This season, the University of Hawai'i softball team is benefitting from the power of positive thinking and by thinking positively about power.

Entering tomorrow's opening round of the Bank of Hawai'i Invitational Softball Tournament, the Rainbow Wahine are one home run shy of tying the school's single-season record.

The Rainbows (23-5) have hit 41 home runs in 28 games. They set the record last year with 42 homers in 54 games.

Kate Robinson, a first baseman/pitcher, leads with eight home runs.

First baseman Tyleen Tausaga has hit seven, and outfielders Brandi Peiler and Tanisha Milca each have six.

The Rainbows have hit six grand slams this season.

Of the Rainbows' 131 RBIs this season, 82 are off of home runs.

Three players have hit two home runs in a game — Robinson against Colorado State and Southern Utah; Milca against Loyola Marymount, and Peiler against Pacific.

"Everybody is playing really well, and we're feeding off of each other," said Robinson, who yesterday was named the Western Athletic Conference's Hitter of the Week.

(Teammate Justine Smethurst was named the WAC's top pitcher for the week.)

Robinson attributes her power surge to a restful offseason.

"I took a break over the summer," Robinson said. "I felt refreshed. When you don't do something for a little bit, you're more excited about it."

UH coach Bob Coolen said there is power from the leadoff hitter to the No. 8 slot.

"It is phenomenal to have the potential that any batter, at any time, can hit a dinger," Coolen said.

The exception, for now, is Stacey Yamada, who does not have a hit in 12 at-bats. But Yamada serves a more vital role as Smethurst's designated catcher.

Last week, Smethurst went 5-0, all complete games, including two victories over No. 14 Oregon State.

"Her presence on the mound right now is incredible," Coolen said. "She's pitched in the right games for us. She's pitched in really tough games. She's done a nice job."

Coolen credited Yamada's pitch selection.

"(Yamada) has settled (Smethurst) down," Coolen said. "They're working well together. They communicate well. They listen to me when I ask them about the sequence of pitches. Stacey has emerged."

Smethurst has benefitted from training with Australia's 23-and-under national team. The workouts included time spent watching the Australian men's fast-pitch softball team.

"It was nice to see how the opposite sex throws the ball," Smethurst said. "The men just throw it hard. They move the ball like I haven't seen before."

Smethurst also used the time to perfect a riser, which clocks at more than 65 mph (the equivalent of a 90-plus-mph baseball fastball.)

"I have a bit more wrist snap on it," Smethurst said of the riser. "It is one of my faster pitches, so I can come back with it higher for them to chase. Lately, I've been throwing it (consistently) for a strike, which is nice as well."

In a 3-0 victory over Oregon State, Smethurst recalled, "I didn't get many strikeouts."

Instead, she mixed pitches in throwing a two-hitter.

"I concentrated on locations," Smethurst said. "I got them to hit balls off the plate and make them chase bad pitches earlier in the count."

Coolen said Robinson is regarded as the No. 2 starting pitcher.

In tomorrow's doubleheader, Smethurst will start against Liberty and Robinson against California

"After that, it could be the Juz show," said Coolen, noting Smethurst is effective in games with twilight starts.

"The 6 o'clock dusk-to-darkness setting is perfect for her," Coolen said. "She's been pitching lights out at that time."

The Rainbows play Baylor on Thursday and Nevada on Friday.

The bracket rounds, third-place game and championship will be played Saturday.

The Rainbows had to alter the schedule after Arkansas-Pine Bluff withdrew from the tournament.

The Lady Lions did not explain why they would not play. Their Web site lists a schedule, but no results. There also is a roster, but there is no head coach listed.

Baylor, at No. 16, and No. 23 California are the only ranked teams in the tournament. That could change today when the coaches' and media's polls are released.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.