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Thursday, February 8, 2001

Wahine finish trip
with split

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By George Hanns
Special to the Star-Bulletin

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --The trip to Florida was something to write home about for the University of Hawaii softball team.

The Wahine (6-2) had one of their most successful extended road trips, according to coach Bob Coolen.

Hawaii saw positive things, such as the emergence of freshman Felicity Witt, who began her collegiate career with a 4-0 record and 24-inning scoreless streak.

And the team spent a day at Busch Gardens amusement park in Tampa.

But after an eight-game trek across the Sunshine State --with the last stop a series split with Bethune-Cookman yesterday -- the Wahine are more than ready for some home cooking.

"It's been a long trip," Witt said. "Sometimes we wanted to go home, but we've had to pull together as a team. We've been saying this is going to set us up for the year, and I think we're going to have a great year.''

If their start is any indication, the Wahine are going to have just that. UH headed home after splitting a doubleheader with the Wildcats, losing Game 1, 1-0, but coming back for a 2-0 win in Game 2.

Coolen said he was able to nail down his pitching rotation and get a good look at his position players.

The rotation is made up of newcomer Witt, all-Western Athletic Conference second-teamer Desiree Duran and Janelle Gonzales. Gonzales took the 1-0 loss yesterday, a victim of an unearned run.

"All of the pitchers have elevated their games,'' said Coolen, now in his 10th season as the Wahine coach. "They're looking at each other for strength instead of looking who's going to lead the team.''

Coolen is still tweaking the rest of his lineup. Cemented in their positions are second baseman Natalie Gonzales, center fielder Kristin Anderson and shortstop Kate Judd, who hit a towering, 220-foot blast to straightaway center in Hawaii's 2-0 win in Game 2 yesterday over the Wildcats.

In yesterday's opener, the Wildcats' Darcy Villalobos smacked a fifth-inning single off Janelle Gonzales and scored two batters later on a throwing error by Wahine third baseman Trisha Ramos for the game's only run.

In the second inning of Game 2, Wahine catcher Jennifer Tandarich drove home Ramos, who had led off with a double, for a 1-0 lead. Judd's seventh-inning shot off Jessica Cabato accounted for the 2-0 score.

The Wahine return to action Feb. 15-18 as they host the Chevron Paradise Classic.

http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu