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Thursday, February 22, 2001
SMALL COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
Hawaii Pacific's Holly Garcia wants a ring this year, and she's not waiting for someone special to propose. Garcia, HPU want ring
By Brandon Lee
Special to the Star-BulletinThat's because the sophomore shortstop for the Sea Warriors' softball team is currently gunning for national championship jewelry -- not a wedding ring.
Garcia and her teammates are off to the best start in school history and are leading the Pacific West Conference Pacific Division at 6-0.
"It would be cool to have a ring," said Garcia, a graduate of Campbell High. "We have a pretty good chance of going far -- we're a young team, but talented. We want to go to nationals."
HPU was the Pacific Division champion last year and made the championship game of the PacWest postseason tournament (36-14 overall), but did not receive an invitation to the NCAA Division II West Regional. If the Sea Warriors take it further this year -- into the regionals or nationals -- the all-around outstanding play of Garcia will be a big reason why.
Garcia was named PacWest Freshman of the Year and All-Conference last year when she hit .331 for the season with four home runs, 13 doubles and 23 RBIs. Defensively, she had a .957 fielding percentage with just eight errors."At first, I wasn't supposed to be a starter," Garcia said. "But when I had the chance, I was real excited. I just tried my hardest."
Through six games this season, Garcia is hitting .400 with one double and 7 RBIs. She's also drawn six walks and leads HPU with a .571 on-base percentage.
Garcia was named PacWest Player of the Week on Monday after going 4-for-11 in the Sea Warriors' last four wins.
"You can't win with just one player, everyone is important," HPU coach Howard Okita said. "But Holly plays steady defense for us and she can hit the ball to all fields. (Hitting to all fields) is a big plus, especially at the college level."
Up next for the Sea Warriors are doubleheaders at Chaminade (2-4) on Saturday and at home against Montana State-Billings on Sunday.
In other local action, Brigham Young-Hawaii (1-3) travels to Hawaii-Hilo (1-3) for doubleheaders tomorrow and Saturday.
For the Sea Warriors to stay on the winning track, Garcia said they need to continue to play together and always stay upbeat and focused no matter what happens. There may be some bumps in the road for a team with only two seniors in the lineup and two freshmen doing the pitching.
As for any individual awards that Garcia may again win this year: "It would be good to get those awards again, but I don't think about them. I just go out and do my best," she said.
Garcia would rather have a ring.
Baseball
After a month since Hawaii Pacific's last series, the Sea Warriors (4-4) are back in action with a four-game series at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu against George Fox University. HPU has a single game with George Fox today and tomorrow, with a doubleheader to follow on Saturday.Hawaii-Hilo (3-11, 2-4 WAC) continues its Texas road swing -- after dropping three straight to Texas Christian -- with a visit to Rice. The Vulcans play the Owls in single games today through Saturday.
Basketball
Hawaii-Hilo is ranked No. 9 in the latest West Regional poll released yesterday.The Vulcans (16-10, 11-6) have won four in a row and could still clinch a tie for the PacWest Pacific Division title if they win their regular season finale at Chaminade (15-11, 9-8) on Saturday night and if Alaska Anchorage (18-7, 12-4) drops its final two contests. UHH will need the victory if it wants to move up in the next poll and get into the postseason. Only the top six teams are invited to the West Regional tournament.
In a matchup without postseason implications, Brigham Young-Hawaii (14-12, 8-9) plays Hawaii Pacific (10-16, 5-12) at the Blaisdell tonight in the season finale for both teams.
Hawaii Pacific
BYU-Hawaii
Chaminade
U.H. Hilo
