Friday, January 11, 2002
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Second base isn't a typical position for a power hitter, but it is the place where Hawaii Pacific senior slugger Wade Taguchi plays. Power from the pivot
Hawaii Pacific is counting on
second baseman Wade Taguchi
to supply switch-hitting powerBy Brandon Lee
blee@starbulletin.comTaguchi returns to HPU this season as the full-timer in the 4-hole, after spending some time at second base but playing mostly third last year.
The 5-foot-10, switch-hitting Taguchi was the Sea Warriors' statistical leader a season ago with eight home runs, 18 extra-base hits, 50 RBIs and a .570 slugging percentage. He also had a solid .338 batting average by collecting 51 hits in his 151 trips to the plate.
"I went out and did what I had to do," said the 22-year-old Taguchi, a Pearl City High School graduate who transferred to HPU three years ago after spending 1999 at the University of Hawaii.
"I feel even stronger (this year)," he added, noting that he weighs 195 pounds this season -- up from 175 -- due to his constant dedication in the weight room. "So I feel I can do more."
Taguchi likely will have to do more in order for the Sea Warriors to be successful and reverse course from losing campaigns in 2000 and 2001. HPU was 16-17 a season ago, and has only two other seniors (pitchers Keola McCallum and Jesse Whittemore) on the roster at the start of this one.
The independent Sea Warriors open their 2002 schedule Jan. 19 at Hans L'Orange in Waipahu against last season's California Collegiate Athletic Association champion, Sonoma State (Calif.) -- as they have in all but one of coach Allan Sato's six previous years at HPU.
The Sea Warriors will play eight games (four seven-inning doubleheaders) in five days against the Cossacks -- ranked No. 8 in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Division II preseason poll -- before hosting Division I power Florida State for a single game on Jan. 29. HPU will begin a series against Division II No. 28 Chico State (Calif.) later that same day.
Sato concedes that his big-bopping second baseman must again be a major factor if HPU is to have success early and then sustain it against its tough opponents, because the schedule doesn't get any easier. According to Sato, the Sea Warriors play all of the top-caliber West Region teams this season and must do well against them to attract postseason consideration.
"Anytime we're in a situation that we need to tie or win the game, we're gonna hope that Wade is at the plate," Sato said. "He's going to be heavily relied upon, and he'll bat in the heart of the order."
Taguchi did strike out a team-high 30 times last year. He said that most of them were on called third strikes, and he hopes that a stronger mental approach at the dish will help to lower his strikeout total in his final collegiate season.
He also committed 13 errors while spending most of his time at the hot corner a year ago, but he has been taking extra fielding practice to smooth the permanent transition to second base.
"I feel if I can improve in those areas, I'll do even better," said Taguchi, who admitted he feels some pressure from the expectations of those around him. "Every inning, every out, I want to play as if it's my last. That's the perspective I have."
Unfamiliar Faces Overview of 2002
Sea WarriorsHawaii Pacific had eight juniors, two sophomores and eight freshmen on its roster last season but enters this season with just five returning upperclassmen (three seniors and two juniors) and four sophomores. The rest of the roster, which has yet to be finalized , will be filled mostly by junior college transfers.
"I'm a little apprehensive," coach Allan Sato said. "Any time junior college players jump to four-year schools, there's a period of adjustment.
"(But) I think any time you have a new crop like we do this year ... that means everybody is fighting for a spot. From what I've seen so far, I'm happy with the desire -- the heart is there and that's always encouraging."
Besides seniors Wade Taguchi, Keola McCallum and Jesse Whittemore, the returnees are: junior pitchers Blane Muraoka and Neil Sullivan, and sophomores Ikaika DuPont (infielder/designated hitter), Andrew Stith (outfielder/pitcher), Kai Austin (pitcher) and Brian Hamilton (outfielder).
Among the newcomers, Sato said the biggest surprise has been freshman Alika Kuraoka, from Kamehameha Schools. Kuraoka is already penciled in as the Sea Warriors' starting first baseman and will also be the left-handed closer out of the bullpen.
Others who have impressed so far include pitcher Steve Stader, right fielder Shay Hirota and shortstop Nicholas Longpre. Stader is a lefty out of Treasure Valley (Ore.) CC, who likely will start in HPU's opener and has emerged as the early leader for the position of staff ace.
According to Sato, Hirota is "a real scrappy player" who will bat leadoff, while Longpre "is a guy we took a chance on" but has played well enough to emerge as the player who will attempt to fill the big void at shortstop left by the loss of star Bryce Uegawachi to graduation.
Sound On The Mound
Pitching -- or lack thereof -- has been the biggest reason for the Sea Warriors playing sub-.500 ball the last two seasons. HPU had no problem scoring runs in 2000 and 2001, but it regularly surrendered more. The team had an earned run average of 7.72 last season.
Yet, despite having to bring in several hurlers who are untested at the Division II level, Sato believes that pitching shouldn't be as big of a problem this year.
"I believe our pitching is 10 times better than last year," Sato said. "We were going to guys (in relief) too much early, then later having to leave guys in too much. This year, with a bunch of fresh arms, I feel we should be in better shape."
Right now, right-handed newcomer Blake Marschand figures as the No. 2 starter, with the righty McCallum at No. 3, righty Sullivan at No. 4 and lefty Austin rounding out the rotation at No. 5. The first guys out of the bullpen should there be trouble early will be either southpaw Muraoka or righty Whittemore, while newcomer T.C. Everett will come in from center field to be the right-handed closer.
Around The Horn
HPU's tentative defensive lineup has newcomer Brian Murphy starting behind the plate as catcher. Kuraoka will be at first base, Taguchi at second, newcomer John Torres at third and Longpre at shortstop. Left to right in the outfield are Stith, Everett and Hirota.
Small Ball
Though he still has Taguchi, Sato said that the 2002 Sea Warriors will not be the power-hitting team of the recent past. Of the three other returning position players, only DuPont hit any balls out of the park, with two home runs a year ago.
The HPU skipper believes his team will be much more of a station-to-station unit offensively.
"So, it comes down to execution," he said. "We've got to play the small game."
The Sea Warriors' likely batting order Jan. 19, one through nine, is: Hirota, Stith, Taguchi, then Torres hitting clean-up, followed by Murphy, DuPont (DH), Kuraoka, Longpre and Everett.