3 Rainbow Wahine get All-America honors

Robinson, Warwick and Tausaga named to All-America team

Three more names will be added to the list of Hawaii All-Americans posted on the left-field fence at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Junior pitcher/first baseman Kate Robinson and sophomore third baseman Clare Warwick were named Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association second-team All-Americans yesterday, and senior first baseman/designated player Tyleen Tausaga made the third team.

"It's a great way to end the season and my career at UH," Tausaga said. "I'm just glad other people are noticing us. I guess Hawaii is definitely on the map as a good softball program."

The trio helped the Rainbow Wahine to a 50-13 season that included the Western Athletic Conference regular-season title and the program's first appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals.

Robinson, the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, made the second team in the Utility/Pitcher spot after going 17-1 in the pitcher's circle, striking out 101 while walking 23. The junior also broke UH's single-season records for home runs (19) and runs batted in (72).

Six of her pitching wins came against nationally ranked opponents, including No. 1 Tennessee in last week's Super Regional in Knoxville.

Warwick, a sophomore third baseman, made the second team as an at-large pick. She was a first-team All-WAC selection, finished second on the team in hitting at .375, and scored a team-high 55 runs.

Tausaga, the third-team utility player, was the WAC Player of the Year and led the league in hitting at .402. She hit 15 home runs and drove in 52 runs.

This year marks the first time multiple UH players received All-America recognition from the NFCA. The last Wahine to be honored was Stacey Porter, a first-team pick in 2003. Other previous NFCA All-Americans were Brooke Wilkins (1994, '95), Tia Morenz (1996, '98) and Dana Degen (1997, 2000).

"To get three is phenomenal," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "That puts us in a little bit of elite class.

"It's just a great honor for these players who worked their tails off and to have two underclassmen is more of an honor."

Fresno State pitcher Robin Mackin, a third-team pick, was the only other player from a WAC school to make the All-America teams.