Softball notes: Lack named to Australia’s national team
Rainbow Wahine freshman Rachel Lack was again named to Australia’s national team this week after a solid performance in national championships in early January.
Lack made her debut with the national team last year and returns to the roster along with former UH standouts Kaia Parnaby, Stacey Porter, Justine Smethurst and Clare Warwick.
Lack played with Porter and Parnaby for New South Wales in the Open Women’s National Championship held Jan. 4-10 and hit .371 with four doubles while driving in nine runs. In 13 games, she started five at catcher, four at third base, two in left field and two in right.
UH coach Bob Coolen entered the spring with Lack slated to hit leadoff for the Rainbow Wahine and she could contribute both in the outfield and behind the plate.
>> The USA Today/NFCA Division I preseason poll was released on Tuesday with four UH opponents appearing in the top 25.
Fourth-ranked Oklahoma, which received one first-place vote, and No. 25 DePaul face each other in the opening game of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic on Feb. 5 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. UH opens against St. Mary’s before playing Oklahoma and DePaul in a doubleheader on Feb. 6.
UH faces No. 7 UCLA in the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic in Las Vegas on Feb. 14. No. 11 Washington returns to RWSS for the Bank of Hawaii Invitational Feb. 20-22 along with Central Florida, which received 16 points in the poll.
Cal State Fullerton was the only Big West team to receive votes with two points.
Defending national champion Florida tops the poll followed by Oregon, Alabama, Oklahoma and Florida State.
wish ur wahine good luck…. n no serious injuries…mr. coolen…mahalo 4 all u do..
It’s sad to see the NaWahine program fall so far from a few years ago. Just a remainder on how hard to sustain a program at a mid-major level. The fact the softball team couldn’t build on the Majam days, should make fans appreciate what Coach Shoji has done. Oh well, that doesn’t mean Coach Coolen and the NaWahine can’t win this year. Hope Coach Coolen has a an elite pitcher on his team or it will be a long season.
From this blog does it mean that Lack will not be playing this season for UH? When does the Australian National team start their season? Kaneshiro can you clarify.
Actually Rachel is in the National squad for 2015. She hopes to make final selection for the Team that goes to the Japan Cup between Aug 5-10. So no interference at all with her this semester for UH. Will be an important tournament for softball. Japan looking to have all top ranked countries participate to showcase the sport and have it as Japan’s selection if the Olympic Committee allow the Japanese a Captains pick for 2020. Australia would hopefully be well represented by Na Wahines??
Ron: thanks for the update re: Rachel.
Aloha Mr. Lack for the update. Looking forward to seeing your daughter play. I am assuming this your daughter that you are sharing this info on. Sounds like coach has her high on his roster to lead off.