HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Tight East, West races expected
OIA BASEBALL PREVIEW
With most of the top teams from last year suffering key losses to graduation, the Oahu Interscholastic Association baseball season is shaping up to be quite a dogfight.
The usual suspects should rule the top of the West division while Kalani seems to be the pick of the litter among the East teams as the regular season gets under way tomorrow with 10 league games.
Aiea -- which has won two of the last three OIA titles under coach Ryan Kato -- was arguably hit the hardest of any OIA team to graduation. Na Alii graduated first-team All-State selections Derek Grace and Tripper Chung, and second-team all-state designated hitter Brian Morihara. However, senior Cody Aquino returns as the staff ace and is one of the top pitchers in the league.
"It's your typical West division this year, and you've always got to look at Aiea," Pearl City coach Melvin Seki said.
The Chargers haven't won a league title since '99, but Seki enters his 15th season at the helm with one of the more experienced teams in the OIA. Senior shortstop Chad Quillopo and first baseman Kellen Ushijima will lead a potent Chargers offense that should score a lot of runs.
Mililani is a team expected to make some noise in the West this season as well.
"The East division sent four of the five OIA representatives to the state tournament last season, and once again, is very deep. Last year's top two teams in the league during the regular season were Moanalua and Kaiser, but both squads lost many key contributors to graduation. The Cougars have to replace first-team all-state outfielder Scott Uehara, catcher Jarryd Maeda, and third baseman Colby Ho among others, while Na Menehune lost seven seniors to graduation, including second-team All-State shortstop Peter Arakawa. They will showcase a new starting infield.
"The thing is we're old, but young," Na Menehune coach Scott Yamada said. "The last two years we've had such strong senior classes that this year's seniors didn't have much of an opportunity to play."
The favorite among most coaches to win the East this year is Kalani. The Falcons are led by two dominant pitchers in left-hander Shamus Kumashiro and junior Micah Takahashi.
Castle should also be near the top at the end of the season as well.
Here's a quick look at all the teams:
East
Castle Knights
Coach: Joe Tom Jr., 17th season
Key players: Lyle Kitagawa, C, Sr.; Codey Cabael, P, Sr.; Pulama Silva, P, Jr.; Kainoa Tom, P/SS, Jr.; Joshua Serrano, P, Jr.
The skinny: The Knights will rely on their four seniors to help lead the way. In addition to Kitagawa and Cabael, outfielder Trevor Okumura and second baseman Brandon Gross are the other senior captains. Okumura has done well at the plate in preseason and Gross is a solid defensive player up the middle. Kitagawa should be a force in the three spot in the lineup and is also one of the best defensive catchers in the league. The Knights also have four solid pitchers that they'll be able to use efficiently throughout the season.
Farrington
Coach: Brandon Baniaga, third season
Key players: Bryson Segundo, C, Sr.; Diamond Pedro, 2B, Sr.
The skinny: Baniaga had to combine his junior varsity and varsity teams in order to field a team this year, and only was able to enter one preseason tournament. Segundo and Pedro are the only two seniors who will definitely be back as most of the team will be learning the game for the first time. Baniaga is looking for any pitchers who can stay in the game.
Kahuku
Coach: Steve Van Ness, third season
Key players: Steven Van Ness, P, Jr.; Gary Nagy, CF, Sr.; Kevin Van Ness, OF/P, Sr.; Travis Eugenio, P, Sr.; Jordan Kapu, SS, Sr.; Ikaika Sasaoka, C, Sr.
The skinny: Pitching will be the key as the Red Raiders are not deep in this area. Steven Van Ness and Eugenio will probably start every game this season. Kapu is a transfer from Molokai while Sasaoka transferred from Kailua, and should be two huge additions to the squad. The defense is much improved and if the two aces can carry the pitching load, the Red Raiders could be the sleepers in the East. All nine starting hitters batted .300 or better in the preseason.
Kailua
Coach: Corey Ishigo, eighth season
Key players: Zach Akamine, Sr.; Kili Vierra, P/INF, Sr.; Preston Nakata, CF, Sr.; Kainoa Uemoto, DH/OF, Sr.
The skinny: The Surfriders are always near the top of the East Divison, but struggled to a 4-16 preseason record. "Everything is a concern," according to Ishigo, who will have his work cut out for him this season. Akamine, Vierra, and Nakata are three seniors who will have to carry the load both on the mound and at the plate. Uemoto is another solid bat in the Surfriders lineup.
Kaimuki
Coach: Duke Chinen, fifth season
Key players: Darren Muramoto, Sr.; Ian Delizo, Jr.
The skinny: Muramoto and Delizo will have to carry the load for the undermanned Bulldogs, who only have roughly 13-15 players on their varsity roster right now. The two will play in multiple positions on the field and pitch as well. They will be interchangeable in the one and three spots in the lineup. Senior Asashi Kimura and junior Brandon Heff will also be part of the pitching rotation that could surprise some teams.
Kaiser
Coach: Peter Ho, fifth season
Key players: Toby Inouye, P, Sr.; Bryce Marcoulliar, C, So.; Joe Honma, 2B, So.
The skinny: The Cougars are an entirely new team this season after losing seven senior starters, including Star-Bulletin first-team All-State selection Scott Uehara, twin brother Andy Uehara, and third baseman Colby Ho, who are all playing for Merced Junior College this year. Inouye and Honma are the two remaining starters and Marcoulliar has moved from first base to catcher and played well in preseason. The young pitchers are talented, but scoring runs will be a problem for this bunch.
Kalaheo
Coach: Tim Lierman, first season
Key players: Kyle Okumura, 2B/P, Sr.; Talon Wemple, P/3B, Sr.; Jordon Hugo, 1B, Sr.; Donovan Correa, INF/P, Sr.; Alika Kaanapu, CF, Jr.
The skinny: Pitching is the strength of this ballclub with Okumura, Wemple, and Correa all tough pitchers. Sophomore Richard Prez-Haynes will bat leadoff and be looked at to set the tone for the big bats in the middle of the lineup.
Kalani
Coach: Shannon Hirai, 12th season
Key players: Ridge Carpenter, RF, Sr.; Micah Takahashi, P, Sr.; Jordan Sumida, SS, Sr.; Shamus Kumashiro, P, Sr.
The skinny: Twelve of the 22 players on this year's team are seniors and the Falcons are serious contenders for the OIA title after finishing 7-3 in the regular season last year before losing to Aiea in the OIA semifinals. Takahashi and Kumashiro are dynamic pitchers and sophomore Dillon Masuda will also factor into the rotation, giving the Falcons three solid options. Offensively, Carpenter will provide plenty of power in the three spot in the lineup, but will need guys to get on base for him to drive in.
McKinley
Coach: Lester Higa, 12th season
Key players: Roger Kramer, 1B/P, Sr.; Mike Estes, P, Sr.
The skinny: The Tigers might not be the most talented team in the East, but they're balanced. Kramer will lead the way both at the plate and on the mound and Estes should provide pitching help as well. It's not an overpowering pitching staff, but they can be successful if they hit their spots and avoid giving up those big innings. The offense is going to have to rely less on power and more on playing small ball in order to score runs.
Moanalua
Coach: Scott Yamada, 10th season
Key players: Kekoa Lee, P/OF, Sr.; Jay Yoshizawa, SS, Sr.; Wade Iwanaga, C/DH, Sr.; Jordan Monico, OF, Jr.
The skinny: The senior classes of the past two seasons have been so dominant that this year's seniors are relatively inexperienced. Lee is the ace of the staff and the only pitcher with experience. Na Menehune will have to play a lot of small ball and scrap together some runs as they are missing the big bats in the middle spots of the order that they usually have. Yamada also is facing the challenge of replacing the entire infield from a year ago.
Roosevelt
Coach: Craig Arakawa, second season
Key players: Nick Wong, INF/P, Sr.; Keoni Manago, INF/P, Sr.; Darin Fujii, CF, Sr.; Nick Dang, INF/OF/P, Sr.
The skinny: Manago is the total package, but suffered an arm injury in their first preseason game. He is still batting leadoff, but likely won't be able to pitch until midseason. Wong is the power guy in the middle of the lineup who will need to drive in runs. All five seniors on the team start, but two freshman and two sophomores are also expected to make contributions.
West
Aiea
Coach: Ryan Kato, seventh season
Key players: Cody Aquino, P, Sr.; Randy Castillo, P, Jr.; Anthony Tsui, C, Sr.; Ryan Murakami, SS, Sr.
The skinny: The challenge this year will be replacing all the talent Na Alii lost to graduation a year ago. Second-team All-State pitcher Aquino returns as one of the top pitchers in the state and will get help from Castillo in the No. 2 spot. The big hitters from last year are gone, so Na Alii will have to be scrappier at the plate and scratch home a few more runs in order to do well. Their defense should be good enough to keep them in games all the way to the end.
Campbell
Coach: Rory Pico, fourth season
Key players: Sebastian Locquiao, INF/P, Jr.; Blayne Dikito, P/OF, Sr.; Allyn Oliva-Respicio, P/OF, Fr.; Cameron Howser, C, Jr.; Bryan Walsh, P, Jr.
The skinny: The inexperienced Sabers are still searching for their identity heading into the season. Dikino is the lone returning senior and will team with Locquiao as a solid 1-2 combination on the mound. Locquiao will also be a force batting in the middle of the lineup as he's the team's biggest bat. Olivia-Respicio is a freshman who could contribute right away.
Kapolei
Coach: Tom Ebanez, fifth season
Key players: Aaron Santiago, SS, Sr.; Mike Kahalehoe, C/DH, Sr.
The skinny: Santiago and Kahalehoe are the only two seniors on the team who see a lot of playing time as all the other starters are juniors and seniors. The Hurricanes went 5-7 during the preseason and struggled making those key plays that win ball games. Oliver Taoy is a junior pitcher who transferred from Damien and will team with fellow junior Kalani Omoto to carry the pitching load.
Leilehua
Coach: Mike Kim, second season
Key players: Ehukai Wooley, C, Sr.; Brett Nakasone, P/SS, Jr.; Darren Baccay, P/3b, Jr.
The skinny: The Mules are young, but very fast, although leadoff hitter Edieson Dumlao has a pulled hamstring and may miss some games early on. They played more than 20 preseason games so they could have an advantage during the early part of the regular season. Power in the middle of their lineup could be a weak spot and their pitching is somewhat inexperienced.
Mililani
Coach: Dean Sato, fourth season
Key players: Richie Marino, P/C, Sr.; Dustin Antolin, P/OF, Jr.; Adam Schroder, OF, Sr.
The skinny: The Trojans have the best team chemistry Sato has had in his four years at the helm. The pitching is deep this year with Marino and Antolin leading the way. Starting shortstop John Abreu and 6-foot-2 pitcher Goe Nyons are out the opening week with ankle injuries, but should be factors once they return.
Nanakuli
Coach: Joshua Defreitas, third season
Key players: Lalo Respicio, P/UTL, So.; Jamie DeGuzman, 2B, Sr.; William Kidoel, SS, Sr.
The skinny: The Golden Hawks didn't play a true preseason game because they had to wait for the winter sports to end in order to field a team. They will have about 12 to 13 players heading into the regular season, led by Respicio, who will be the ace of the pitching staff. DeGuzman is one of two girls on the team expected to contribute. The numbers game is always tough at Nanakuli but the morale around the team is high.
Pearl City
Coach: Melvin Seki, 15th season
Key players: Chad Quillopo, SS, Sr.; Kellen Ushijima, 1B, Sr.; Rorry Nakayama, CF, Sr.; Jason Rasa, P, Sr.; Bryson Nakamura, P, Jr.
The skinny: The Chargers are one of the more experienced teams in the West this season. Quillopo and Ushijima have led the way for the offense, which shouldn't have much of a problem scoring runs this year. The pitching is deep as the Chargers have quite a few arms, but Rasa and Nakamura will be the two that lead the way.
Radford
Coach: Jeff Hill, first season
Key player: Justin Lord, Sr.
The skinny: Second-team All-State first baseman Mike Goodman graduated, leaving a big hole in the middle of the Rams lineup as well as in the pitching rotation. The Rams will turn to Lord to try to carry a young pitching staff. Hitting is the biggest concern; they struggled to score runs last season even with Goodman in the lineup.
Waialua
Coach: Herbert Onizuka, 15th season
Key players: Shayne Peiler, Jr., 1b/p; Arthur Hernandez, C/INF, Jr.; Keliikoa Viera, OF/P, Jr.; Joshua Whittaker, Sr., P.
The skinny: The Bulldogs have 22 varsity players this year, which is more than usual, although they are almost all juniors. It's a solid hitting team, led by Hernandez and Pieler. The defense is a little suspect and pitching is always a question. Onizuka finally has some players he can develop however as he works toward building some stability.
Waianae
Coach: Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, fifth season
Key players: Ben McQuown, P/CF, Jr.; Barak Holt, SS, Sr.; William Duseigneur, DH, Sr.
The skinny: The Seariders got in 19 games during the preseason, giving their young pitchers a chance to get some innings in. They play solid defense and have a balanced lineup, led by leadoff hitter Holt and Duseigneur. Sophomore pitcher Bud Pickering III is a potential sleeper.
Waipahu
Coach: Milton Takenaka, 22nd season
Key players: Triton Gante, SS, So.; Kaimi Haima, OF/P, So.; Eric Hudson, P, Jr.
The skinny: This year's team will probably only feature two seniors. Sophomores Gante and Haima are very talented, and Hudson is a transfer from Damien that should bolster the pitching rotation. The Marauders have struggled with defense in preseason, and will need to cut down on the young mistakes in order to do well.