WAIMEA — The weather was perfect for the first University of Hawai‘i inter-squad softball game and Rainbow Wahine softball clinic Sunday at Waimea Canyon Park. As the Green vs. Gray inter-squad game unfolded, Tammy Perreira said they had about 70
WAIMEA — The weather was perfect for the first University of Hawai‘i inter-squad softball game and Rainbow Wahine softball clinic Sunday at Waimea Canyon Park.
As the Green vs. Gray inter-squad game unfolded, Tammy Perreira said they had about 70 students from Under 12 to high school ages pre-registered for the clinic.
Bob Coolen, head coach for the UH softball wahine, said this weekend marks the end of their training, which started back in August when school started.
“Monday is a holiday, and the girls will have the holiday after they get through teaching you what they have been working on,” Coolen said. “But Tuesday morning, they’ll be back at training until next Thanksgiving.”
Liz Hahn, a staunch University of Hawai‘i supporter, said the Sunday trip was sponsored by the UH wahine softball booster club, represented by Kevin Kacaitin, Pomai Patton and Mei Ling Chun who had membership applications as well as an assortment of UH logowear supporting the program.
“The booster club was inactive until 2010 when the Rainbow Wahine started winning,” Chun said. “Up until then, Coach Coolen was the booster club and he didn’t charge admission for the games.”
Chun said after discussions with the Hawai‘i Athletics Department and Coolen, they embarked on a two-day fundraising effort to help the Rainbow Wahine for its trip to the College World Series.
Patton also initiated a fundraiser to get the girls a silver Hawaiian bracelet for the College World Series.
“It’s amazing because in two days, we were able to pull together $2,400 which the girls used to offset their trip to Oklahoma and the College World Series,” Chun said. “Since then, we’ve kept the boosters going.”
Information for contributing to or joining Na Wahine Softball Booster Club can be found on www.nawahine.com or www.hawaiiathletics.com.
Therese Jasper was especially thrilled to be at Waimea, as it represented a homecoming of sorts. Her daughter Jori, a junior at Hawai‘i, is one of two Kaua‘i girls on the softball team. Jessica Iwata, a senior, is the other Kaua‘i player.
Deirdre Wisneski, a Waimea High School former all-star first base, is the associate head coach for the Rainbow Wahine.
“Jori and Jess have played together since the age of 4 when they were in T-ball, together on the Lihu‘e Bulls team,” Therese said in an email. “Rich Jasper and Jason Iwata were coaches for the team.”
For the Sunday event, the Jaspers created a special T-shirt which was presented to each of Na Wahine players and featured the three Kauaians emblazoned on one sleeve.
The Gray prevailed in the first-ever inter-squad matchup, 16-4, holding the Green to just four hits and forcing seven errors while the Gray chalked up a dozen hits with three miscues.
Players represented every part of the island, including players from Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i and Waimea high schools as well as several community teams. They worked through an autograph session and a three-hour clinic where the Hawai‘i softball players offered personalized instruction to the aspiring softball players.
“If you notice, we have players from everywhere, from short to tall,” Coolen said. “Our intention is to teach you how to play the game, if you have the desire. Our girls do it. So can you.”
