CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Say what you want about the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball season thus far, but there's one thing nobody can deny: it hasn't been boring.
As the Islanders (12-6) prepare to begin Southland Conference play with a doubleheader beginning at noon Friday against Texas A&M-Commerce at Chapman Field – Game 3 will be at noon Saturday – "excitement" has been the buzzword following a 12-6 non-conference slate that featured plenty of brilliance, loads of exhilaration, a smattering of frustration and a boatload of hope for what's to come.
"The season so far has been a roller coaster of emotions," A&M-Corpus Christi ace
Primrose Aholelei said. "We've had moments of excitement and success, as well as moments with frustration and disappointment. But overall, I'm proud of the progress this team has made so far."
A good chunk of that excitement and success has been courtesy of Aholelei. The brilliant senior from Hawaii seems to rewrite school history with every outing. Her seven wins so far have moved her from seventh to third on the school's all-time wins list with 26, and her 94 strikeouts have vaulted her from 10
th to third with 280.
Her strikeout total is second in the country – behind only Stanford's Nijaree Canady – and it is more than six of the other eight
teams in the Southland Conference. In fact, she has struck out more batters looking (30) than all but seven pitchers in the SLC have in total. Her next closest challenger in the SLC? Incarnate Word's Larissa Jacquez, who has exactly half of Aholelei's total (47).
"Prim is special," A&M-Corpus Christi coach
Kathleen Rodriguez said. "She brings a strong leadership quality to our team and especially our pitching staff. There is a level of professionalism throughout our pitching staff that is expected throughout practice, every bullpen, intrasquad scrimmages as well as games."
Aholelei also has seven complete games (moving her from eighth to fourth on the school's all-time list with 33). She's moved into the top 10 in games started with 40, and she's on the verge of entering the top 10 in innings pitched, which she should accomplish in her next two starts.
In short, as Aholelei goes, so go the Islanders.
"(The season) has been an experience of growth as a leader, team player and a person," Aholelei said. "Being able to perform for my team and even falling short of my own expectations has allowed me to grow in different aspects. And with conference starting soon, there's always room for me to improve my game. I'm determined to finish this season strong and make the most of it."
While Aholelei has been the unquestioned leader, she hasn't been alone.
A pitching staff that also features junior
Siarah Galvan, sophomores
Malia Williams and
Ariella Saenz and freshman
Kendra Winfrey has established itself as one of the conference's best.
The quintet has combined for a conference-best 130 strikeouts, a .226 batting average against (second best), 21 extra-base hits allowed (second fewest) and a 2.41 ERA (third best).
Williams actually leads the team in ERA at 1.75, and her three wins are second behind Aholelei. She's also held opposing teams to a team-best .164 batting average. Galvan and Saenz each have contributed a win, while Winfrey has averaged almost a strikeout per inning.
"Our entire roster has contributed to the success we are having," Rodriguez said. "We talk about there being no substitution for hard work, and they bring that 'manera de ser' (way of being) to everything they do."
Offensively, the "manera de ser" has been to score early, score often, score when behind and score when challenged. It hasn't always been so easy, to be sure, but it certainly helps to have four players at the top of the lineup comparable to any foursome in the conference.
The quartet of seniors
Alina Jasso,
Kimane Rogron and
Taniece Tyson and junior
Monee Montilla lead the Islanders in every significant offensive category, including average, home runs and RBIs. If the Islanders ever need a rally or a big hit, inevitably one of those four get the call.
"My Fab Four," Rodriguez beamed. "I am not surprised by how this game is rewarding their daily efforts. This game is so extremely cool. It is karma. What goes around comes around, and it definitely rewards hard work and dedication. These four are always getting in extra work. They have made it their mission to be leaders for this team, and they are constantly working on their craft. They lead by example."
The example they've set so far has been one of persistence. All four have suffered through cold spells, yet all four have recovered to become some of the most feared offensive forces in the conference.
But much like the pitching staff, the credit has been spread around. Eleven different players have had multi-hit games, 10 have had multi-RBI games, and 15 have reached base at some point. All told, six different players hit .313 or better, 14 have an extra-base hit and 14 have driven in at least one run.
It's been a mixture that has the Islanders hopeful and confident as conference play begins.
"Overall, the team is likely feeling a mix of emotions — excitement, determination and perhaps a bit of nerves — as we prepare to kick off conference play," said Tyson, who leads the team in home runs (5), total bases (34) and slugging percentage (.723). "I am happy about how things are going. I had a rocky start in the beginning of season, but after the SFA (Stephen F. Austin) series, I had a serious confidence boost."
As did all the Islanders.
Following that three-game sweep of SFA, the Islanders won four of their next five, with the one loss coming thanks to a single inning that featured three errors and three unearned runs in a 4-2 setback against Tennessee-Chattanooga. A&M-Corpus Christi then suffered through its only losing streak of the season, as it dropped a doubleheader to UT-Arlington and then fell 3-1 to UTSA the next day thanks to three more unearned runs.
"I believe the non-conference portion of our schedule definitely prepared us for SLC play," Rodriguez said. "Nothing was easy along the way. We faced poor weather, last-minute schedule changes, injury, illness, adversity both on the field as well as off the field. I believe it made us stronger and brought us together."
The weekend series with A&M-Commerce will be the Islanders' first true home series of the season. Their series with SFA in mid-February had to be played at Cabaniss Field because of the weather.
In their own words
Head coach Kathleen Rodriguez: "I believe that everyone got a chance to contribute in one way or another (during non-conference play). Our young athletes learned and were able to experience the pace of division 1 softball, our returners became leaders, mentors and we all became family. I believe we learned that playing poised, confident and with continuous communication brings out the best in our skills. We also found out that rushing and pressing brings out the worst."
Rodriguez: "It is exciting to know that we have so many tools, options and weapons in our arsenal. The thing that sits in my heart is how we pick each other up, how they truly want one another to succeed and how 'having your teammate's back' is a real thing. We've had a great time coaching these women."
Senior pitcher Primrose Aholelei: "One of the things that has pleased me the most is our team's ability to stay positive, composed and learning how to fight back in the face of adversity. But I think our own individual defensive and offensive approach to the ball is the only thing that needs improvement, whether it be reaction to a ball defensively or making little adjustments and being more disciplined at the plate."
Senior designated hitter Taniece Tyson: "Although there is a lot of competition in the conference, I am very confident that we will prevail."
Scouting A&M-Commerce: The Lions are 5-17, with four of their five wins coming in the first five games of the season. A&M-Commerce beat UMass Lowell 13-3 in five innings in the season opener, then beat Stonehill (Easton, Mass.) 6-1 and 7-3 and Quinnipiac (Hamden, Conn.) 3-2. … The Lions' last victory came on Feb. 23 against South Dakota, 3-2. … A&M-Commerce has played all but three of its games at home. … The Lions currently are on a nine-game losing streak. They also had a seven-game losing skid earlier in the season. … A&M-Commerce had the misfortune of playing No. 2 Oklahoma in the first game after the Sooners saw their 71-game winning streak broken. The Lions lost 9-0 in five innings on Wednesday. … The Lions are last in the conference in team batting (.215), team ERA (5.44) and team fielding percentage (.943). ... A&M-Commerce does lead the conference in stolen bases with 43, which is impressive considering the Lions are last – by far – in on-base percentage. The Lions' OBP is just .271, while the second-to-last SLC team in OPB is Northwestern State at .328.
TAMUCC (12-6, 0-0 SLC)
March 8 – vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (5-17), Game 1, Noon, Chapman Field
March 8 – vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (5-17), Game 2, 2 p.m. (approx.), Chapman Field
March 9 – vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (5-17), Noon, Chapman Field
Up Next: The Islanders will continue Southland Conference play with a three-game series in San Antonio against Incarnate Word. Unlike every other SLC series, the teams will play a single game first and a doubleheader the following day. The teams will play at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 15, then play two games beginning at noon Saturday, March 16.
Next Home Game: The Islanders begin a three-game SLC series against Northwestern State on Friday, March 22 at Chapman Field. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon Friday followed by a single game beginning at noon Saturday, March 23.
Stay Social
For more information on Islanders Softball, keep up with the team via their Facebook page (
Islanders Softball) and follow the program on Twitter (
@IslandersSball) and Instagram (
islanderssball).
#ShakasUp
