LUCY PEMONI/ STAR-BULLETIN Rain has held up the Hawaii softball's team's preparations for the upcoming season. The Wahine begin playing today.

Wahine adjust
for 2005

It's a subtle shift, much like the infield coming in for an obvious bunt situation, or the outfield moving slightly to cover an opposite-field hitter.

It's as subtle as a verb change, from "We WANT to make the postseason" to "We WILL make the postseason."

The Hawaii softball team has made subtle adjustments coming into this season. And it could be the difference between the disappointing 28-33 record last year -- only the second sub-.500 mark in coach Bob Coolen's 13 years -- and 40-20 campaign in 2003, when the Rainbow Wahine won the conference for the first time and advanced to an NCAA regional.

"The primary goal is to make it to the postseason," said three-time all-league catcher Denise Dahlberg, one of five senior co-captains this season. "Where we go from there will be a re-evaluation of our goal, because that's the goal now. It's our last year (for the seniors) and we want to go out on top and in a good way.

"Last year, I don't think we were playing as a unit. It was more a bunch of talented athletes that didn't have a direction. This year, we've come together, we've sat down and discussed where we want to go and how we're going to get there. There's more of a team focus and we have a very distinct goal."

Another 40-win season is realistic, according to senior pitcher Melissa Coogan. She has set a personal goal of reaching at least 20 wins; she had 32 victories as a sophomore but just 11 during an injury-plagued junior year.

"Attitude is probably the biggest adjustment this year," Coogan said. "Last year, I had a horrible attitude, was down on myself, and it carried over to the team.

"For me, being healthy is big after being hurt all last year. I started off the season hurt (shin splint in her right leg) and no matter what I tried to do, I couldn't do it. I'm healthy and stronger. The team is stronger through conditioning and it shows. The ball is flying off the bat, people are faster on the bases, and I've picked up a few miles on my pitches."

Coogan will get a chance to test the speed of her 65-mph fastball beginning with today's Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic. Weather permitting, Hawaii opens with IPFW at 7 p.m.

No. 9 Washington was scheduled to open the five-team tournament with a 3 p.m. game against Jacksonville. At 5 p.m. No. 14 Oregon was to play IPFW.

Dahlberg and Coogan were among the five Wahine chosen on the preseason All-Western Athletic Conference team. The pair were joined by senior second baseman Noelle Izumi, senior outfield Tracie Uchima and freshman designated player Kate Robinson.

"I was shocked; that was out of the blue," said Robinson, an All-State player out of Kamehameha. "I'm sure that there's other people who deserved it more than me."

Robinson is penciled in at first behind sophomore Tyleen Tausaga but may also see time on the mound. Although this is her first season with Hawaii, Robinson said she shares the feeling with the seniors of not having a repeat of last year.

"I hate to lose," Robinson said. "Even though I wasn't here last year, I know that this team seems really motivated. I can't wait for the season to start."

Hawaii was picked to finish third in the WAC in the preseason coaches poll.

"That's fine," Dahlberg said. "I'd prefer to be underrated than be overrated. I'd much rather pull off the upset."

"We're feeling more team unity this year. For me personally, I think I've matured a lot and it's all coming together for my last year. We have goals. We will do it."

"We look really good on paper, but I think once we start playing, we'll come out and dominate," Coogan said. "Everyone wants to be out here, everyone wants to win and everyone is working hard. WAC champs and then the regionals. We have the talent. We ARE going to win."

The opening tournament runs through Sunday's championship game scheduled for 3 p.m.

Hawaii will be on the road the next two weekends for tournaments hosted by UNLV and Arizona. The Wahine return home to host two more tournaments March 3-6 and March 9-12 before opening the WAC season with Nevada on March 14-15 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.