Kalei Adams Returns To Team Healthy, Hungry For Play
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usThe return of Kalei Adams couldn’t come quickly enough for Pearl City head softball coach Keoke Behic. Adams sat out all of the 2009 season after tearing her ACL, but she has had the impact Behic had hoped for so far this season.
“She’s key for us,” he said. “She’s really hungry after not playing at all last year. She’s had a very productive preseason with six home runs. She has a fire when she plays. She doesn’t like to lose. She’s a competitor. You like to have one of those on her team.”
Although she is a natural in the outfield, Adams shifted her this spring to the infield, where she is most needed.
“She’s not a true infielder, but because of personnel issues she’s been forced to play there.”
While a healthy Adams has pumped some life into the Chargers’ operation, Behic has been going with a lineup of relative unknowns at a lot of positions as various issues have sidelined as many as five projected starters. That figures to change by mid-season, but entering Saturday’s all-important 10 a.m. double-header at highly regarded Campbell, the status of the five is still unknown.
Although the series with Campbell won’t make or break Pearl City’s season, Behic sees both games as a measuring stick for his team, given the Sabers’ mastery of the OIA Red West in recent years.
“Campbell’s in a different category from everyone else, along with Mililani,” said Behic. “They have stellar pitching with Katie. When you play her, it’s not fair - she’s unbelievable. In softball, pitching is the key. They have that, and they also have experience - kids who have been there a couple of years.”
For the Chargers’ part, Adams isn’t the lone stand-out. Also back are veterans Courtney Ahlo, a junior pitcher, and Keani Passi, also a junior, who anchors the outfield at center.
Ahlo is the team’s No. 1 pitcher and will get the call most games except the second encounter of a doubleheader. “She’s probably our most dependable player,” Behic said.
“She’s very responsible. She’s a quiet leader who works very hard. She just goes about her business. It’s what I respect most about her. She’s accountable, and that’s key.”
Passi has been out of the lineup lately, but will eventually return, which should give the Chargers a real boost.
“Losing any one of them (Adams, Ahlo or Passi) for any period of time is big for us,” Behic said. “We had all 10 of our (projected) starters for the Mililani (preseason) Tournament and we beat people. Keani is probably the best athlete in the state, in my opinion. There are a lot of good ones, but as far as having the tools, overall, I think she is. If she wanted to, she could dominate in every sport.
“She has tremendous range,” he added.“She makes everything easy. As far as strength, agility, power and skill go, she rates a 10 in all of those categories.”
Behic, who is in his eighth season, calls his current team one of his more coachable.
“Their strength is their openness to feedback,” said Behic, who led Pearl City to the 2006 state title. “It’s fun to come out to practice. I would attribute that to the parental guidance these girls have received.”
If the West race plays out the way Behic expects it to, Pearl City ‘s upcoming series with Waipahu, Leilehua and Kapolei could go a long way in determining their fate, not to mention their seeding for the OIA Tournament.
“Campbell is probably the best team in the state, along with Mililani. After that, everyone else is jumbled together so it will be very competitive for the third, fourth, fifth and sixth (spots).”
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