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Tanimura slugged Falcons to season-opening win with big day at the plate




Kylie Tanimura

Kalani softball  •   #10  OF/C/2B  Junior

Kylie Tanimura set the tone for the Kalani softball team in its regular season opener over the weekend. 

Tanimura, a junior right fielder, batted 3 for 4 with four runs batted in and two runs scored to lead the Falcons to an 11-2 win over host Castle Saturday morning. She accounted for 10 total bases while batting leadoff, with a home run and two triples.

"Kylie is one of our fiercest competitors and she really sets the tone leading off," first-year Kalani coach Iris Stremick said. 

Stremick noted that the 5-foot-1 Tanimura possesses some deceptive, but serious power in her bat. 

"You wouldn't expect it because she has a small structure, but she can really power that ball up. It's just so fun to watch just how her set-up is not a traditional set-up, but when she gets into that launch position, she really drives the ball with everything she's got. It's always fun to watch and I'm just amazed at how much she can put into that ball," Stremick said. 

Tanimura, who bats left-handed and throws right, led off Saturday's game with her first three-bagger on a line drive to the opposite (left) field. She came home to score the game's first run on the very next pitch, a passed ball. In her second plate appearance, Tanimura brought in a pair of runs with one swing of the bat. She smacked the first pitch of the at-bat over the fence in right field for a two-run home run to give Kalani a 4-0 lead. Tanimura flied out in her next at-bat, but finished her day at the dish with a two-out triple to right field that scored Kelsie Taketa and Rylie Kodama to make it a 7-0 lead after five innings. 

"Her intensity and her desire to compete, that's what stands out to me. Whenever I see her play, I'm always amazed how much power she can get out of her frame," Stremick said. "She's not a big girl, but she's one of our biggest power hitters. She's just very unassuming, but just really incredibly effective in whatever she does."

Tanimura, who was a Second Team All-OIA Eastern Division selection as a sophomore last year, can also play second base and even catcher, should the need arise, but her primary duties this spring will see her patrolling right field. 

"She's pretty much set as our right fielder and then occasionally we have her coming in as catcher and she's very strong behind the plate, doesn't skip a beat. She's able to frame (pitches) really well – basically wherever we put her, because she's so competitive, it's like she's been playing there forever, but at this point she's very valuable in the outfield for us," Stremick said. "She tracks balls very well, she doesn't sit back; She's always hungry to make the plays and she's very smart. She has a high softball IQ. She knows where the plays are, she has good vision, she's good on the base paths – just all-around a great player. Kylie's very competitive and brings the energy to the team."

Although Tanimura has the ability to get her teammates fired up, Stremick often references her calm and quiet approach at the plate. 

"She's very calm. She can take it deep into the count and just stay focused, no panic. She'll take a strike if it's not hers," Stremick said. "Her calmness and her focus on the batter's box is standing out to me a lot more than I've seen in years past – just good presence," Stremick expressed. 

Prior to taking over the Falcons' program this season, Stremick – whose older daughter, Leona, is a junior pitcher/infielder and younger daughter, Naomi, a freshman pitcher/first baseman/outfielder on the team – was more of an observer than a coach. 

"In the prior years I was just a spectator, but being able to work with Kylie this year, I think she's feeling more comfortable in her role, in her play, just being confident in what she can bring to the team. I think it's been good for her, as she's getting older, she falls really nicely in that leadership role, so often times when you know that you're one of the leaders, it brings more of a focus to your game as well and it's partial observation, but I get the benefit of seeing her in her mature years and how she's developed working closer with her now. I just think this year she's a lot calmer, a lot more confident and really embracing that leadership role."

As a third-year varsity player, Tanimura – along with senior infielder and University of Hawaii-signee, Madixx Muramoto – is expected to provide much of the leadership for the Falcons, whose roster is comprised of three seniors, three juniors, seven sophomores and six freshmen. 

"We have some really good leaders in the junior and senior class, but the bulk of our team is very young, so it's really good to have leaders like Madixx and Kylie to help guide them, especially for the freshmen. It's good for them to watch – by example – how to be intense, how to play the game and how to enjoy the game, too. As intense as Kylie is, she enjoys the game," Stremick said. "You can tell that she has fun competing."

Stremick describes Tanimura – who was a first-year member of the school's bowling team last fall – as full of spunk. 

"She's a lot of fun – very funny – kind of a firecracker," Stremick said. 

Tanimura flips the switch when it comes to gametime, however. 

"She has a certain quiet focus and intensity to her that when she's on the field, she's very intense, but I see that she really helps to guide the girls, the younger ones and she keeps it light in the dugout, has some fun with the girls and to me, she's really been a good role model, not necessarily telling people what to do, but with her actions and how much she hustles and how much she brings to the field every game, but at the same time, she's very approachable for the younger girls," Stremick added. 

Tanimura batted 2 for 2 with a double, walk and three runs scored in Kalani's 20-5 rout of Kaimuki Tuesday. 

Tanimura and the Falcons (2-0) return to the diamond Thursday, when they play host to Roosevelt at Kilauea District Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.


BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Jared Cruz, Hawaii Baptist — Had 14 kills and 11 digs in a four-set win over Punahou 

Helson Hertin, Kekaulike — Had 23 assists and two aces in a three-set win over Lahainaluna

Austin Kepani, Kekaulike — Had 15 digs and three aces in a three-set win over Lahainaluna 

Matt Mokan, Hawaii Baptist — Had 16 kills and 14 digs in a four-set win over Punahou 

Kullen Pua, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 19 kills, three aces and two digs in a five-set win over Hilo

Micah Wana, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 18 kills, three digs and two aces in a five-set win over Hilo 

Tai Wittenberg, Kekaulike — Had 17 digs and an ace in a three-set win over Lahainaluna 


GIRLS WATER POLO

Carly Jimenez, Roosevelt — Scored four goals in a win over Kapolei 

Kawehi Kauhi, Punahou — Scored four goals in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Leila Maynard, Mililani — Scored four goals in a win over Kailua 

Bella Nicolai, Punahou II — Scored five goals in a win over Mid-Pacific II

Elilai Petko, Mid-Pacific — Scored four goals in a win over Iolani 

Cassidy Pong, Mililani — Scored five goals in a win over Kailua 

Sophia Posch, Moanalua — Scored six goals in a win over Waipahu 

Synnove Robinson, Punahou — Scored four goals in a win over Iolani 

Rozlynn Sanchez, Leilehua — Scored four goals in a loss to Kalaheo

Emma Simmons, Punahou II — Scored four goals in a win over Mid-Pacific II 

Taylor Smith, Leilehua — Scored seven goals in a win over Pearl City and scored six goals in a win over Moanalua 

Jayzlyn Tomisa, Roosevelt — Scored four goals in a win over Kapolei 


SOFTBALL

M. Alexander, Lahainaluna — Struck out 12 batters, walked none and scattered four hits over five scoreless innings pitched in a win over Kamehameha-maui 

Kiara Baba, Iolani — Threw a six-inning no-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Paige Brunn, Punahou — Allowed one earned run on nine hits with one strikeout and no walks in a complete-game win over Kamehameha 

Trinity Caporus-Santos, Aiea — Hit two home runs and had five RBI in a win over Radford 

Mia Carbonell, Iolani — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, double, three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Avhenlee Contado, Waipahu — Batted 2 for 4 with a double, four RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in a loss to McKinley 

Kylie Garcia, Damien — Batted 3 for 3 in a loss to Punahou II 

Amai Hanta, Kaiser — Batted 3 for 3 with a home run, walk, four RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Kailua 

Moani Ioane, Waianae — Batted 3 for 4 with two home runs, a double, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over Mililani 

Taryn Irimata, Campbell — Allowed one run on two hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in a complete-game win over Kapolei 

Kelsey Kawamura, Roosevelt — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles and three RBI in a loss to Kaiser 

Jerzie Liana, Waianae — Allowed one earned run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in six innings pitched and batted 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored in a win over Mililani

Kandi Malama-Ahlo, Kapolei — Threw a complete game and allowed one run on eight hits with six strikeouts and four walks and batted 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in a win over Pearl City 

Kealohi Markham, Iolani — Batted 3 for 4 with two RBI and a stolen base in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Kara Miyoshi, Moanalua — Allowed one unearned run on four hits with one strikeout and one walk in a complete-game win over Castle 

Madixx Muramoto, Kalani — Batted 2 for 4 with a walk, RBI and three runs scored in a win over Castle 

Jerrell Oriana Mailo, Waianae — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Mililani 

Makayla Pagampao, Mililani — Doubled, drew a walk and drove in two runs and pitched 4 1/3 innings of four-hit ball with one walk in a win over Pearl City 

Shonty Passi, Punahou — Doubled, walked and drove in two runs in a win over Kamehameha 

Braiesey Rosa, Waianae — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI in a win over Mililani 

C. Ross, Lahainaluna — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, four RBI and a run scored in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Briana Sarae, Maryknoll — Batted 2 for 3 with two RBI in a win over Kamehameha 

Halle Sele, Punahou II — Batted 3 for 3 with two home runs and six RBI in a win over Damien 

Jenna Sniffen, Maryknoll — Threw a complete-game five-hitter with eight strikeouts and two walks and drove in a run and walked twice in a win over Kamehameha 

Malia Taga, Moanalua — Batted 3 for 5 with three doubles, an RBI and three runs scored in a win over Castle 

Emily Tome, Moanalua — Batted 3 for 5 with three RBI in a win over Castle 

Kaia Trask, Waialua — Batted 2 for 4 with a triple and four RBI in a win over Kahuku 

Quinn Waiki, Campbell — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBI in a win over Kapolei 

Rylee Yamasaki, Kaiser — Batted 5 for 5 with a triple, double, three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Roosevelt 



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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