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First off, my heart goes out to all the spring sports athletes, but especially all the seniors, for a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

And though the start of diamond sports is nearly 10 months away, here are a few key players to keep on the radar once pitches are thrown off the mound and the circle in 2021.

Joie Baker, Mililani softball, pitcher, class of 2021

What a difference a year made for Baker.

In the Trojans' pair of games played prior to the cancellation of all spring sports, where they faced West powers Pearl City and Kapolei, Baker combined with two other pitchers in a 7-5 win over the Chargers, putting in three innings of work with just one hit and one run allowed, then went the distance in a 5-0 victory against the Hurricanes, allowing no runs on just four hits.

Quite an improvement compared to her sophomore season, where Baker struggled against those same two squads during the regular season, giving up 15 runs on 16 hits in 11 innings of work.

"She played during the summer in California, and definitely improved on her control and her command of pitches, as well as the mixing of her pitches," said Mililani head coach Rose Antonio. "Overall, she came back much more poised and mentally stronger."

Baker, a four year varsity player, will be leaned upon even more in 2021 with the departure of Serenity Jackson to graduation.

"Joie, will be one of our leaders on our team, she brings maturity and experience to the team as a pitcher," added Antonio.

Caleb Lomavita, Saint Louis baseball, utility, class of 2021

Lomavita has been the "whatever you need" type of player for the Crusaders throughout his first three years of high school baseball, and that certainly looks to be the case again in his senior campaign.

He is projected to be a catcher when he moves on to play collegiately at the University of California at Berkley, but that hasn't stopped him from playing whatever position asked of him for the benefit of our team.

"Freshman year he was a catcher cause we needed him there, and sophomore year we needed him at first base and he pitched a bunch, and last year we had infielders, but needed an outfielder as well so he fit that bill," said Saint Louis head coach George Gusman.

With the departure of much of the 2020 pitching staff to graduation, including JT Nayvac, Richie Vidal III and Randen Kohagura, Lomavita may need to take the mound in 2021 once again.

"He'll probably be one of our two best pitchers next year," remarked Gusman. "We had Jordan Yamamoto pitching for us (in 2012) and we had to take him out of catching. Just the load on him trying to do that and go back after a few days and catch, it was just too hard, so we're going to try to do the same thing for Caleb. We're not going to catch him unless really have to, but we catch him now and then just to keep him sharp."

No matter what position he's played, Lomavita has been a leader for the Crusaders as captain for the last two years, and has also led the team in a host of statistical categories.

As a sophomore, he racked up the most hits (33) and RBIs (21) and also topped the team in innings pitched (40 2/3) and strikeouts (34). And in his abbreviated junior campaign, Lomavita hit safely in both games played, which included a 2 for 4 day at the plate against Maryknoll, where he scored twice and drove in two runs with a double and a triple.

"He's talented and he works really, really hard. That, combined with a great attitude and that he just cares for all the players on his team. He really is a once in a generational type of player to have."

Carys Murakami, Maryknoll softball, shortstop, class of 2022

In the two games Murakami played in an abbreviated sophomore campaign, she managed to put up quite the stat line: four hits, three doubles, three runs, two RBIs, three walks and two stolen bases in just six at bats.

And against two top ten teams to boot.

"Carys is a player that comes around every five to ten years to put it in prospective," said Maryknoll head coach John Uekawa. "She is literally a player/coach/cheerleader that leads by example through her hard work, dedication and commitment to the program."

Her fast start in 2020 seemed almost a foregone conclusion however, as she had already made quite the impression as a freshman for the Spartans, leading the team in just about every offensive statistical category.

In 2019, Maryknoll's lead off batter was tops amongst her teammates in not only hits (36), runs (35), and RBI (26), but also led in triples (3) and home runs (6). She hit for a .456 average, and started off the season with a streak of six multi-hit games capped off by a 5 for 5 day at the plate against Sacred Hearts. What's more, Murakami managed to record a hit in 17 of her first 18 games.

"She wants to be lead off, and its a trait that players don't always have," said Uekawa. "And her deceptive power establishes respect for other players in the lineup."

That lineup in 2021 is slated to include Gatorade Hawaii Softball Player of the Year Liliana Thomas, who herself started off 2020 with a bang, hitting home runs in both games played, as well as fellow three year mainstays Aloha and Mahalo Akaka.

Bennett Zeigler-Namoa, Baldwin baseball, pitcher, class of 2021

Certainly a known commodity on the Valley Isle, Zeigler-Namoa made quite the impression to a statewide audience in his tournament debut in the semfinals last year.

A surprise starter on the mound due to Roy Meinen unable to go due to a stomach virus, Zeigler-Namoa certainly did work, facing 17 straight batters before giving up a hit, striking out three and walking three.

To say expectations were high for his junior campaign would be an understatement.

"His sophomore year was kind of getting his feet wet, he was our day three starter," remarked Baldwin head coach Craig Okita. "As the high school season came around (this year), he knew that he was going to be the guy that we would rely on, and in his outings that he had, three in the preseason, he pitched really well."

The Bears' compiled a 9-1 preseason record, with the only blemish a 4-0 loss to Saint Louis. The 10 games played would be only ones for Baldwin in 2020, as the Maui Interscholastic League first league games were slated for March 19.

"He lost out on some valuable innings, just like everyone else did," said Okita. "Bennett would have been our ace this year, and if everything goes as planned, he'll be our number one starter on the mound and also be in the middle of our lineup, three or four, next year."

His sophomore year certainly gave a glimpse at the potential at the plate for Zeigler-Namoa, as he collected three triples and a double in 17 plate appearances, racking up a .471 average along the way.

"A lot of people don't know him as a hitter, (but) where he was at as a sophomore compared to his junior year, its remarkable how much better he's gotten at the plate. He would probably have been our best hitter (this past season)."