VALUABLE SOFTBALL TRAINING IN JAPAN

By Patrick Lujan

Women’s softball is huge in Japan as our northern neighbors are one of two powerhouses on the world stage along with Team USA.

Some of Guam’s young players had the grand opportunity to train and learn from world-class level coaches and programs in Tokyo.

Headed by baseball legend and Guam women’s national softball head coach Keith Hattig, the small delegation of young players jumped on the chance to gain top-level knowledge and technique.

The five players from Guam:

1. Sadie Guerrero
2. Mylie Butters
3. Kaia Chiguina
4. Angelina Guerrero
5. Malia Martinez

“This is a start of a friendship and collaboration with Guam and Japan that a good friend of mine wants to continue doing for the sport,” said Coach Hattig.

The Guam delegation enjoyed four days of training: two days at Tokyo International University and two days at Tokyo Women’s Physical Education University where Hattig describes the hows the Japanese players ‘practice to perfection’.

All things started probably around the infancy of the five Guam players when Hattig built relationships with the Japanese coaches – who were players at the time and training on Guam. It was then when a friendship was built and an invitation was extended a generation later for Guam’s young softball players.

Olympic Gold Medalist

One distinguished coach is Rie Sato, who was a long-time Japan national player and was part of the 2008 Olympic gold medal team and the 2004 Olympic bronze.

She is now the head coach of the TWPEU, which hosted the Guam girls for a couple of days to share her softball knowledge.

“This training was amazing on how the Japanese want to be No. 1. These (Japanese) college girls can all play on any U.S. team,” Hattig explained.

Pro Game

The girls even took in a Japan Diamond Softball League game, a pro level game with international players, which included Bubba Nickles a couple of seasons back.

The Guam players were also able to meet two Team USA players on contract playing for the Honda Reverta team in Japan: Ally Carda and Jailyn Ford.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Hattig hopes to carry the momentum to include other sports and have the Japanese coaches come to Guam to do more training for our island athletes.

“I will be coordinating for baseball, fastpitch softball and volleyball. I’m hoping federations and the government will be able to support our young athletes that want to pursue higher level play of the game they love.”