When the Kaua‘i ASA Junior Olympics community softball league opened Tuesday night with games at Isenberg Field, several of the girls in the 12 and Under division had come right off the Lihu‘e Baseball League’s (LBL) Bronco and Mustang season
When the Kaua‘i ASA Junior Olympics community softball league opened Tuesday night with games at Isenberg Field, several of the girls in the 12 and Under division had come right off the Lihu‘e Baseball League’s (LBL) Bronco and Mustang season which culminated with their first-ever Lihu‘e Baseball Bash.
The addition of the 12 and Under division was a welcome sight for girls who want to extend their baseball season, and according to Eric Fujimoto, the head coach for the Lihu‘e 12 and Under team, “Making the transition from the Bronco and Mustang divisions when the girls are still 12 is easier than having to make the transition when they’re trying out for a 14 & Under team.”
Fujimoto cited examples of girls who were 9, 10, and 11 years old who were reluctant to try out for the 14 and Under programs and waited for two, or three years before resuming their appearances on the diamond.
An exception to this rule is Lihu‘e pitcher Naja Pungan who, according to Fujimoto, was one of the players in the 14-Under Hokuala program last year.
Softball fundamentals are the same as regular baseball, Fujimoto noted. However, the underhand pitching and base stealing techniques posed challenges to Fujimoto and his staff of assistant coaches.
“We are very fortunate to have Coach Darrell Borrero, an assistant coach for the Kaua‘i High School softball team, help us with our pitching and base running techniques,” Fujimoto said.
“The way I see it, if these girls continue to play 12-, 14-, 16-, and 18-Under leagues in their communities, Coach Borrero and the other high school coaches will eventually benefit from the program because the league will serve as a ‘feeder’ program to the high school program,” Fujimoto said.
According to the league’s commissioner, Michael Koerte, “This is the first time we have had a 12 and Under league for a while, and after judging from the crowd, Tuesday night, the interest level is high, and the games are expected to be exciting.”
The Lihu‘e 12 and Under team decided they liked the name Hoku‘aoli, or the brightest rising star.
Daeja Cummings (Lihu‘e Cubs), Yaemi Felipe (Koloa Braves) enter the program from the Mustang program, Kellsie “Makana” Fujimoto (Lihu‘e Astros), Kyana Hirokane (Lihu‘e Blue Jays), Courtney “Ka‘a” Laamea (Lihu‘e Blue Jays), and Moana Waipa (Lihu‘e Marlins) enter Hoku‘aoli from the Bronco program and join other team members Pungan, Sunny Efhan, Kyren Ishikawa, Amber Keeler, Aniase Soltren, and Sydney Wilson.
Fujimoto’s staff includes assistant coaches Borrero, Alan Balocan, Aaron Efhan, Brandon Hirokane, Andy Pungan, Kimo Tejada, and team mom, Stacey Hirokane.
The Hoku‘aoli play Koloa, today at Isenberg Field, and then get a break until June 18 when they travel to Kapa‘a.
