, the Menehunes will then face-off against Kamehameha (if they beat Kaimuki), the top seeded team in the state.
“I don’t think its fair we have to play the top seed again,” said Baniaga. “We proved in recent years we are one of the best teams in the state, and yet they still give us this seeding. It hurts our pocketbooks, because we have to pay more for hotels when we have to go out to Honolulu one day earlier.”
Coach Baniaga may not be able to get his hotel fare back, but a little pride can be bought in just four days on the UH Wahine diamond.
Waimea is heading into this tournament on a high note: Slugger Erin Castillo, who just got hot in the last two double-headers, will be swinging for the fences; Bridget Louis continues to prove she is the best placement hitter in the KIF and “Maka” Keamoai (also a sly catcher), Ashley Mier, Shenelle DePeralta, Jaime “Tia” Koerte” and the rest of the funky bunch have had solid at-bats all season long.
What’s needed? A picture-perfect performance from the year-long Waimea ticket: Albette Nawai.
Lucky for the Menehunes, the State Championships require only one game per day from each team. That means Nawai can be on the mound each day. If she can’t muster up the strength to go the full seven, Louis, who proved she could do it all season, will come in for relief.
“We’re in good shape,” said Baniaga. “We just have to do what we do and do it well. Maybe we can help next year’s seeding by playing well in this tournament.
