Player of the Year

Oli Keohohou of Newbury Park High doesn’t keep track of her statistics, or read her newspaper clippings or even talk about past softball feats.

None of that matters to her.

“Some people read [the newspaper] to get themselves motivated,” Keohohou said. “But when there’s nothing about them in the paper, then what’s going to happen” What’s [their] mentality going to be?”

“It’s not as important to me. I don’t need to read it.”

Avoiding the statistics and clippings is Keohohou’s way of keeping her game on an even keel.

Nobody in the county has proven more consistent than the 5-foot-6 bundle of power and speed, who still has her senior season to play.

Keohohou batted better than .400 for the third consecutive season, continued her power hitting binge and led Newbury Park to a Marmonte League co-championship and the semifinals of the Southern Section Division III playoffs.

The league’s most valuable player hit .484 with 44 hits, including eight doubles, five triples and four home runs, and is The Times’ Ventura County player of the year.

Although Keohohou’s mother, Marisa, has saved her daughter’s clippings for a scrap book, she, too, thinks avoidance is a good policy for the time being.

“I think it’s a lot better that she doesn’t read [the newspapers] because sometimes it says, ‘Oli carries the team and this and that,’ and she doesn’t feel that way,” Marisa Keohohou said.

“She says, ‘They can do without me; they’ve won without me and lost with me,’ so she doesn’t think it’s all her.”

Nonetheless, Keohohou is one of the region’s most feared hitters, as her league-high 16 walks attest.

In three seasons she has 125 hits, including 21 doubles, 24 triples and 10 home runs. Her career batting average is a blistering .475.

Still, Keohohou, a three-time selection to The Times’ All-County team, remains a student of the game, always looking for ways to improve.

Coach Pete Ackermann kept it interesting for Keohohou this season by moving her from first base to shortstop because of her sure glove and darting speed, and to leadoff batter so she would have more at-bats.

Keohohou, a player with exceptional instincts, didn’t disappoint.

“It’s just a pleasure watching somebody that good,” Ackermann said. “She’s exciting, not overly flashy.

“She can’t help but know she’s an outstanding player, but she doesn’t flaunt it. And that’s the best part.”