Lady Sabers Prepare For Two ‘Epic Battles’ Vs. Mililani
By Jack Danilewicz
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Even when his Campbell High softball team hit the stretch run of its riveting post-season last spring, head coach David Perreira had an eye to the future, adding several members of the program’s junior varsity to the entourage.
“So far, our young girls have done a good job this year,” he said. “We brought ‘em along for the ride, so to speak, so they could see what it (state tournament) is all about.”
As big games go, few loom bigger for the Sabers than this week’s two-game series with defending OIA champion Mililani. The teams were to meet at Mililani at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. At 3 p.m. Saturday, they will meet again at Central Oahu Regional Park in a game that will be televised statewide on OC-16. The teams are well-known to each other, having played in several epic battles over the past four years.
The Sabers returned just two seniors to their lineup from last year’s team, which finished as the OIA runner-up in addition to third place at the state softball championships. But while they are a far different team than the one that closed out its 2008 season last spring,they have remained in the Red West title picture with a 4-0 start to the season.
Another challenge for Perreira’s team of late has been Campbell’s schedule. The Sabers are in the midst of six straight road games, including last weekend’s series with Kapolei and the aforementioned series with Mililani. There can be little doubt that their seeding for the OIA tournament will hinge on what happens in the coming days.
“It’s good for us to see what we’re made of,” Perreira said.“We want to see how the young girls will perform. It’s always been a battle with Mililani. They’re always the team to beat in the West, and it’s the same this year. We’ve been getting better every week, and the girls are coming together and playing hard. They all get along, and that makes them fun to watch. They’re all out there for a reason. They want to be there.”
As in past weeks, Campbell will bank heavily on junior pitcher Katie Manuma and senior outfielder Brittany Garcia versus Mililani this week. Manuma, who is having a stellar season to date, is the scheduled starter on the mound for both meetings.
“It always starts with pitching,” Perreira said. “If we play good defense, and Katie is hitting her spots, hopefully we can manufacture some runs. She’s a big strong girl on the mound and at the plate, and she’s really loose and outgoing.
She keeps the team relaxed, and it’s good to have that type of player.”
Garcia is batting over .600 through the Red West’s first round, meanwhile, and has anchored the outfield at center. “She’s a pretty good all-around ballplayer,” he said. “She stands out the most on defense, but she’s been hitting the ball well this year, too.”
The Sabers also boast impact players in senior right-fielder Randy Schoening, junior third baseman/catcher Gerika Pantohan and freshman pitcher Sharae Esprecion, who has settled in as No. 2 behind Manuma on the pitching staff.
“She’s a standout as a freshman; she’s going to get some innings,” Perreira said of Esprecion.“She has good speed and a good bat. She reminds me of (former Campbell and current Eastern Arizona player) Loreen Edgamin when she was a freshman.
“Gerika is probably one of the best third basemen in the state,“he added. “She has great range and a very good arm. Randy has really picked it up at the plate. She’s hitting over 500, and she has a great arm in the outfield.”
Campbell lost all three games to Mililani last year after stealing two of three in the season series the previous year. The Sabers follow up this week’s series with the a doubleheader April 11 at Leilehua. Their next home game will be on April 25, when they host Waianae in a doubleheader.
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