Kapolei softball's Saito set to play for Team USA
The Kapolei High School freshman was recently named to the USA Softball 15-and-Under National Team, earning a coveted spot among 16 players from across the nation.
The Ewa Beach native will don the red, white, and blue at the upcoming Pan American Championship in Acapulco, Mexico, and later at the WBSC World Cup in Italy. For Saito, the honor is both humbling and thrilling.
'I get to represent Hawai'i—that's a big thing for me,' Saito said. 'We're small, so getting to represent this very small state means a lot. And overall, representing USA internationally—it's crazy to be one of the few people to do it.'
Saito credits her teammates and mentors for pushing her to new heights in the sport she loves.
'All my teammates have made me want to be better, especially working with my upperclassmen. They've really pushed me to improve,' she said.
A catcher with a powerful bat, Saito plays club softball with Hana Pa'a while balancing her freshman year at Kapolei. She sees the game as more than just a sport—it's a lifelong teacher.
'Softball is basically my life,' she said. 'It's taught me so many life lessons—how to work with others and adapt to different situations. I'm really excited to see these new places and play with people I've never seen before. But honestly, I'm also a little scared about how it's all going to turn out.'
Saito and Team USA will first take the field at the Pan American Championship, set for March 19-26 in Acapulco, Mexico. Following that, the squad will compete in the WBSC World Cup from June 27 to July 5 in Italy, where they will take on some of the top young talent in the world.
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