HONOLULU--The University of Hawai'i softball team will host its annual Hawai'i Fall Invitational tournament. For the first time in several years, the Rainbow Wahine will be competing against all three Division II Hawai'i collegiate programs--Chaminade, Hawai'i-Hilo and Hawai'i Pacific--plus Fullerton College in the three day, five team tourney. Three games will be played each day, starting on Thursday, Nov. 6 and Friday, Nov. 7. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 9. All games will be played at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium where admission is free.
The tournament marks the beginning of the Panita Thanatharn era as she commences her first season as head coach of the Rainbow Wahine.
The Rainbow Wahine return 17 letterwinners--including six starters and two pitchers from last year's squad which posted a 33-20 overall record and a 17-10 Big West mark to finish the conference season in a four-way tie for second. This year's team welcomes in seven newcomers including three transfers and four freshmen. The 'Bows return three of the top five hitters from a year ago. Junior first baseman
Jamie McGaughey hit .320 (54-for-157) and led the Big Wes with 14 home runs. Senior second baseman
Carys Murakami finished her first season at UH hitting just a shade under .300, posting a .295 average (46-for-156) with a team-high 28 runs scored, while junior shortstop
Milan Ah Yat finished with a .277 batting average. All three Rainbow Wahine--McGaughey, Murakami and Ah Yat--started all 53 games last year.
The pitching staff returns
Macy Brandl and Millie Fidge. Brandl led UH with a 17-8 record and a 3.33 ERA. She tossed 16 complete games with six shutouts as a sophomore. Senior Fidge was primarily used as a reliever making 20 appearances with just one start. she posted a 4.07 ERA while recording a 2-1 overall record. The Rainbow Wahine welcome in three new pitchers--true freshman Maryn Macneil, sophomore transfer Taryn Irimata, and senior transfer Hannah Pitts.
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