Hawai’i Warriors
Overall Rank: #30
Conference Rank: #1 Big West
Hawaii Team Page
Head Coach Bob Coolen led the Hawai’i Warriors to their fourth WAC regular season title in 2012. Along the way the Warriors had a 21 game win streak, recorded the club’s highest winning percentage in school history (.830) and reached the NCAA Tourney for the 10th time. Coolen’s bunch was 5-2 against ranked teams in 2012 and was the first and one of the few to beat Cal last year. Prolific in the circle and at the plate, Hawai’i ended the regular season with a 1.4 ERA, ranked #1 nationally, ranked 10th in scoring and slugging and third in home runs. The 2012 WAC Coach of the Year will begin his 22nd season as Hawai’i head coach as the Warriors begin their 30th year of play. With 870 wins on his resume, Coach Coolen will certainly reach 900 as well as pass 800 as the leader in his current post. In 2013, Hawai’i moves to the Big West conference and will play 39 of their 56 games at home. Coach Coolen returns 13 letter winners from a quality squad and he adds eight new freshmen.
2012: 44-9, 17-3
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Bob Coolen, 22nd Season
Field Players:
Sophomore Leisha Li’ili’I was the 2012 WAC Freshman of the Year, a well-earned honor, after a rookie campaign where she hit .316, with seven doubles and 10 homeruns. Sophomore catcher Kayla Wartner comes back after belting six home runs and 10 doubles. Senior Kelly Majam started every game in 2012, and led the team in runs scored (57), walks (39) and home runs (15). She slugged .662 and set the school career home run record.
Pitchers:
All Conference senior pitcher Kaia Parnaby had an excellent 2012, going 16-3 with a 1.47 ERA, ranked 27th nationally. She tossed 16 complete games, nine shutouts and struck out 124 in 124 innings.
Who to Watch:
Senior Easton All-American shortstop Jessica Iwata had an outstanding 2012 season and will look to repeat in 2013. Iwata makes the Warrior offense go out of the cleanup spot. She led the team in average (.400), hits (60), slugging percentage (.740) and RBI (57) and was second among her teammates in homeruns (14) and doubles (9). Freshman Keiki Carlos will have an opportunity to fill the bullpen gap left by Stephanie Ricketts’ graduation. Carlos was Hawai’i two-time Gatorade Player of the Year.
Final Projection:
Coach Coolen and Hawai’i return much of their fire power both offensively and defensively for the 2013 season. Making up for the loss of Stephanie Ricketts in the circle appears to be the only question for the Warrior coaching staff and Carlos should help with that. A newcomer into the Big West, Hawai’i will be one of the best teams in the league and have a solid chance to win the conference, helping Coach Coolen eclipse some milestone wins along the way, as well as qualify for their 11th NCAA Tournament appearance.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Kelly Majam, CF, 154; Kayla Wartner, C/1B, 154
Hits: Jessica Iwata, SS/2B, 60
Home Runs: Kelly Majam, CF, 15
RBIs: Jessica Iwata, SS/2B, 57
Runs: Kelly Majam, CF, 57
Stolen Bases: Jessica Iwata, SS/2B, 5
Wins: Kaia Parnaby, P, 16
Innings Pitched: Kaia Parnaby, P, 124
Strikeouts: Kaia Parnaby, P, 124
Saves: Kaia Parnaby, P, 0
Madness 2013 NPF Draft Rankings:
#21 Iwata Jessica
Madness 2013 Softball Recruit Rankings:
#103 Alyssa Villalpando
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