LIHU‘E — Gaylan “Ulu” Matagiese, a senior at Waimea High School, was one of four players signed by the University of Hawai‘i softball program last Thursday at the Manoa softball complex. Hawai‘i head softball coach Bob Coolen announced the signings
LIHU‘E — Gaylan “Ulu” Matagiese, a senior at Waimea High School, was one of four players signed by the University of Hawai‘i softball program last Thursday at the Manoa softball complex.
Hawai‘i head softball coach Bob Coolen announced the signings during the early signing period for the four athletes who will play for the Rainbow Wahine in the spring of 2014, Matagiese being joined by Heather Morales, Brittany Hitchcock and Lindsey Willmon.
Matagiese, coming on the heels of the first Hawai‘i inter-league team scrimmage and softball clinic held on Kaua‘i, will be looking to play three positions — outfield, third base, or catcher, states a UH release.
During her junior year at Waimea, Matagiese hit .679 (38-for-56) with four doubles and six home runs. She also notched 31 runs with 34 RBIs and chalked up 10 stolen bases, helping to lead the Menehune to the Division II state championships title. She was named Co-Most Valuable Player of the tournament and was also an all-league awardee for three seasons.
“It’s official,” said Makana Matagiese, Ulu’s mother. “Ulu is a Rainbow Wahine. She will be joining her softball sisters Leisha Li‘ili‘i, whom she played with while on Team Hawai‘i Gold and Island Athletes, and Keiki Carlos of Team Island Athletes.”
Makana said Carlos helped her team finish 12th in the Chattanooga Tennessee Fastpitch tournament in 2011 where 172 team participated.
“Ulu wishes she could have had at least one year to play side-by-side with her cousin Jessica Iwata who is a senior this year,” Makana said.
Matagiese won the home run derby in the USA PREPs Showcase Camp in Palm Desert, Calif. earlier this year and has played in several Mainland tournaments as well as the Prague Tournament Cup in the Czech Republic.
Her brother, Siasau, is currently a junior defensive lineman for the UH football team.
Ulu becomes the fourth player from Waimea High School to play softball for the Rainbow Wahine — including associate head coach Dee Wisneski, Laynie Sueyasu and Ali Rapanot.
“Ulu has a very strong bat and has really blossomed as a hitter,” said Hawai‘i head softball coach Bob Coolen. “She has home run potential and has great knowledge of the game.”
Hitchcock is a 5-11 pitcher from Westminster, Calif. who is a senior at Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, Calif. earning first-team all-league player honors during the past three seasons with the Seahawks.
Last season, Hitchcock went 14-6 with a 0.95 ERA in 21 appearances, tossing five shutouts with 133 strike outs to just 31 walks in 132.2 innings pitched.
She also hit .411 as a junior (30-for-85) with 17 runs scores and 21 RBI on the season.
As a junior, she earned her second Goldenwest League Pitcher of the Year honor while also earning first-team all-CIF Division 4 honors.
“Brittany is a strong down-ball pitcher with good off-speed pitches,” Coolen said. “She will be expected to step right into the rotation and will only get stronger in college.”
Morales is a 5-8 power pitcher out of Indio High School in Indio, Calif.
As a junior last year, she posted an 11-5 record with a .069 ERA and 117 strike outs in 81 innings pitched. At the plate, Morales proved to be a juggernaut on offense, hitting .479 (46-for-96) with 40 runs scored and a team-high 62 RBI with 11 doubles and 20 home runs.
Morales has earned first team, all-league accolades for the past three seasons and was the league’s MVP this past season. She was also named to two all-tournament teams and was selected as an ESPN Cal State Athlete of the Week.
“As a pitcher, Heather has command of a variety of pitches in her arsenal,” Coolen said. “She can throw a rise, drop, curve and change. She is a very agile and versatile player who will hit for herself as a pitcher and can hit at the No. 4 to No. 8 spots in the lineup.”
Willmon is a 5-8 catcher and third base out of Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, Calif. She hit .448 (30-for 67) as a junior with 23 RBI with three doubles, three triples and eight home runs on the season for a .940 slugging percentage for the Eagles.
Willmon has been a three-time all-league selection, two-time all-city pick and was the MVP for Pleasant Grove last season.
“Lindsey has a strong arm and calls a good game and was the catcher for Hitchcock on the SoCal Choppers club team,” Coolen said. “She also plays a solid third base and has a strong bat. She is a confident player who is versatile and can be a power hitter.”
Visit www.hawaiiathletics.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
