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Making their They say that each generation is a little better than the last.
Best Pitch
Hawaii-Hilo's Perreira builds
his pitching staff year after yearBy Jerry Campany
jcampany@starbulletin.comBut the process is sped up in Hawaii-Hilo softball, where each class is better than the one that preceded it, and has been every year during coach Callen Perreira's 12 years at the helm.
Pitching is definitely better, Perreira said. There are schools all over the place. Freshmen coming in now would have been aces 10 years ago.
Perreira has been one of the first to benefit from it, adding to his pitching staff every year until he put together a collection of three arms that wrestle to be not only the best on the team, but in the conference.
Hilo pitchers Taysha Anderson, Kristine Kahoalii and Tara Martinez have combined for a 0.93 ERA, more than 1 1/2 runs lower than the league average, and 0.83 better than Hawaii Pacific, their nearest competitor. The Vulcans have given up fewer runs than their opponents have given up earned runs.
"In the past we have only had two pitchers," Perreira said. "Now we have four and keep adding more. To have three quality pitchers is a luxury."
Perreira's three pitchers come from different places on the West Coast, and all pitch different styles, but they have at least one thing in common -- they have paid a price to be as good as they are.
You almost have to, if you want to pitch in college today.
After years of friendship, Perreira has aligned himself with one of California's big four of softball instruction, Mike Smith of Monterrey, Calif., who instructed Martinez and Perreira's succession of aces, including Melanie Strannick and Laurie Vasquez.
Sara Steele, a current Smith student, has committed to Hilo for next year.
"These guys charge $20 for 20 minutes," Perreira said. "But if you want to keep up with the other pitchers, you have to do it."
Hawaii Pacific has trusted Don Sarno to fill its pitching needs and Ernie Parker and Bob Todd are well known in the area of pitching instruction as well.
As good as Smith is at instilling the correct mechanics, it is Perreira who molded his staff into the best in the conference.
"He (Perreira) has become quite proficient," Smith said. "He works as hard as any coach I've ever seen. I don't know that I could work that hard. He always sets aside one day when he is in town and spends the whole day with me."
That time spent has allowed Perreira to understand different types of pitchers, from the cerebral style of Martinez to the amazing stuff of Kahoalii to the pinpoint control of Anderson.
As much as he has learned from Smith and others about pitching, it wouldn't matter if Perreira couldn't handle the potential powder keg that is three girls each believing that they should have the ball when the game is on the line.
"They are competitive when the season starts, but then they settle into the team thing," Perreira said. "This year, I have been able to have a quicker hook and none of them ever wants me to take the ball away. It just pushes each of them to be even better."
As they have each and every year.
UH-Hilo Athletics