Falcons’ Softball Season: Quick To Soar And Score

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The conventional theory in building a sports program is that it takes three or four years. At some schools, five or six years are required to reach a competitive level.

Kalani head softball coach Melissa Marquez didn’t have a timeline for making the Falcons a factor again in the OIA, but there can be no doubt that her team’s rise was swift.

In addition to winning the school’s first OIA softball title (in the White Division) last month, they took third in the state softball championships. Now, they have to discuss how to celebrate.

“The girls took it to heart,” Marquez said of her players’ reaction to their 13-1 season. “Overall, it was a great experience for everyone to see them have that level of success. They learned a lot. They saw what their potential was and what they wanted to be. It was an eye-opener. Two years ago, I don’t think they had a winning record. This was a total team effort.”

Marquez just finished her second season at Kalani and has led the Falcons to the state tournament both times. If all goes according to plan, they could be a force for years to come with four either First or Second Team All-Conference picks still eligible to play.

Returnees for 2011 include senior-to-be Kristi Belshe, who was recently named the OIA White Conference Player of the Year in a vote of league coaches for her efforts this past spring. She hit .500 on the year with five doubles, a pair of triples, four home runs, 26 RBI and an on-base percentage of .606. She helped drive Kalani across the finish line in its 12-10 marathon win over Waialua in the OIA title game, driving in three runs, including a two-run homer.

“She’s a great ballplayer,” Marquez said. “She’s talented, and she plays with an aggressiveness. She’s the total package. She plays well in every aspect.”

Also making the White’s First Team were second baseman Chelsea Yamamoto, third baseman Kelli Muramoto, shortstop Kristiann Endow and pitcher Rayme Awaya. Only Endow has completed eligibility, having graduated from Kalani last week.“She was our foundation from before,“Marquez said. “She played her game and produced when we needed it.”

The team also loses Hikaru Kumagea, who was a Second Team selection as an outfielder, but experience will return to almost every position. Muramoto will be only a sophomore next spring, having earned a starting job as a first-year player in the program in 2009.

“She stepped up as a freshman,” Marquez said. “Third base is where some of the hardest balls are hit. Offensively, she had some huge momentum-changing hits.”

Anaya will be only a junior in 2011, and Yamamoto will be a senior.

“She always came through with her pitching and her bat,” Marquez said of Anaya.“The team followed her lead, and she ended the season phenomenally.

“Chelsea was consistent the whole year,” she added, “and she’s one of the best teammates I’ve seen.”

While the Kalani program has found solid ground, there was never a real direct line to such success, in Marquez’s view.

“It hasn’t been easy,” she admitted. “We’ve had our adversity, and we always think we can do better. It was not a surprise because we always knew we could do it, and we put in a lot of time.”