Note: in the initial version of this story, Full Count Softball had the wrong club team listed for Alyssa, the error has been fixed and we apologize for the mistake (and all the phone calls the Kumiyamas received because of it!).  The writer, Brentt Eads, has been reprimanded and severely chastized by the Executive Editor, who is also Brentt Eads. Sigh…

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There are so many great “sister acts” in softball these days it’s hard to know where to start… there are those who just finished college—such as twin sisters Tatum and Taylor Edwards who helped Nebraska advance to the Super Regionals for the second year, but are now done—to siblings where one’s in college and another is on the way—such as Michigan All-American Siera Romero and her high school sister, Sydney, who will report to Oklahoma this fall.

Then there are those sisters where both are still in high school and one of the most talented tandems—certainly in terms of National Championships—would have to be Alyssa and Hannah Kumiyama who both play in the So Cal Athletics organization and both will someday be in the same SEC dugout.

Five rings between them

Alyssa is the oldest, a 2017 catcher/first baseman who plays for the A’s team coached by Bruce Richardson, the powerhouse squad that won the first four PGF 18U Premier National Championships. She was also listed as the No. 17 prospect in the Full Count Softball Hot 100 for her class and has committed to South Carolina.

Hannah is a 2019 third baseman/pitcher for the A’s team coached by David Mercado that won the 12U PGF Nationals in 2014. Hannah also won a National Championship in 2012 as part of the Firecrackers-Thornburg organization that won the ASA 10U Nationals and just three weeks ago also committed to be a Gamecock.

In fact, both girls have won national titles at the 10U and 12U levels as Alyssa won the 10U ASA Nationals in 2010 when she was with the Firecrackers 99 Quarles team and then won the inaugural PGF 12U Nationals in 2012 as part of the same team moved up in age.

But Alyssa pulled ahead last summer in the title count when she won her third national crown as the A’s – Quarles team won the ASA 14U Nationals a week after finishing second at PGF 14U Nationals.

So if you’re keeping track at home, that’s five National Championships won between the siblings and it looks like Hannah will have two years to try and get one in the 14’s and catch her big sister.

One sister almost left softball for good

Ironically, one of the teen athletes almost quit the sport and would have missed out on the Gamecock softball experience down the road with her sister.

Says the girls’ father, Chris: “Hannah had given up softball between her first and second year of 12U. She was playing basketball for a travelling team, coached by Mike Freeman—the dad of ASU catcher Amber Freeman. Hannah returned later that year and finished great in softball.”

Although she is a year away from high school, the future has been set as Hannah will attend Gahr High in Cerritos, Calif. next year and will play softball there with Coach Quarles and continue her hoop career there also. She’s currently at Gompers Middle School in Lakewood, Calif.

And basketball isn’t just an afterthought; Hannah is actually really, really good. In the first game of the year, her middle school team only suited up five players and lost, but the younger sister exploded for 25 points.

“She’s fun to watch,” says her dad. “If she was to give up softball to play basketball, we would be OK with that. It’s too bad she can’t play both although we plan on sending her to a basketball camp at South Carolina. On one of her visits she got to work with (South Carolina head coach and three-time Olympic Gold medalist) Dawn Staley and was able to put on her Gold Medal.”

Older sister Alyssa is strictly softball focused and it’s paid off. She’s recognized as one of the elite catchers at any age level and combines power in her bat with excellent defensive skills.

Agile and athletic as a backstop. Alyssa has already proven herself at the high school level.

As a freshman at Gahr last spring, Alyssa hit .543 with 36 RBI, 11 home runs and a 1.114 slugging percentage. She was voted as an All-Area pick and the San Gabriel Valley League MVP. Alyssa was also the only freshman selected to the All-CIF Southern Section Div. III team.

Although Alyssa is one up on Hannah in championships, Chris Kumiyama candidly says, “Hannah is the better overall athlete. She can throw a football better than most boys and kick a soccer ball around like she’s been playing for awhile. Hannah played volleyball for her school and drew praises as a great middle blocker which is funny thing she never picked up a volleyball before in her life. At South Carolina she was able to spin the ball on her finger longer than any of the college players there!”

Good times, bad times when committing

Hannah actually wanted to commit to South Carolina last August, but her family felt it was too soon. She also was recruited by Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oregon, LSU, ASU and many others and took trips to several major programs.

“Hanna wanted to be noticed not because she is ‘Kumi’s’ sister, but on her own merit.”

The younger player quickly got first-hand experience of what it’s like to be a highly recruited athlete. She went to several camps, including on at South Carolina, where she was wined and dined by the staff and even the players.

“She got to meet the Gamecock girls again,” explains Chris after Hannah got to know the team during Alyssa’s recruiting process. “They really made her feel comfortable and party of a family. That weekend last August she really wanted to be the first 2019 to commit, but I talked with the coaching staff and we felt that we had plenty of time and that for a 13 year old who was just starting eighth grade it was way too early. Hanna was a little dejected at the time.”

Travel ball season started last fall and the younger Kumiyama went on a tear and the interest from colleges grew heavier. Her father had second thoughts about not letting her commit during the South Carolina camp.

“She was getting noticed left and right and wanted to visit many of the other schools. I was, like, ‘Darn, I wish I would’ve let her commit to SC earlier,’ but ultimately the schools that she visited just didn’t give her the same feeling that she had experienced while at South Carolina.”

Making it official

About three weeks ago, in mid-January, Hannah made up her mind. She texted her sister and said she wanted to play with her and how exciting it would be for both of them to be together.

“We were surprised,” says the teen’s father, “but excited also. We felt that being able to watch both our girls in college will be amazing.”

One reason for picking her sister’s eventual school is Hannah is excited to have the opportunity to be in the same college battery with big sister.

“Hannah has always been competitive,” continues her father, “she always wanted to strike out her sister or beat her at this or that. Now, though, I think she finally realized how amazing it would be to pitch in a game and have her sister catch her.”

It was a bittersweet moment, however, when Hannah committed on January 11 because her father had to go to the hospital the next day to have a knee replaced and then, the day after his surgery, Chris’ father passed away.

In November, Alyssa had to have minor knee surgery and was able to walk around without crutches five days after. However, the wear and tear of catching wasn’t the only thing that had impacted her knees.

“About two months before that,” Chris reflected, “my wife Teresa and Alyssa were in a bad car accident. A car turned in front of them as they were going about 40 miles per hour. Luckily our Jeep Wrangler held up amazingly well, but the car that turned in front of them was totaled. Still, the jeep sustained over $13,000 worth of damage, but the worst part is Alyssa slammed her knees into the dash, so that didn’t help any.”

Knock on wood, the streak of tough times is over and now the future looks very bright for both players and family, which will likely stay intact as the girls get closer to starting college.

“We are also probably going to move to South Carolina and retire out that way,” says Chris.

Until then, there’s school ball this spring and then the summer march to add more club national championship hardware to the athletes’ trophy case.

“Hopefully, Hanna will follow Alyssa and add a 14U national Championship as well,” says the players’ proud father. “If that happens I’m not sure if there is anyone else out there that can say that have two daughters who have won as many national titles.”

“Still,” he concludes, “no matter what happens after this point, we have been very blessed.”