HONOLULU—University of Hawai'i head softball coach Bob Coolen announced the signing of four prep standouts who will play for the Rainbow Wahine in the spring of 2013. Kristina Akiona, Lindsey “Keiki” Carlos, Loie Kesterson, and Alyssa Villalpando all signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Rainbow Wahine this week during the early signing period.
 
Akiona is a 5-8 shortstop/third baseman out of Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Calif. She has helped the Mariners win three consecutive league championships—with an undefeated conference record at 12-0 in 2011. As a junior, Akiona hit .292 with a .500 slugging percentage and 12 runs scored. The Buena Park native plays for the Artesia Punishers club team where she has hit 32 home runs over the past three seasons. She also is an outside hitter on the Mariners' varsity volleyball team who earned second-team all-league honors. Akiona is also strong in the classroom as she was named a 2011 Scholar Athlete at Pacifica while making the Principal's Honor Roll the past two years. It will be a homecoming for Akiona who was born and raised in Hawai'i but left after the second grade when she and her family moved to California.
 
“Kristina is our future shortstop that can also play third base. She hits for power, has good size, has a strong arm and will fit in well in our program.” says Coolen.
 
 
Carlos a 5-5 pitcher/third baseman is a highly-touted local product out of Mid-Pacific Institute where she powered the Owls to their first state tournament title as a junior in 2011. Last season, she posted a 17-3 record on the mound with a 1.11 ERA, and 130 strike outs. On offense, Carlos hit .365 with three home runs and 19 RBI. She is a three-time first-team all-league, all-state, and state all-tournament selection and last year as a junior was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Hawai'i. She is currently playing for the club team, Island Athletes who are the defending ASA state champions that finished 13th out of 172 teams at the 16U Nationals in Chattanooga, Tenn. Carlos has also done well in the classroom earning a spot on MPI's honor roll and President's List.
 
“Keiki is projected to be a pitcher/third baseman for us. She is the complete player. Keiki has the ability to hit for power but also contact, she throws hard and will be an asset for us next year as a freshman.”
 
 
Kesterson is a 5-8 southpaw pitcher out of Corona High School in Corona, Calif. As a sophomore, she fired three shutouts en route to leading the Panthers to the Division I league championship game. She posted a 1.36 ERA in 160 innings with five saves and a 16-7 record while earning all-county honors in 2010. She plays for the American Pastime Gold club team out of Upland, Calif. where she has been a starter since her sophomore year. Kesterson has participated in the 2010 and 2011 ASA national championship in Premier and ASA Gold and helped take the team to a third place finish at the 14U ASA Nationals.
 
“Loie is a left-handed pitcher/outfielder and a right-handed hitter who is projected to play both positions while at UH. She has good discipline at the plate and can hit for consistency and power. As a pitcher, she throws in the low-to-mid 60's with movement. Since watching her the past three seasons, she has improved tremendously and she and Keiki will have to make an immediate impact with the departure of senior pitcher Stephanie Ricketts,” states Coolen.
 
 
Villalpando is a 5-8 catcher/utility player who is a three-year varsity softball letterwinner for Los Altos High School. She is a three-time first team all-league selection who was named the school's “Rookie of the Year” in 2009, “Silver Slugger” award winner in 2010, and last season was voted the Most Valuable Player on her team. In 2011, Villalpando hit .375 with a slugging percentage of .732, 16 runs scored and 12 RBI. She most recently was selected as a captain for the SGV Velocity Gold team that also produced current Rainbow Wahine Jazmine Zamora.
 
“Alyssa is a catcher/first base/third base player who is a power hitter. Over the past three years, she has developed into an experienced, seasoned catcher who handles her pitchers well and is a force behind the plate,” says Coolen.