View from centerfield at McKinley softball stadium. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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View from centerfield at McKinley softball stadium. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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McKinley's new softball stadium will make its debut for the Oahu Interscholastic Association Saturday night.

Ironically, it won't be the Tigers hosting the games.

Instead, Western Division powers will christen the $3 million complex with a twi-night twin bill. In the 5 p.m. opener, state runner-up Campbell will play Waianae, and defending state champion Mililani will face Pearl City at 7 p.m.

The Tigers will make their home debut March 14 against Castle. The new stadium will also host the OIA tournament, as well as Division II state tournament games.

In all, the West will have four games at McKinley, while the East has three. All will be televised. There might be a good reason for highlighting the West; five of the OIA's six Division I state representatives last year came from the West (Mililani, Waianae, Campbell, Pearl City and Leilehua). The lone East team was Moanalua.

The OIA also will use Central Oahu Regional Park as another neutral site for televised games. There will be eight West games and one East game at CORP.

The Sabers will be have five of their 12 league games televised. Only two of their home games will be in Ewa Beach.

Campbell coach Shag Hermosura said it might take his players some time to adjust to the new environment.

"I think we'll adjust pretty good," he said. "But having to play somewhere else and taking away the home-field advantage is a big thing for any team."

The Sabers are expected to compete with Mililani in division as well as in postseason. The Trojans beat the Sabers in last year's state title game.

The Trojans return All-Hawaii first-team pitcher Aubrey Kim, but lost first-team shortstop Jade Yadao-Valdez and outfielder Tori-Anne Baysa to graduation.

The Sabers only lost four-year starter Kawehi Kahana to graduation.  But they return their "up-the-middle" positions in All-Hawaii first-team selections in outfielder Nashlynn Anguay and second baseman Cydney Curran, shortstop Sissy Pantastico and catcher Kiana Ulufale.

"It's going to be a battle finding a good third baseman," Hermosura said. "We're trying out different kids over there.

The Sabers will be without All-Hawaii second-team first baseman Caragh Morris for the opener. She will be close by, though, as she is the top seed in the 168-pound weight class for the state wrestling tournament at the Blaisdell Center Arena.