LIHU‘E — DeeShanaLynn Tafiti is the name on the roster at Angelo State University, but at the batting cages at the Lihu‘e County Park, she’s just Shana Tafiti.
“I got hurt toward the end of the season, but I think I finished pretty good,” Tafiti, a senior for the Rambelles, said during work outs with coach Karl Tashima, Thursday at the cages. “I don’t really follow the stats, but I ended as a designated hitter with about 11 games remaining on the schedule.”
On Apr. 20, Tafiti broke out a seven at-bat hitless streak by roping the second pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning over the wall to lead ASU to a 4-3 win over St. Mary’s. It was her eighth home run of the season, and drove in two runs for the win.
“I was kind of flat in the middle of the season, but it worked out,” Tafiti said. “I also got the largest number of (times being hit by a pitch) for the school. That’s not recorded in the stats, but we have the books. I guess people were afraid to throw to me.”
This was Tafiti’s 34th RBI for the season.
Tafiti finished her junior season with a slugging percentage of .600 with 39 runs scored and 41 Runs Batted In.
Among her season accumulation, the ASU stats show the Kalaheo native had 12 doubles, two triples and 10 home runs. Tafiti led the ASU batters in home runs and RBI.
Following the season which ended in May, Tafiti said she tried out for the USA Women’s National Baseball team, having the experience of playing with other players on the squad against teams from Canada in North Carolina for about a week.
But another injury plagued the graduate of Waimea High School when she was hit by a ball.
During the winter break, Tafiti had an opportunity to reacquaint herself with players she worked with during high school, chatting with Jori Jasper and Jessica Iwata, currently on the University of Hawai‘i softball roster and graduates of Kaua‘i High School.
“We graduated about the same time,” Jasper, a former Red Raider first basemen, said. “Shana graduated in 2008 as a shortstop and pitcher and we got out in 2009.”
Tashima, who was working out with the three girls, was joined by Dallas Correa, who was home from Pacific University and Micah Hee who still has eligibility for the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo Vulcans. All players talked about their experiences at the different colleges.
“Shana’s still got something in her yet,” Tashima said, working with the ASU senior in refining her hitting.
Shana, who was enjoying watching her younger sister Deanna play basketball for the Waimea High School junior varsity girls’ team said she had to cut short working out because she needed to help “papa” at KJ’s Lunchwagon.
“Gotta help papa,” Tafiti said. “Grandma always follows what I do on the website; so when I come home, I gotta go help.”
Coach Kimo Tejaha said one of the keys to the success of the group working Thursday was the fact the student-athletes all had their parents on hand watching.
“The support is key,” Tejada said. “The parents of these students have been there from the time they started playing.”
