HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Softball third-year head coach Aisha Sueda has announced the addition of 14 newcomers for the upcoming 2024 season — nine freshmen and five transfers.
The Vulcans return eight players after 12 departures — six to graduation/eligibility exhaustion — from a season ago. The 2024 lineup features just five upperclassmen with a total of 13 local Hawai'i products — two from the Big Island — along with seven from California and one each from Washington and Oregon.
Hawai'i Hilo will have 47 games this spring, starting the second weekend of February at the Division 2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona. First official home-opening series is set for the beginning of March against Dominican.
First official practices are set to start next Monday, Jan. 8.
C/3B | 5'5 | Fr | Kapolei, HI | Kapolei HS
» 2023 graduate of Kapolei High School (Hawai'i)
» Played three seasons of varsity softball for coaches Enson Quepo (Kapolei) and Rose Antonio (Mililani High School)
» 2022 O'ahu Interscholastic Association Division I Champion (Kapolei), 2019 OIA JV Champion (Mililani)
» Played club for Cobras Hawai'i, Hawai'i Voyagers-Warstic
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "Hilo has always been a special place for me. Not only was I born in Hilo, but most of my immediate family still lives in Hilo. Most importantly, I get to study and play the sport that I love at this awesome school!"
C/3B | 5'6 | Fr | Whittier, CA | La Serna HS
» 2023 graduate of La Serna High School (California)
» Played two seasons of varsity softball for coaches Jason Clay and April Zamorano-Yuge
» Del Rio League Champion
Major: Biology
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "Offered my major, loved the location and wanted to continue playing softball."
UT | 4'11 | So | Washougal, WA | Union HS / Trinity International
» Spent first year at Trinity International University (Illinois)
» Started 29 games, finishing with 22 hits (.262), 41 putouts and 35 defensive assists
» Made six appearances in the pitching circle, totaling 11.2 innings and finishing with an 0-1 record
» 2022 graduate of Union High School (Washington)
» Also participated in wrestling and slowpitch softball
» HS Honors: 2021 All-Region Slowpitch Softball Player of the Year
» 2021 4A Greater St. Helens League Champion
» Played club for WA Bandits
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "Great team and Kinesiology program. The community is very welcoming and kind."
SS/2B | 5'1 | Fr | Waikoloa, HI | Kealakehe HS
» 2022 graduate of Kealakehe High School (Hawai'i)
» Played four seasons of varsity softball for coaches Loni Mercado and Teizha Kaluna
» Played club for RBI Nobu Yamauchi
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It is a privilege to be able to play the sport that I have been devoted to majority of my life for my home state. As I represent my family name, I also get to represent my home, while being able to pursue a higher education and strive for the career I have always aspired to achieve."
C/1B | 5'5 | Fr | Kane'ohe, HI | Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
» 2023 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama (Hawai'i)
» Played four seasons of varsity softball for coaches Ray Motta and Mark Lyman
» 2023 Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I Champion
» Played club for Hawaii Easton Preps and Cobras Hawaii
» 2021 USA Preps West Coast World Series Champion
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The people and the atmosphere feels like home."
1B/3B | 5'7 | Fr | Riverside, CA | Centennial HS
» 2023 graduate of Centennial High School (California)
» Played four seasons of varsity softball for coach Krista Humphreys
» Honors: Big VIII All-League (x2)
» Also participated in volleyball
» Played club for Explosion Premier
Major: Agriculture
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The Health and Sciences program. The culture and community in Hilo is very welcoming. The coaching staff made me feel very welcomed to their softball program."
UT | 5'4 | Fr | Pearl City, HI | 'Iolani School
» 2023 graduate of 'Iolani School (Hawai'i)
» Played three seasons of varsity softball for coaches Benny Agbayani and Chad Cordero
» 2022 Interscholastic League of Honolulu Champion
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "Home away from home."
UT | 5'2 | Jr | Redmond, OR | Ridgeview HS / Oregon State
» Spent first two years at Oregon State University
» Appeared in 14 games with two starts for the Beavers
» Part of 2022 OSU team that made it to the NCAA College Softball World Series
» 2021 graduate of Ridgeview High School (Oregon)
» Played four seasons of varsity softball for coaches Sandy Fischer, Shane Nakamura, Rick George and Marnie Fisk
» Honors: 2021 Intermountain Conference Player of the Year, 2021 Oregon Class 5A All-State First Team, 2019 IMC All-League First Team, 2018 IMC All-League Second Team
» 2019 Oregon Class 5A State Champion
» Also participated in basketball
» Played club for NW Vandals
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
P/INF | 5'4 | Fr | Kahului, HI | H.P. Baldwin HS
» 2023 graduate of Henry Perrine Baldwin High School (Hawai'i)
» Played four seasons of varsity softball for coaches Sanoe Kekahuna and Dennis Harmon
» Honors: Maui Interscholastic League All-Star First Team (x2)
» Played club for Maui Titans
Major: Agriculture
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "To play softball and to be close to home."
P | 5'3 | So | Waipi'o, HI | Kamehameha Schools Kapalama / Georgian Court
» Spent first year at Georgian Court University (New Jersey)
» Appeared in 27 total games, making 21 starts in the pitching circle (12-7 record), totaling 109.0 innings with eight complete games, three shutouts and 48 strikeouts
» 2022 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama (Hawai'i)
Major: Business Administration – Marketing
P | 5'3 | Jr | 'Ewa Beach, HI | James Campbell HS / Weatherford
» Spent three years at Weatherford College (Texas)
» Appeared in 26 games in the pitching circle (3-2 record), totaling 50.1 innings with three saves
» 2020 graduate of James Campbell High School (Hawai'i)
» Played three seasons of varsity softball for coach Shag Hermosura
» Played club for Hawaiian Delight
Major: Administration of Justice
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I wanted to attend school in Hawai'i instead of staying in Texas."
P/3B | 5'11 | Fr | Menifee, CA | Heritage HS
» 2023 graduate of Heritage High School (California)
» Played four seasons of varsity softball for coach Raul Olivas
» Honors: All-League First Team
» Also participated in volleyball
» Played club for Firecrackers Brashear/Gollihar
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I have always wanted to go to school in Hawai'i, and once I got the opportunity, I said, 'yes.'"
P | 5'4 | Fr | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | Santa Margarita Catholic HS
» 2023 graduate of Santa Margarita Catholic High School (California)
» Played four seasons of varsity softball for coaches John FItzpatrick and Michael Takkinen
» Played club for Firecrackers Brashear
Major: Undeclared
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I thought it was a nice school."
P | 5'6 | So | Modesto, CA | Ceres HS / Holy Names
» Spent one year at Holy Names University (California)
» Made 20 appearances with eight starts in the pitching circle, totaling 56.1 innings to finish with a 1-7 record and one save
» 2022 graduate of Ceres High School (California)
» Played three seasons of varsity softball for coach Mike Corsaut
» Also participated in volleyball and track & field
» Played club for Firecrackers
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The location and the atmosphere. The people seem really nice so it was a community I wanted to be a part of."
