Mustang Catcher, Team On A Roll To State Softball Tourney
By Jack Danilewicz
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Ask Tiffany Harada where softball ranks in her mind, and even she is a little surprised by her answer.
“Softball was not my main sport, but in the past year I’d say it’s become my No. 1 (sport),” she said. “I’m not sure why, but it has started to neutralize (along with her interest in basketball).”
Harada’s renewed commitment to softball has paid big dividends for both her and her Kalaheo teammates this spring. Her smooth transition from the outfield to behind the plate as catcher was one of several reasons why the Mustangs were able to go 6-3 in their OIA White Conference games this spring.
They already had earned a berth in the upcoming state softball tournament late last week in the OIA post-season tournament and are awaiting the announcement of seedings and game times on Sunday. Harada took some time away from her playoff schedule recently to answer some questions for MidWeek‘s Windward Islander.
What aspect of your team’s play are you most pleased with up to this point of the season? I think we’ve been very strong, defensively. We always pick each other up if there’s an error or something (negative). We motivate each other.
What has enabled the Mustangs to have the season you have had so far? Definitely our coaches (head coach John Spencer, Eddie Mitsuda, Gabriel Keaunui, Keone Mahoe and Donald Fererra). They’ve been real positive role models to us. Individually, we all contribute something different to make a good team.
What areas of your game did you focus on in the off-season? Definitely my catching and my hitting. Catching is a very different type of position. I went from a position (right field) where I wasn’t that involved to a position where there is constant action.
Who has had the biggest impact on you in your life? I would probably say my brother, Shane. I always looked up to him because of sports, and we are so much alike. I wanted to play all the sports I played because of him, and I strived to be as good as him.
What Internet site do you frequent the most? Probably my (Kalaheo) school Web site. I am constantly on there doing my homework. I have to check daily for one class for updates. That is the site I live off of.
What is your least favorite household chore? Cleaning my room. When I want it clean and I start cleaning, I can’t stop. I want everything a certain way.
What’s your earliest sports-related memory? Probably playing basketball when I was in kindergarten. I was 5, and I was the smallest and the youngest. No one wanted to guard me because I was so small.
What movie could you watch over and over? Coach Carter. I like how such a diverse team came together to form a great basketball team. It reminds me of our own (Kalaheo softball) team. We come from all age ranges, freshman to senior, but when it comes down to playing together, we play as one.
Who is your most competitive teammate at practice? I would say all of us, actually. I couldn’t pinpoint just one person. We all try really hard.
What’s in your iPod?
Definitely a whole wide variety of music, from country to reggae. I have pretty much everything.
What is your favorite place to hang out on the island? Probably Lanikai Beach. It is very calm and peaceful, and you can just relax.
Do you play video games?
No. I’m pretty much glued to my schoolbooks.
If you could have your pick, what celebrity would you choose as your prom date? That’s a tough one. Probably Shia LaBeouf from the movie Transformers.
You’re stuck on the island of Kahoolawe. You can have an endless supply of one food. What would it be? Probably Chinese chicken salad from New Mui Kwai Chop Suey on Oneawa Street.
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