HAWAII WINTER BASEBALL
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
The West Oahu CaneFires' Sean Kazmar applied a tag to the North Shore Honu's Darren Ford in the bottom of the third inning yesterday.
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Koby Clemens gives the crowd even more to expect in the Honu’s victory
Choy Foo reaches base three times in opener
By Kyle Galdeira
Special to the Star-Bulletin
If his first Hawaii Winter Baseball game is a sign of things to come for Koby Clemens, his future is looking quite bright.
The third baseman went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and a game-high three RBIs to help lead the North Shore Honu over the West Oahu CaneFires 11-5 in the opening game of the HWB season yesterday evening in front of 1,531 at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu.
"It was almost like playing in an All-Star game because of all the talent out there," said Clemens, the son of future Hall of Fame pitcher Roger Clemens. Koby realizes that fans will instantly expect more from him because of his father's numerous accomplishments.
"We can (eventually) get to the (major league) level. I'm always going to have that target on my back with all the things (my father has) achieved. I'm just trying to follow my own path and just be Koby."
The Honu got out to a quick 2-0 lead after scoring runs in each of the first two innings. Center fielder Darren Ford singled to lead off the game and came home on Rodney Choy Foo's groundout to second base. Catcher Keiyo Aomatsu spanked the first home run of this HWB season on a fastball that he drove down the left-field line, just inside the foul pole.
"I thought it was a well-played game," said North Shore manager Dave Clark. "Our guys came out with a lot of energy. They played great, especially with it being the first game here."
West Oahu answered back in the third inning with two runs of its own despite failing to hit the ball out of the infield. Two walks and two wild pitches from North Shore relief pitcher Keisuke Hayashi coupled with two errors by Cory Dunlap at first base allowed the CaneFires to tie the game.
But the Honu regained the lead on a towering solo home run off the bat of left fielder Xavier Paul in the fifth inning that cleared the fence in deep right-center field more than 400 feet away from home plate. North Shore, which pounded out 14 hits in the game, scored four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to increase the lead to 11-3.
"It's important to start off strong," said Paul. "I knew when I hit it that I had at least a triple, so I started booking it. I saw the umpire raise his hand (to signify a home run) and I was surprised, I didn't think it would get out."
Scott Koerber picked up the victory in relief of starter Robert Hinton after allowing one run and striking out a batter in two innings. West Oahu's Joba Chamberlain pitched two strong innings with a strikeout, but gave up Paul's homer and was saddled with the loss.
The game featured a combined 13 pitchers as the two coaching staffs tried to get an idea of what the hurlers could do for the first time.
The CaneFires got the bulk of its offensive production from Peter Ciofrone, who went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, and first baseman Mike Stodolka, who collected three singles and an RBI. The two players combined for five of the team's seven hits in the game.
For Choy Foo, the game served as a homecoming as the designated hitter played his first game in Hawaii since graduating from Kailua High in 2000. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, who is a member of the Cleveland Indians organization, went 1-for-3 with an RBI and also walked and was hit by a pitch. He said he felt "nervous" in front of the hometown crowd, but is enjoying the opportunity.
"I try not to think about it," said Choy Foo, when asked about representing Hawaii as one of the local players in the league. "I try to just play my game and relax. It's good playing with different guys. It's gonna be fun."
This is the second go-around for HWB after a nine-year hiatus. All the players in the four-team league are under contract with Minor League Baseball, Japan Professional Baseball or the Korea Baseball Organization.
In anticipation of yesterday's opener, numerous changes were made to historic Hans L'Orange Park, including renovations to the grandstands, lights and restrooms, as well as the addition of a new open-air press box along the third base line, portable clubhouses and a well-manicured field.