Mustangs Facing Crucial Test With Cougars Saturday
By Jack Danilewicz
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When it comes to team cohesiveness, preseason trips to the Neighbor Islands help, and count Kalaheo among those teams that benefit from travel. They went to Kauai last month for the Waimea Tournament,where they faced Division I teams from Oahu, Maui and Kauai.
“We developed a little more closeness,” said head softball coach John Spencer. “Even though we didn’t win any games - we played a lot of talented Division I teams - we gained a lot of experience, and that’s carried through into our (OIA White) season. It’s been a real team effort,and the trip was a strong factor.”
The Mustangs stayed a few miles from the rest of the teams by design, as Spencer put them up at an elderly residential facility.“It was very residential - you can’t go any place, and you do a lot of things together as a team.”
The team took a 4-2 record into the weekend with both defeats in a double-header with Kalani. Their wins were against Radford, Nanakuli, Waialua and Aiea.
They were to play Anuenue in a double-header over the weekend, but regardless of the outcome in that series, this Saturday’s twin-bill with Kaiser is big, as the top three teams from East and West will go to the OIA’s DII playoffs.
Spencer’s team is hoping for a return to the state softball championships next month. “The girls had a taste of that last year and brought it with them,” he said. “We have eight returnees, and it’s easier to coach when the kids know what it means to win at that level.
“I think having one of the older (assistant) coaching staffs has been a factor in our success, too,” added Spencer, whose staff includes Eddie Mitsuda, Gabriel Keaunui, Keone Mahoe and Donald Ferreira.“They are giving a lot to the kids, and they bring a lot of experience.”
Player-wise, Spencer has a nice mix of talented upper and underclassmen,with mainstays Theresa Capllonch (first base), Sarah Fitzherbert (pitcher), Amanda Pavey (pitcher/utility player) and Noelani Maglinti (outfield/third base), leading the way.Capllonch and Maglinti are seniors, while Fitzherbert is a sophomore, and Pavey is just a freshman.
Capllonch is currently hitting .270 and has a team-high three home runs.“She’s a great infielder - she’s a left-hander - and she can hit. She’s our slugger. She’s a real plus, and she hits in the fourth spot.”
Maglinti adds toughness as a stellar wrestler during the winter months.“Fear is not a part of her vocabulary - she’ll stop a ball with her body,” Spencer said. “She’s very aggressive.”
Fitzherbert keys the offense, meanwhile, batting in the lead-off spot.“She has a high on-base percentage, and she’s been coming around. She plays a lot of club (softball) in the off-season, and her father works with her. It’s been just a joy to coach her, and we’ll get to see her a couple more years since she’s just a sophomore.”
Pavey is one of the team’s most versatile players, having already played catcher as well as infield and out-field.
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