Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A little over 40 girls representing several local private and public high schools got a chance to learn new softball techniques this past Monday, when cousins Matalasi Uiagalelei Faapito and Selina Uiagalelei Taamilo hosted a one-day, free softball clinic at the Tony Sola'ita Baseball Field in Tafuna.

Softball players from Leone, Samoana, Tafuna, Nuuuli VoTech and Manumalo gained much from the few hours they spent with the Uiagalelei girls, who traveled to the territory for a wedding.

In addition to giving pointers and helping the clinic participants develop a deep appreciation of the game, the Uiagalelei girls - with the help of their parents and the Athletics Mercado Softball Organization in Temecula, CA - have donated softball equipment that will be distributed to local schools fielding a softball team.

This is according to clinic coordinator, Tiana Trepanier, softball coach for Manumalo Academy.

Matalasi Uiagalelei Fa’apito  is a New Mexico State University softball commit. Her cousin Selina Uiagalelei Ta’amilo is a winning softball pitcher and graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

These two are not new to softball.

In 2017, as a UCLA Bruin, Ta’amilo went 14-0 with a 2.83 earned run average (ERA) and 75 strikeouts in 104 innings, good enough to tie for the second-most wins without a loss in one season for a Bruin pitcher, and tie for ninth among Pac-12 pitchers in wins.

Faapito is a star pitcher at Great Oak High School in Temecula, CA who maintains a 4.0 GPA.

The girls representing several local private and public high schools during the one-day, free softball clinic at the Tony Sola'ita Baseball Field in Tafuna. [photo: BC]