Posted with permission, article and pictures, courtesy of Chaminade University
HONOLULU – Chaminade University softball coach Kent Yamaguchi announced Tuesday seven members of the 2022-23 recruiting class.
Alicia Amaya is an infielder from Bellflower High School in Bellflower, California, where she earned first team all-league honors after hitting .596 with seven home runs as a senior. She also was the Buccaneers’ Offensive Most Valuable Player in her sophomore through senior years. Amaya played for the Artesia Punishers club team and was on the 18U Gold Team at age 15.
Bailey Benson is a pitcher and infielder from Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington. A four-year varsity starter, Benson led the Bullpups to their best season in program history in 2022, taking them to the Class 4A championship game. During her senior season, she tossed 138 total innings with 164 strikeouts while leading the Greater Spokane League with an astounding .698 average. Benson also finished second in the GSL in home runs (8) and RBI (35).
Jaycie Chun is an outfielder from Maui High School in Kahului, Maui, Hawai’i, where she earned All-Maui Interscholastic League Second Team honors and helped the Sabers finish as the MIL runners-up this past season. They also earned a berth in the Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division I Championships, finishing as the consolation runners-up.
Kamryn Lopez is a pitcher and infielder from Garces Memorial High School in Bakersfield, California where she earned BVarsity All-Area Third Team honors this past season. Her club team was the Artesia Punishers.
Ashley Ogata is a pitcher from Mililani High School in Miliani, O’ahu, Hawai’i, where she helped the Trojans to a fourth-place finish in the 2022 HHSAA Division I Championships. Ogata, who was named to the all-tournament team, put together one of the most dominant pitching performances in state tournament history, striking out all 15 batters in a five-inning perfect game against fourth-seeded Kealakehe in the state quarterfinals.
Isabel Rodriguez is an outfielder from Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, helping the Rebels reach two Colorado High School Activities Association 5A championship game appearances including a state title in 2019. As a member of the Colorado Styxx 18A Rodriguez softball club team, she was named to the Southwest Summer Nationals All-Tournament Second Team this past summer and was also a two-time USSSA Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Anissa Vital is a pitcher and outfielder from Mary Star of the Sea School in San Pedro, California. The team’s Most Valuable Player as a senior, Vital was also a 2022 All-San Pedro News Pilot First Team selection at utility while also garnering All-Del Ray League honors as a freshman. In the Stars’ penultimate game of the season, she struck out 13 in their win over St. Joseph. Vital, Amaya and Lopez were teammates on the Artesia Punishers club softball squad last year.
The Silverswords are coming off a 16-25 season this past season, posting the program’s most wins since 2013. They return 13 from last season including their starting rotation of Jaeda Cabunoc (Kaneohe, O’ahu, Hawai’i/Roosevelt) and Taylor Genera (Norwalk, Calif./Whitney) who helped post a 3.16 earned run average this past season, which was the seventh-lowest in school history.
All-PacWest second baseman Cheyne Obara (Pearl City, O’ahu, Hawai’i/Pearl City), the ‘Swords’ batting champion Bailey Jacobsen (Buena Park, Calif./Cypress) and runner-up Taryn Fujioka (Aiea, O’ahu, Hawai’i/Pearl City) are also returning.
