HPU fired up
to take No. 1 seed into
NAIA tourney
The Sea Warriors begin
By Cindy Luis
regional action tomorrow
Star-BulletinPressure? What pressure? The Hawaii Pacific University softball team has already booked its flight to next week's NAIA national tournament in Decatur, Ala. Regardless of how the top-ranked Sea Warriors fare in the Far West Regional that begins tomorrow, they know they're headed back to the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex, either as regional champ or an at-large entry.
This week's results may not matter to the airlines but it matters big time to HPU. The Sea Warriors want to be flying first class as the top-seeded team.
"Being No. 1 is a challenge because we know all the teams are coming at us," said HPU junior pitcher Raquel De La Garza. "But being No. 1 doesn't mean anything unless you're the last team left on the field (at the nationals). We're not looking past regionals but we are focused on winning the national title.
"I think we have a good chance, if we play up to our potential. It's all about clicking at the right time."
HPU (42-5) meets unranked Southern California College in the tournament's second game tomorrow (8:30 a.m. HST). In the opener, fifth-ranked Azusa Pacific faces Concordia at DeYoung Field in West Covina, Calif.
Play continues through Friday's championship game, or Saturday, if needed, in the double-elimination event. Last year, the Sea Warriors defeated Azusa Pacific to earn the regional title for a fourth consecutive year.
Earlier this season, HPU swept a pair of games from Azusa Pacific, 2-0 and 6-0. The Sea Warriors have not seen either Southern Cal or Concordia.
"Azusa Pacific has improved since we last saw them," HPU coach Howard Okita said. "I think there's a lot of respect for our region, it's pretty strong. We're got five out of the nine (first-place) votes in the poll from the raters and only one rater -- the Azusa Pacific coach -- has seen us play.
"We want to get out of the region by winning it and hopefully getting a better seed. I think we're capable of it but we have to play to our potential."
The Sea Warriors have won their last 10 games and 22 of their last 23. They have not, however, played since defeating Hawaii-Hilo three weeks ago.
Lack of competition has not meant lack of motivation. HPU was one strike away from the NAIA title game last year but had to settle for third place when Shawnee State used a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Sea Warriors, 3-2.
"It's important that we continue to do well," said senior right fielder Michele Ringor. "It's my senior year and I've always wanted to win a national championship. After what happened to us last year, we are not looking past anyone or taking anyone lightly.
"This team has bonded really we'll this year, on and off the field. We're like family."
In his fourth season at HPU, Okita is 139-38. He won a national title in 1991 as coach of Hawaii Loa, which later merged with HPU.
"We'd like to do it at HPU," said Okita. "Do it for the coaches and for the players. It would be a good accomplishment for the state of Hawaii.
"You always have your little doubts if you can win it. You've got to be able to peak at the right time. In the last two weeks of the season, everyone is hungry. Everyone wants to bring home the national championship. We're no different."
NAIA Softball
Tomorrow's games
Game 1: Azusa Pacific vs. Concordia, 6 a.m.
Game 2: Hawaii Pacific vs. Southern California College, 8:30 a.m.
Game 3: Losers of Games 1 and 2, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Winners of Games 1 and 2, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 8 a.m.
Game 6: Winners of Games 4 and 5, 10:30 a.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 8 a.m.
