Gaylan Matagiese is playing softball in California. The Waimea High School freshman, more commonly known as “Ulu” to Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation fans, anchored the Menehune center field position and will be a sophomore when school opens in August. Coming on
Gaylan Matagiese is playing softball in California.
The Waimea High School freshman, more commonly known as “Ulu” to Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation fans, anchored the Menehune center field position and will be a sophomore when school opens in August.
Coming on the heels of the DataHouse Softball Division II State Championship, where Waimea dropped a 5-4 loss to Pac-Five, Matagiese closed off her school year before immersing herself in softball, honing her skills even more.
“Back in June, Ulu was given the opportunity to go to Honolulu and play softball with a traveling softball team,” said Makana Matagiese, Ulu’s mother, in an e-mail. “She is playing for Team Hawai‘i Gold coached by Mark Glushenko. She got to Honolulu on June 10 and started practice that very day.”
Juggling a schedule of practice, tournament play and fundraising, Ulu got an opportunity to play in her first fast-pitch softball tournament outside the state of Hawai‘i when she traveled to Washington to play in the Western Gold Territory tournament in Vancouver, Wash.
Team Hawai‘i Gold opened with a win over the Lady Hawks, 7-4, advancing to meet the San Jose Sting Rays.
Makana said that it was a close game, but Team Hawai‘i Gold prevailed when time was called on the match, 7-6.
“My mom and sister traveled to Washington to watch Ulu play and said they understood the San Jose Sting Rays to be one of the better teams,” Makana said.
The pair of wins advanced Team Hawai‘i Gold to the championship round, which played this past Sunday, the Hawai‘i team dropping, 8-0, to the NW Eruption.
Makana saw blessings in the loss because she said if Team Hawai‘i Gold had won, it would advance to the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia, during the first week of August. The family would have to come up with almost $2,000, not including spending money.
Coming off the Gold Territory Tournament, Team Hawai‘i Gold packed its bags and headed to Irvine, Calif. where they are currently playing in the Champions Cup Tournament until Sunday.
Makana said her daughter is having an opportunity to play with more Mainland teams, returning to Hawai‘i July 20.
But her schedule doesn’t get any easier because Team Hawai‘i Gold will be playing in another tournament being held at the University of Hawai‘i during the July 23rd weekend.
Joe Grace, whose granddaughter Davelynn Tafiti made the Division II all-tournament team, said she has been asked to play in a tournament on O‘ahu and believes it might be the same tournament Ulu is playing in.
Makana said following this O‘ahu tournament, Ulu comes home to start school in Waimea before having to fly back to the Mainland where she plays at Huntington, Calif. in a collegiate showcase, the tournament being sponsored by ESPN. Makana said this tournament will have a lot of college scouts looking at the girls.
In October, Ulu is scheduled to play in two more collegiate showcases, the Surf City Showcase in California, and another in San Diego.
“Through all of this, Ulu is gaining a lot more knowledge and experience,” Makana said. “While on O‘ahu, she got to attend the University of Hawai‘i softball and pitching camp in June where she was joined by Waimea catcher Kawehi Ephan and the two girls put on a hitting show, cranking balls into the tennis courts.”
This gave her an opportunity to forge friendships with the University of Hawai‘i softball team, including her cousin, Jessica Iwata.
Makana said all of this has a lot more fundraising efforts and soliciting sponsorships ahead of them.
“We are all very proud of Ulu, for not only being able to go off and play ball, but for also keeping her grades up throughout the year,” Makana said.
