HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Kamehameha gets together
Punahou is a key to Warriors' season
Four weeks ago, on March 13, two-time defending state baseball champion Punahou opened Interscholastic League of Honolulu play with a convincing 11-4 win over Kamehameha.
Since then, the Warriors have awaited the chance to avenge that defeat. Unfortunately, Kamehameha enters the rematch with the top-ranked Buffanblu today a bit under the weather.
Coming off a four-game trip to the Durango's Blazier Sports tournament in Las Vegas, the Warriors are battling the stomach flu. A good number of players were unable to finish practice on Saturday, coach Vern Ramie said yesterday.
For Kamehameha, 4-2 in ILH play, the shot at a regular-season title and an automatic state berth could depend on today's game. Otherwise, at the league's midpoint, the Warriors and a host of other squads could be looking ahead to the post-season tourney.
The beauty of a midseason or pre-league road trip goes beyond wins and losses.
Of course, winning always sweetens the taste. Kalani and Iolani enjoyed success on mainland voyages this season.
Last week, Kamehameha posted three wins in four games at Durango's Blazier Sports tourney in Las Vegas. On day one, the Warriors downed Arbor View (Las Vegas) 8-2 before losing to California powerhouse Chatsworth 9-2.
Over the ensuing two days, Kamehameha bounced back to beat Durango (7-0) and Sand Point of Idaho (9-2).
"The best part about it was the opportunity to play games against new teams," coach Vern Ramie said. "Playing a ranked team like Chatsworth was fantastic for us. To get the guys out and travel together, that's always good to bring them together a little more.
"We've been together so long, through the summer and fall, and halfway through this season. There's not a lot of surprises there. Some guys stepped up and played better than we expected, but otherwise, it reconfirmed some things," Ramie added.
The 36-team tournament was split into pools, guaranteeing the Warriors a chance to play a dominant team like Chatsworth. The Chancellors are 12-4 overall, 4-0 in the West Valley League.
Kamehameha is now 19-9 overall, including 4-3 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play.
Some of the road Warriors' standouts included Waylen Sing Chow and Chris Pascua.
"Waylen did a great job up there. He hit the ball every game and pitched well against Chatsworth and deserved a better fate," Ramie said. "We didn't back him very well. It should've been a much closer game. We gave them four or five unearned runs. It was frustrating for us as coaches, but more so for the players because they know they can play better than that."
Pascua, meanwhile, struck out 16 in the shutout of Durango.
"Chris had a fantastic outing," Ramie said. "His control was unbelievable that night."
Kamehameha, which slipped one spot to No. 7 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10, will meet No. 1 Punahou this afternoon at Ala Wai Field.
"Hopefully we can pitch and field better than we did the first outing. They had an eight-run inning on us after the first batter hit a fly ball to right field and we dropped it," Ramie recalled. "If we can avoid those type of situations and support our pitchers a little better, hopefully it'll be a better game. Punahou gets a lot of timely hitting. We gotta stay close and hope we get those timely hits."
The Warriors may not be at full strength. A bout of stomach flu has hit some of the players.
"We were gonna start Ashkon (Kuhaulua), but he's one of the guys who's been sick," Ramie said. "Some of them couldn't stay through practice on Saturday. They kept running to the restroom and I finally told them to just go home."
STANDINGS
OIA East
THROUGH APRIL 7
TEAM |
W |
L |
T
|
Kailua |
6 |
0 |
0
|
Roosevelt |
4 |
0 |
1
|
Castle |
4 |
0 |
1
|
Kaiser |
4 |
1 |
0
|
Kalani |
4 |
1 |
0
|
Moanalua |
4 |
1 |
0
|
McKinley |
1 |
3 |
0
|
Kahuku |
1 |
5 |
0
|
Farrington |
0 |
5 |
0
|
Kalaheo |
0 |
6 |
0
|
Kaimuki |
0 |
6 |
0
|
OIA West
THROUGH APRIL 7
TEAM |
W |
L
|
Mililani |
6 |
0
|
Aiea |
5 |
0
|
Pearl City |
4 |
1
|
Waianae |
4 |
1
|
Leilehua |
4 |
2
|
Kapolei |
4 |
2
|
Campbell |
2 |
3
|
Waialua |
1 |
4
|
Waipahu |
0 |
5
|
Radford |
0 |
6
|
Nanakuli |
0 |
6
|
ILH
THROUGH APRIL 7
TEAM |
W |
L
|
Punahou |
8 |
0
|
Iolani |
7 |
2
|
Kamehameha |
4 |
2
|
Mid-Pacific |
4 |
3
|
Damien |
4 |
5
|
Saint Louis |
1 |
7
|
Pac-Five |
.0 |
9
|
State championships
STATE TITLES SINCE 1959
8: Iolani (1998, '97, '96, '86, '83, '77, '75, '71)
8: Punahou (2006, '05, '04, 1989, '72, '68, '66, '61)
4: Kamehameha (2003, 1988, '87, '80)
4: Mid-Pacific (2002, 1992, '91, '90)
4: Kailua (2001, 1969, '67, '65)
4: Baldwin (1995, '84, '60, '59)
2: Molokai (2000, 1999)
2: Kaiser (1993, '81)
2: Aiea (1976, '73)
1: Castle (1994)
1: Hilo (1985)
1: Maui (1982)
1: Radford (1979)
1: Campbell (1978)
1: Saint Louis (1974)
1: Kalani (1970)
1. Farrington (1963)
1. Leilehua (1962)