With an impressive 43-5-1 overall record this past season, the HPU softball team was named the Division II statistical champion by the NCAA national office on July 1. Ironically, the Lady Sea Warriors failed to make it into the postseason, despite winning their last 18 games of the season and posting a 21-1-1 conference record.

“ There’s really nothing we can do about it. The region voters felt we were not deserving of postseason play. It’s disappointing, but we knew for a while that our chances were slim,” said Co-head Coach Howard Okita.

It was the first time a 40-win team has not advanced to postseason play.
The 2008 softball team broke a number of records this season, including the HPU record for highest winning percentage in a season, becoming the first team to go undefeated in Hawai‘i, and boasting the third highest win total in HPU history.

The Lady Sea Warriors also earned individual honors for their historic season. Nine HPU players were named to the PacWest All-Conference Softball Team.

Junior Courtney Kessell, who led the PacWest with a 23-2 record and a 1.68 ERA, was named PacWest Pitcher of the Year. Kessell was also named to the Daktronics First Team All-West Region Team. At one point Kessell had the lowest ERA in the nation at 0.40.

Jessica Adolph, Nicole Kalakau, Sherise Musquiz, Krystal Plunkett, and Ciera Senas were named to the First Team, while Tajia Acierto, Casey Sugihara, and Anuhea Young were named to the PacWest Second Team.

Adolph and Senas were also named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region First Team and Second Team, respectively.

The Lady Sea Warriors will return the majority of their players next season, but four seniors will have used up their eligibility: Adolph, Kalakau, Young, and Puna Waiolama.

The HPU softball team was led by PacWest Co-Coaches of the Year, Okita and Bryan Nakasone.
For more info about the HPU softball team visit www.hpu.edu/athletics.