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Tuesday, February 13, 2001

Ex-Hilo pitcher
Sagara off to pursue
coaching dream

He'll be the pitching coach
for an Indiana team in the
Frontier League

---

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Brendan Sagara's goal to stay involved in baseball as a coach becomes a reality this summer.

Sagara signed a contract recently to be the pitching coach for the Dubois County (Huntington, Ind.) Dragons of the independent Frontier League.

He will work with manager Greg Tagert, a six-year veteran of the league that has 12 teams in six midwestern states and Ontario.

"More than anything else, it's a great opportunity. I'm very fortunate to be able to start at the professional level," said Sagara, presently an assistant sports information director at the University of Hawaii.

"My relationship with Greg Tagert the last couple of years paid off. I think he'll be a very good mentor. He's knowledgeable and has never had a losing season in professional ball."

Sagara, who pitched for the University of Hawaii-Hilo after a prep career at Leilehua High School, played for the Evansville Otters in 1999 when Tagert was the manager. He appeared in four games as a middle reliever and posted a 1.69 earned-run average.

"In the short time I had Brendan, I was aware of his work ethic and his approach. We were in the middle of a pennant race and he understood his role," Tagert said.

"I think one of the things that impressed me was Brendan was trying to continue his playing career. He was very ambitious. He spent the summer trying to overcome doubts because of his size (5-foot-10). I always look for players who are knowledgeable about the game, who are instinctive."

When Tagert needed pitching help for the pennant drive last year, Sagara recommended Kyle Kawabata. In nine appearances, Kawabata had a 1.53 ERA, helping Evansville make the playoffs.

Sagara, 28, who still pitches in Oahu's adult leagues, has never held a formal coaching position, but has spent summers working with local college pitchers.

"Most of it has been individual workouts, long toss, arm strengthening, stuff like that," he said.

Spring training begins May 12. The 12-team Frontier League starts play May 30.