Kamehameha’s Kamoku on how family led her to Ole Miss softball
HONOLULU (BVM) – Keila Kamoku and her Kamehameha softball teammates were able to play just three games this spring before the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. But even during a small sample size of her junior season, Kamoku was able to showcase why she was the target of a handful of Division I programs.
Batting .500 with nine RBIs, four runs scored, three walks and three home runs in just three games, Kamoku flashed her power, fielding ability and potential.
Gotta see it to believe it, here it is !! #gameagainstpunahou @PupulePaul @HawaiiPrepWorld pic.twitter.com/NZPnrEZEI7
— keilaa ;)) (@keilakamoku) September 24, 2020
At that point, Kamoku had offers from Hawaii, North Carolina State, No. 3 Texas and No. 2 Washington (rankings as of late February before the NCAA season was canceled), but the power-hitting shortstop chose Minnesota after forging a bond with head coach Jamie Trachsel.
“My (travel) coaches told me that the schools with the best fit for me have coaches with that family connection and bond,” Kamoku said. “That drove me towards Minnesota because the coach (Trachsel) was very connected with me in a way. She (Trachsel) made sure I was safe on my flight, she asked me how I was doing and I felt comfortable; I felt like it was my own family.
“Everything was so perfect there, besides the snow.”
Kamoku enjoyed the idea of joining her new family in the Twin Cities, until she received a phone call from Trachsel just a few months later. Trachsel informed her prized recruit that she left the Golden Gophers to join Ole Miss as its new head coach.
“She (Trachsel) says ‘I wanted to let you know that you’re my first call, I really want you on this side,’” Kamoku said. “It just made me feel that much more connected and special to her to know that I was her first pick to go with her to Ole Miss.”
Although Kamoku said her decommitment from Minnesota was difficult, “I think I committed more to the head coach than the school.”
A pandemic robbed Kamoku of a large portion of her junior campaign, but it has also given her the opportunity to hone in on her skills. Late-night hitting sessions with her dad, Kela, have increased in recent months as Kamoku makes up for lost time.
“Ever since this pandemic, it made me realize as a player, it’s how much you want it and how much your sport and life means to you at this time,” Kamoku said. “I think it’s just how much heart you have and how much work you’re willing to put in without anyone being there to watch you. That helped me grow as a player and a person.”
The senior now has her sights set on Oxford and SEC softball for an Ole Miss squad that finished 12-13 following a pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Kamoku hopes to prove Trachsel’s decision to bring her along is the right one from Day One.
“I’m the type of player where I’ll work my butt off to either get the starting position I want, or at least make the starting nine as a freshman,” Kamoku said. “I will do anything in my power, using my talent and hard work, to show the coaches I belong on that field.”
