Tamia Hirano is a middle infielder that starred at Edmonds Community College. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
Vikings Add Infielder Tamia Hirano to Roster
January 9, 2019
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University softball head coach Sheryl Gilmore has announced that middle infielder Tamia Hirano has joined the program for the upcoming 2019 season.
Hirano will be a junior in eligibility for the Vikings and has already joined the program in preseason practices for the 2019 season that begins with five games Feb. 1-3 at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas.
The 5-3 infielder, who bats and throws right-handed, is a native of Mililani, Hawai'i where she was teammates at Maryknoll High School with current WWU senior pitcher/third baseman Shearyna Labasan. Hirano spent the last two seasons at Edmonds Community College where she played under Gilmore and helped lead the Tritons to a 77-18 record and back-to-back appearances in the NWAC Championship Tournament.
In two seasons at Edmonds CC, Hirano started all 95 games and combined to bat .360 (112-for-311) with 30 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs and 89 RBI. As a sophomore in 2018 she hit .401 (67-for-167) with 50 runs scored, 18 doubles, 4 home runs and 63 RBI. During her junior college career she walked (25 BB) more than she struck out (16 K).
“Tamia is a competitive high-energy middle infielder with a smooth glove and a high softball IQ,” said Gilmore, who enters her first season leading the Vikings. “Having coached her the previous two years at Edmonds CC, I know what she can bring to our program and we are excited to have her join us. I’m looking forward to watching her elevate her game and contribute to the team’s success over the next two years.”
Hirano (name pronunciation: tuh-me-yuh he-rah-no) was a two-time NWAC All-Northern Region selection, including garnering first-team honors in 2018. She spent the fall at Eastern Oregon University before transferring to WWU.
The Vikings open the 2019 season Feb. 1-3 with five games in the 10th Annual Desert Stinger tournament at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, Nevada. WWU’s home debut will be a four-game GNAC series hosting Montana State Billings March 2-3 at Viking Field, with doubleheaders each day starting at noon. The 2019 schedule and roster can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/Softball.
-- WWU Softball --
