Sea Warriors Reign In NCAA Division II Softball World
By Jack Danilewicz
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HPU’s reputation as a softball powerhouse was intact before the Sea Warriors won the NCAA Division II National Championship, based on the flood of e-mails alone that head coach Bryan Nakasone gets from prospective players.
“Recruiting has really picked up over the last 12 years,” he said.“Winning the Pacific West four straight years has really boosted our interest level.I get e-mails every day - I may have 50 or 60 by the end of the week. I make sure to answer each and every one. Unfortunately, we can’t take everybody.”
Interest should multiply soon, given that the school added a national title to its resume, plus taking the top spot with all 16 votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll.
Nakasone stops short of saying he knew they’d clinch the title, but expectations have always been high.
This year’s 18-player roster was full of home-grown talent, with 12 players from local high schools. Of those, nine are from Oahu,including four from Windward: Chante Tesoro (Kaneohe), Melissa Awa (Kaneohe), Pomaikai Kalakau (Waimanalo) and Caira Pires (Kailua).
The Sea Warriors also had two players from Washington and four from California, including senior pitcher Sherise Musquiz, who drove HPU across the finish line at the College World Series by pitching all four games. (She was named to the NFCA All-America First Team.)
HPU’s ability to recruit and develop its talent is even more impressive in that Division II schools are limited to 7.2 scholarships. HPU currently has 10 players receiving free tuition.But books,fees and room and board are not included, which is one reason the coaches work hard to encourage players to stay on track for graduation.
“The longer they stay, the more expensive it gets for them,” he explained.
The development of players also is crucial to DII programs, and Nakasone cited Musquiz as an example of a player who maximized her abilities after she arrived.
“We knew she could be dominant, but she’s not a strike-out type (pitcher). She had to learn to hit her spots and utilize the defense,and she became an excellent fielder in and of herself.”
Musquiz was in a senior class that provided unwavering leadership on a team with nine freshmen, or half of its roster. Despite their youth, cohesiveness was not an issue.
“(Team unity) was a key for us - especially this year,“said Nakasone, whose team finished 50-8 overall.“Toward the end, that really pulled us through. They supported each other. It was a real team effort.”
As in past years, the Sea Warriors also took care of business in the classroom.
“The greatest thing about coaching at this level is to see them graduate,” said Nakasone, who placed HPU’s graduation rate among softball players at about 95 percent. “To me, that’s the most pleasing thing.”
Nakasone is in his second season at the helm, after assisting legendary coach Howard Okita as co-coach for seven years. In his first season as head coach, Nakasone guided HPU to a 42-12 overall record, the team’s third straight PacWest title, and an appearance at NCAA West Regional. Okita is still a major contributor as an assistant and has already announced his return in 2010-11 for his 22nd season. The Sea Warriors’ home on the Kaneohe field is named in his honor.Nakasone also is assisted by coaches Roger Javillo,Jon Correles and Richard Nomura.
Asked if the national title has sunk in yet, Nakasone admitted that he has a daily reminder at home - the championship trophy, which will soon be in a case at school.
“I woke up the other day and saw the trophy sitting on the dining room table, and I thought, ‘Wow!’”
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