Chaminade Leading Hitter Finishes College Career Strong
Among Chaminade shortstop Rayna Strom-Okimoto’s priorities this spring was to finish off her collegiate softball career in the right way. To that end, the Silversword senior and former Aiea High School standout has made sure that she saved some of her biggest efforts for her biggest games.
That was true enough recently when Strom-Okimoto was named Hawaii Tourism Authority PacWest Player of the Week (for March 25-31). The award marked her first Player of the Week honor this season and the second in her career.
Strom-Okimoto helped guide the Silverswords to a 6-0 mark during the week. She batted .480 (12-of-25), hit three homers, drove in eight, along with one double, a walk and a stolen base. She produced an .880 slugging percentage with a .500 on-base average. She also is the team’s leading hitter and is ranked eighth in the conference with a .385 batting average and ninth in slugging percentage at .615.
Strom-Okimoto recently took some time away from school and softball to visit with MidWeek‘s West Oahu Islander.
When did you know softball would be a big part of your future? I started off playing soccer when I was 6 or 7. Then I played baseball for a long time before joining softball. For a while, I did both, but it became hard, so I decided to stick with softball. I fell in love with the sport when I was 11 or 12.
Who has had the biggest impact on your life? My grandparents (Neal and Sharleen Okimoto). They pretty much raised me and my sisters and helped me to become the person I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am today – going to college and playing softball – without them.
What was the biggest adjustment in moving from the high school to the college level? I pretty much grew up with the people I went to high school with. When I went away for college (at Southern Oregon University), I didn’t know anybody, and it was a big adjustment living on my own in someplace new.
What area of your game did you work on the most on during the off-season? I played in a summer league, so I pretty much worked on everything – my defense and my hitting.
What’s your favorite road destination to date? I actually like them all – especially the ones where I eat good. I like to eat at Olive Garden and other places we don’t have in Hawaii.
What film could you watch over and over? A League of Their Own.
What is in your iPod? I have a lot of music – country, reggae, hip-hop, pop, rap, everything. Before games I like to listen to instrumentals – relaxing music, like sounds of the beach.
What is your least favorite household chore? I’d have to say just cleaning in general. My room is kind of messy all of the time.
What website do you go to the most? I’d definitely have to say Facebook. I have the app on my phone. I like Facebook a lot.
How do you like to spend your free time? What are your hobbies? I like to play with my dog (Gunner, a Boston terrier) and spend time with my fiance (Kerry Hood). I also like to go to the beach, go hiking and just hang out with my friends.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully, I will have graduated with my bachelor’s and maybe a master’s. I want to become a massage therapist, and hopefully I’ll be married with kids.
