Kapolei Pearls Headed To Explosive Mainland Matchup

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The reputation of the Colorado Fireworks College Recruitment Softball Tournament is known well enough that it doesn’t need a motto. Even so, its slogan “Simply the Best” sums it all up, to hear Kapolei head coach Tony Saffery tell it.

“This combine is the best in the country,” said Saffery, who is bringing his Hawaii Pearls 16-and-under All Star team to the event, which runs Wednesday through Sunday.“It is amazing to go and be part of it first-hand. You can’t help but come away from it with experience.”

Quality experience at that. The Fireworks Tournament expects 250 to 300 teams from all 50 states. Saffery said as many as 300 college softball programs will have staff on hand to recruit players. Unlike 20 years ago, more emphasis is on recruiting players earlier in their high school years.

“There are possibilities for everybody,” said Saffery, who also is an assistant coach at Chaminade University. “Nowadays, they’re looking as far down as freshmen and sophomores. I used to think that junior year was a comfortable time to get their film out (to prospective college coaches). But now, they may have already used up their scholarship money by that time.”

Kapolei has had its share of college players under Saffery, and his 16-and-under Hawaii Pearls team is stacked once again with prospects from the West side, including Sharae Esprecion (Campbell), Mikela Manewa (Kapolei), Dorian Acierto (Kapolei) and sisters Aimee and Alyssa Aipa, also both of Kapolei.

Esprecion, who will be a sophomore, had a stellar freshman year for Campbell, and coach David Perriera will hold down a spot for her at second base with the Pearls.

“She’s going to be a heck-uva player - she is now,” Saffery said. “I’ve watched her since she was 10. I can only imagine how good she’ll be when maturity kicks in.”

Acierto was a Second Team All OIA selection for Kapolei this season at second and is playing center field for the Pearls, the position she may move into next season. The Hurricanes lost four-year All Conference outfielder Kai Clark to graduation.

“Those are big shoes to fill, but she has an incredible arm and she plays like a big ballplayer,” Saffery said of Acierto, who batted .330 with Kapolei this year.

Manewa will only be a sophomore in the fall and plays shortstop and outfield. “She reminds me of Tehani Ka’aihue when she was a freshman,” Saffery said. “She’s aggressive on the field, and she has good speed.”

Although Alyssa Aipa will be a senior, she made the cut age-wise and will likely see time at first and third base. Younger sister Aimee plays catcher for the Pearls.“Their contributions to the team get better and better with every game. Aimee has done really well. I’m really happy with her growth. Alyssa has been doing a super job as well. She was a First Team All West selection at first base for us this season (at Kapolei).”

Hawaii Pearls have been competing this summer in an 18-and-under Division as part of the Oahu Junior Olympics Softball League in an effort to play the best competition possible.

“We want them to feel the pressure now because it’s going to be that way every game when we get to Colorado. The best quality of the team so far has been its cohesiveness. Everyone has pushed themselves to elevate their game. We struggled at times in the league, but nobody gave up, and they kept pressing.”