League owner Duane Kurisu and president Frank Kudo can only be pleased with the success the venture has enjoyed since its birth in 1993.

Last year 106,787 fans watched HWB games, a 47 percent increase over the previous season.

"This year we're looking to draw 150,000 fans or another 50 percent increase," Kudo said.

On top of that, the demand by Major League Baseball and the pro leagues in Japan and South Korea to place players here is far greater than the number of roster spots available.

If all goes well, the Honolulu Sharks, Hilo Stars, Maui Stingrays and West Oahu CaneFires will be joined by two new teams in 1997.

This year the league has made moves to further solidify its acceptance by the community.

A program, named "Baseball Bucks," has been instituted for group sales by charities and nonprofit organizations.

These organizations sell booklets of four general admission tickets for $20 and the organization gets to keep half.

"I think its one of the better deals for charities, because of the 50 percent cut, which is a pretty good cut," Kudo said.

Daren Grimes Jr., 7, and Ben Cavazos Jr., 5, discussed the finer points of baseball signatures while fathers Daren Sr. and Ben Sr. watched last year's Hawaii Winter Baseball league championship at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu.
By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin

And the league will produce its own half-hour weekly television show called "The Road to the Show," that will air on KFVE Mondays at 9:30 p.m. and on KIKU Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

"It's a way for us to tell more people about the league and what it's all about," Kudo said.

What it's all about is simple for the players. They can use the league to gain the experience necessary to make it to the major leagues or to at least advance up the minor-league ladder.

So far, about 30 HWB alumni have played in the majors and 62 have reached Japan's top level.

The rosters are dotted with talented players who were high draft picks, have made various minor league all-star teams and show up on Baseball America's Top 10 prospect lists.

The Sharks have third baseman Mark Farris, Pittsburgh's No. 1 pick in 1994; shortstop Chad Hermansen, Pittsburgh's No. 1 pick 1995 and first baseman Matt Smith, Kansas City's No. 1 pick in 1994.

Catcher Michael Barrett (Montreal), outfielder Brad Fuller (Montreal) and right-hander Jeff Martin (Kansas City) all have made Baseball America's Top 10 prospects lists.

Martin is one of four players in the league with Hawaii ties. He pitched for Kailua High School until his junior year, then moved to Las Vegas.

Mike McCutcheon, a Molokai High School grad who had a microscopic 0.49 ERA with the Diamondbacks (Arizona League), also will pitch for the Sharks.

The CaneFires' pitching staff is bolstered by two Top 10 prospects, right-handed closer Russ Ortiz, who had 23 saves for Double A Shreveport in the Texas League last summer and right-handed starter Cam Smith (Detroit).

West Oahu also has four players from South Korea's Lotte Giants, pitchers Sang Soo Kang, Dong Hee Park and Ji Chol Park along with second baseman Pil Sung Kong.

Catcher Chris Haas, St. Louis' No. 1 pick in 1995, joins two No. 2 picks by Japan's Hanshin Tigers, utility player Hirotoshi Kitagawa (No. 2 in 1994) and right-hander Yukiyasu Nakasone (No. 2 in 1995) on the Stars' roster.

Back for his second season with Hilo is Onan Masaoka, the Waiakea High School graduate who was the No. 3 pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995.

Masaoka struggled at times last summer with the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League, finishing with a 2-5 record and a 4.29 ERA.

However, Masaoka, along with outfielders Michael Coleman and Terrance Long, a former No. 1. pick, and first baseman Bryon Gainey, have all appeared on the top 10 prospects list recently.

The defending champion Stingrays have two Florida Marlins No. 1 selections, outfielder Mark Kotsay (1996) out of Cal State-Fullerton and outfielder Jaime Jones (1995).

Two other top prospects are third baseman Josh Booty (Florida) and right-hander Chris Fussell (Baltimore).

Yesterday, Orin Kawahara, who helped Baldwin High School win the 1995 state title, was added to Maui's roster. Kawahara pitched for the Seattle Mariners team in the Arizona League last summer and was 5-5 with a 4.16 ERA.