A year ago Ka'ili Smith was leading her Kapolei High softball team into the state tournament. Friday Smith and her Mississippi State teammates open NCAA Regional play against California.

Smith, a freshman outfielder, is one of four Bulldogs to start all 54 games this season. She hit .329 with 50 hits, 35 RBIs and 22 runs scored while batting mostly from the third spot in the regular season.

"We finished last in the SEC, but we took a series against Ole Miss and Tennessee, we took a game against Georgia, but with all the injuries we had, it was just a tough season for us," Smith said. "Our ace pitcher redshirted this year because of injuries and we lost a lot of close games, but we're thankful to be in the regionals."

Despite the numbers Smith put up this season, she admittedly had difficulty adjusting to Starkville and the South.

"It was hard at first. The weather would be cold then hot, tornado watches, but the worse part was not coming up here with a car," Smith said. "I came up with no warm clothes, so I had to go shopping for all that stuff and lately we've been under a tornado watch."

But playing in the Southeastern Conference has kept Smith busy.

"The stamina is what killed me the most, because we play back-to-back games in two days and the intensity is way higher," Smith said. "After just one game, I'm already tired, but you have to find the stamina for another game."

In spite of her breakout season, Smith believes she has much to improve.

"All aspects can be improved," she said. "My RBIs could go higher, my HRs could go higher, while still driving in runs and doing my job when runners are on base."

The other teams in the Tallahassee, Fla. Regional are Oklahoma State and host Florida State. Mississippi State has a 28-26 record, Cal is 35-18.

Among the big bats in the Golden Bears' lineup is sophomore catcher Sanoe Kekahuna, a 2007 Baldwin graduate.

Kekahuna is batting .258 with 33 hits, 28 RBIs and 22 runs scored.

"I played against her one time in high school," Smith said. "I watched her play before, but never got to meet her. Probably when we see each other, I'll give her a friendly hello and talk story for a little bit."

Others with local ties in the NCAA tournament are Purdue senior infielder Liane Horiuchi, a 2005 Kamehameha graduate, and UNLV junior outfielder Cheynah Farley, a 2006 Castle graduate.

The Boilermarkers (29-18) open with Louisville, while the Rebels (31-19) meet Fresno State Friday.

BASEBALL