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Half the bash BIG Mac and Jose, your collective nickname is safe -- for now.
Kila Ka'aihue plays on without
the help of his brotherBy Marc Dixon
mdixon@starbulletin.comThis season was to be the year that Iolani rode the bats of brothers Kila and Kala Ka'aihue in search of a return to the state championship.
After an unfortunate injury this past weekend, if that is to happen it's going to have to be on the sweet swing of only one-half of Hawaii's "Bash Brothers."
"I have to hit for him too now," said Kila Ka'aihue, commenting on the news that younger brother Kala would be lost for the regular season after sustaining a broken foot in the Trojan Invitational at Mililani last weekend.
A second-team all-state football selection, Kala managed an entire injury-free season at the physically punishing position of linebacker, but broke his foot running out a towering fly ball to center, on a play that had zero physical contact.
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"He was running to first, hit the bag wrong and rolled it over," said Kala's father, former Hawaii Islander Kala Ka'aihue. "But he's young and strong, he should heal fine."Iolani coach Dean Yonamine is hoping to get his junior clean-up batter back in time for the postseason, but knows that getting there without Kala will be a challenge. "You're talking about losing probably the best catcher and one of the best hitters in the state," said Yonamine. "We'll just have to step it up in other areas."
One player Yonamine will be counting on for added production will be his senior first-baseman and part-time closer, Kila -- a player the elder Ka'aihue calls one of the best pure hitters he has ever seen.
"As far as getting the head of the bat on the ball, Kila is a great hitter," said the one-time Pittsburgh Pirates prospect. "Some scouts have already compared him to Willie Stargell."
"J" Harrison, the Atlanta Braves' western crosschecker commented: "Kila's got a lot of power which profiles for his position, and he can go to all fields. He also showed he can hit the lefties. That's great because then he can be an everyday player." Harrison added he had also planned on looking at Kala. "There's definitely a bloodline there," said Harrison. "I saw Kala some last year and he's got some good pop."
Kila and Kala hit .492 and .321 last year, and before Kala's injury, both were very impressive in the preseason. Two weeks ago, in a game against Kailua, the 6-4, 220-pound Kila and 6-1, 225-pound Kala both homered. It was the second time they had accomplished that in the short preseason.
Hitting home runs is not the only thing the brothers do together.
Although a year apart, they share a March 29 birthday, play football together, train together and constantly push each other in the batting cage or the weight room to be better. "They talk baseball, they help each other with school work," the elder Ka'aihue said. "And it helps, they're both all-stars and honor-roll students since their freshman years."
Although the left-handed hitting Kila won't have his brother hitting behind him, Kala will still back his brother in other ways like trying to pick up opponents tendencies during a game or encouraging younger teammates. "We're not out of it, even with me being out," said Kala.
"Some of the guys will step it up. (Junior catcher) Reid Saito is going to be good this year."
According to Yonamine, it'll take a team effort to win in a very competitive ILH.
"The beauty of our league is the parity," said Yonamine. "It's not just the regulars anymore -- Iolani, St. Louis, Punahou, Kamehameha, Mid-Pac. You have to look at Pac-Five, what they did last year. Maryknoll has surprised some people."
Added Kila: "Defense will have to carry us. We've been turning a lot of double plays so far."
If defense can carry the Raiders to the postseason, Kala may get a chance to play with his older brother one last time. Teammates in baseball since they were seven and eight years old, the brothers know for sure they will not be teammates next season.
Kila has already signed to play at Nebraska next year, while Kala will be an Iolani senior, probably terrorizing ILH pitching on a fully-healed foot.
"I just want to play baseball. I liked Nebraska, but depending on my draft situation and the money, I might go that direction," Kila said.
"I'll have to ask my Dad what he thinks."
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