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Sabers Have Strength In Defense

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Campbell High School’s Anu Yamaguchi
races to first base with umpire Walter
Yamatsuka in the background. Campbell
won 10-0 in the Nov. 29 game against
Pearl City High. Photo by Nathalie Walker,
staff photographer.

In a sense, Campbell’s 2006-07 softball season began the moment last year’s team played its last game.

Indeed, while the Sabers advanced to their first state tournament in a decade last February, Campbell coach David Perreira installed a sense of urgency long before the first official date his current team could practice.

“Although we played well, we looked weaker than the other teams,“said Perreira.“With so many sophomores, and a couple of freshmen starting on that team, I wanted to see them get to the next level (commitment-wise) and become stronger.We added (an off-season) weight training (strength and conditioning program over the summer), and we’re starting to see the extra work pay off.”

“Defense has been our strength the last couple of years,” continued Perreira, a Campbell graduate himself, who played Division I baseball at Hawaii and Washington State. “We have a lot of quick girls with good hands. Offensively, I wanted to see us swing the bat like we can and, since getting stronger, we’ve seen them hit very well in the pre-season.”

With that in mind, the Sabers tal-lied a whopping 102 runs in 13 games (they were 9-3-1) during the recently-completed pre-season. Defensively, they yielded only 26 runs during that span. Perreira is hoping the trend will continue as the Sabers embark on their Oahu Interscholastic Association West Conference slate. Campbell, which was to open its regular season against defending Division I state champion Pearl City last week, returns to action on Wednesday when they visit Waipahu (3:30 p.m.).

The 2006-07 Sabers are led by a solid nucleus of returnees that includes senior outfielder Juraishelei Murray-Thornton, senior infielder/designated player Samantha Palipti, junior pitcher Breanne Patton, sophomore catcher/third baseman Kaiulani Clark, and junior pitcher/short stop Leinna Kalua. All five figure to rate among the West’s most capable at their respective positions.

“Juraishelei is not just an athlete,” Perreira said of Murray-Thornton. “She brings hard work and good leadership to the team. She’s also a very good student. Samantha is a power hitter who can also hit for a good average. She’s a fun girl, always smiling, and a hard worker.”

Patton was the team’s No. 2 pitcher the past two years, playing behind West Player of the Year Anita Manuma last season, but will see her role expand this winter. She led the way for the Sabers during their aggressive off-season program.

“She made it every day that she didn’t have a (Club Team) game,” Perreira said.“She worked hard on her strength, agility and endurance. Every year, she’s improved. She’ll be our (pitching) ace this season.”

Clark started every game as a freshman last year and will add pitching to her duties this season, in addition to logging playing time at both catcher and third base.

“Like Bre, she is a very hard worker,” Perreira said of Clark. “She’s a tremendous hitter. We’re very lucky to have her. Her hard work rubs off on the others.”

Kalua will also pitch this season when not anchoring the infield from her shortstop position.

“She’s been playing a long time, so she knows the game,” Perreira said of Kalua. “(When pitching) she’s like a Greg Maddux, someone who hits their spots and mixes up her speeds. She throws four or five pitches. She’s solid.”

Perreira is hoping his depth on the mound will pay dividends by the time the post-season comes around and the Sabers find themselves playing several games in as many days. In Patton, Clark and Kalua, Campbell should have one of the deeper pitching staffs in the state.

“We’re very fortunate to have three that can pitch well - we don’t have to go with only one,” Perreira said.

For all their experience at key positions, the Sabers will also boast one of the top newcomers in the OIA this season in freshman Katie Manuma, younger sister of Anita. She will play multiple positions for the Sabers.

“She has it in her blood,” Perreira said of Manuma.“Her sisters are all playing in college, and she’s destined to go there, too. She’s getting better and better every day.”

Following Wednesday’s game with Waipahu, Campbell returns to action on Saturday for a home game against Mililani at 1 p.m.