Monday, May 17, 1999

‘Just happy to be here’
Owls are top seed
in state baseball

The team that seemed unlikely to
make the field a few weeks ago has
won six of its last seven games
entering the tournament

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

It's a cliche that Dunn Muramaru doesn't mind living.

"We're just happy to be here," said the Mid-Pacific baseball coach.

Muramaru's Owls capped an amazing two weeks yesterday by being named the top seed in this week's Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championship. Mid-Pacific (15-7) will open the 41st annual tournament Wednesday against the winner of tomorrow's first game between Baldwin and Waiakea.

The other top seeds are No. 2 Molokai (15-2), the Maui champion; No. 3 Hilo (12-1), the Big Island winner; and No. 4 Pearl City (11-3), the Oahu Interscholastic Association champ.

Mid-Pac, last year's state runner-up, is the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's overall winner. The Owls finished fourth during the ILH regular season but won six of their last seven games -- including defeating three-time defending state champ Iolani three times in six days during the ILH playoffs.

"If you had told me two weeks ago that we'd be the top seed, I don't know if I would have believed it," said Muramaru. "We feel very fortunate to even be in the state tournament. It's an old cliche but we really are just happy to be there."

The Owls have been winning with a combination of timely hitting and outstanding defense. Muramaru points to senior shortstop Rex Rundgren as the anchor of Mid-Pac's solid infield defense.

"Rex made some amazing plays during the tournament," said Muramaru. "He's the best shortstop I've ever coached."

The Owls are a veteran team with 14 seniors on the roster.

By comparison, second-seeded Molokai has just three seniors on its roster. The underclassmen have carried the Farmers, led by junior pitcher Ikaika Parson and junior catcher Apana Nakayama, son of the team's coach.

Nakayama has already attracted the attention of pro scouts. He has a .510 batting average and went 9 for 11 during the MIL Tournament.

"It's going to be a real test. Our kids are so young," said Molokai coach Ken Nakayama. "We're surprised about the seeding. We may be seeded high, but it's going to be a tough tournament for a young team."

State Baseball Championship

At Rainbow Stadium

Tomorrow's games
G1: Baldwin (12-5) vs. Waiakea (11-2), 11:30 a.m.
G2: Kauai (8-5) vs. Aiea (10-3), 2 p.m.
G3: Iolani (15-5) vs. Mililani (9-5), 4:30 p.m.
G4: Waipahu (9-4) vs. Kailua (9-4), 7 p.m.

Wednesday's games
G5: Losers of Games 1 & 2, 9:15 p.m.
G6: No. 4 Pearl City (11-3) vs. Game 2 winner, 11:30 a.m.
G7: No. 3 Hilo (12-1) vs. Game 4 winner, 2 p.m.
G8: No. 1 Mid-Pacific (15-7) vs. Game 1 winner, 4:30 p.m.
G9: No. 2 Molokai (15-2) vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.

Thursday's games
G10: Losers of Games 3 & 4, 9:15 a.m.
G11: Losers of Games 6 & 8, 11:30 a.m.
G12: Losers of Games 7 & 9, 2 p.m.
G13: Winners of Games 6 & 8, 5:05 p.m.
G14: Winners of Games 7 & 9, 7:35 p.m.

Friday's games
Seventh place: Winners of Games 5 & 10, noon.
Fifth place: Winners of Games 11 & 12, 2:15 p.m.
Third place: Losers of Games 13 & 14, 4:30 p.m.

Championship: Winners of Games 13 & 14, 7:05 p.m.