California native, Gamecock softball signee feeling at home in Lexington
If Southern Cal had a softball team, there is a good chance Hannah Kumiyama and sister Alyssa would have stayed in Southern California for their college playing days.
Instead, Southern Cal’s lack of a program is the Gamecocks’ gain.
Alyssa Kumiyama is a sophomore at USC. Hannah, who committed to the Gamecocks in the eighth grade, will be joining her sister next season to pay for Beverly Smith’s program.
“My sister and I are Southern Cal fans and my mom joked one day, ‘What about the University of South Carolina?’ because the other USC doesn’t have a softball team. So my sister looked at it, loved the campus and loved everybody,” Kumiyama said. “She went on a visit and committed. I went on a trip to Michigan and knew it wasn’t for me and knew South Carolina was home for me.
“We definitely are dedicated to USC out here they have been like family to us, accepting us in and giving us the best opportunity we can. Definitely still a SoCal fan, but go Gamecocks.”
The Kumiyama family left their SoCal roots last year and moved to South Carolina, where Alyssa a year ago played a key part in South Carolina’s first trip to the NCAA Super Regionals since 2007. Hannah’s transition was a little rockier. She tore her ACL on the fifth day of basketball practice and missed the entire 2018 softball season as well.
After a long rehab process, Kumiyama was back on the basketball court in the fall and was starting point guard on the Wildcats’ team that made it to the Lower State championship for the first time since 1979. Hannah averaged 5.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
On the softball field, Kumiyama is hitting .552 and is second in the Midlands with five homers to go along with nine RBIs. In the pitching circle, she is 3-0 with 0.75 ERA.
“It definitely was heartbreaking missing out on my junior year of sports. But I am so glad to be back on this team and Wildcat Nation playing the game I love,” Hannah said last week after hitting the game-winning RBI in the victory over Dutch Fork. “I couldn’t have done it without my basketball or softball teammates and without the support of my family. They played a big part in everything I do out here and I am just thankful for it. It has been a long ride and I am happy that I am out here.”
First-year Lexington coach Laurie Epps is glad to have Kumiyama back on the field and has used her in a variety of ways. Hannah has pitched, played first and third base, and played some in the outfield. But more than her play on the field, it is her intangibles that Epps likes the most.
“Her knowledge of the game, she knows it inside and out,” said Epps, who coached previously at Dutch Fork. “She has been well coached throughout the years and it shows. She knows how to play every single position.
“She is resilient and worked really hard to get back on the field in the offseason. She still was passionate about basketball and did a great job with basketball. She is a great teammate and good kid.”
Hannah likely will play pitcher and infield for the Gamecocks. She tries to get to as many games as she can to see her sister play and is looking forward to being a teammate with her next season.
“She is out here supporting me when she can. She is one of my biggest fans and I try to be one of hers,” Hannah said. “I am looking forward to playing at USC. I am looking for the facilities they have, the coaching staff and the girls I am coming in with.
“I am looking forward to being part of something that hasn’t happened in bit at SC in a very long time. They have never won a national title. … If we can bring that to USC it would be great.”