Friday, August 10, 2001
[ ISLAND MOVERS ]
Tohoku Fukushi University rallied for three runs in the sixth inning and held on to defeat the Hawaii Island Movers, 5-4, last night in the title game of the Hawaii International Baseball Championship Tournament at Rainbow Stadium. Movers fall in finale
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe Movers were held to six hits, left eight runners on base and committed five errors.
Four of the five Tohoku runners who crossed home plate reached base via walk. The Japanese team took advantage of these opportunities by playing excellent small ball offensively and errorless ball on defense.
The Movers overcame a two-run deficit with two down in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead. Shawn Epidendio tripled home two runs, Duke Sardinha singled in another and later scored all the way from second base on a wild pitch.
But, Tohoku regained the lead 5-4 in the top of the sixth. Akira Kishiyanagi's lead off single, two walks, two sacrifice flies and Takuo Ban's single accounted for the three runs.
Three University of Hawaii players saw regular duty with the Movers.
Right-hander Sean Yamashita finished with a team-leading 1.88 earned run average, a 4-1 record and a fine strikeout-to-walk ratio (50-16).
Bryan Lee threw 137 pitches in Monday night's victory, the most ever for the right-hander who experienced the role of a starting pitcher for the first time since youth ball.
"It's kind of a different approach. As a closer, you just go out and give it your all for an inning or two," said Lee. "As a starter, I had to learn to conserve energy and mix my pitches."
Kevin Gilbride is agonizing with the decision of whether to continue playing football and baseball or limit himself to one sport.
"I need to decide if I want to concentrate on one, not spread myself too thin, and try to become a good player," Gilbride said.
"I'm counting on my heart and my gut. I definitely haven't set a time to make up my mind. If I did that, I might make the wrong decision.
"Of course, I want input from my parents, coaches and teammates. All that stuff helps."
Sardinha is weighing two options -- return to Pepperdine for his senior year or sign with the with the Colorado Rockies, who drafted the third baseman in the 41st round in June.
Sardinha toyed with the idea of transferring to UH when Pepperdine reduced his financial aid, but Waves head coach Frank Sanchez was able to reverse that process and actually increase Sardinha's aid package.
The Rockies had a scout in town last week to watch the Kamehameha graduate for three games. Negotiations continue with Sardinha. He is waiting for a counteroffer from the Rockies.
University of Hawaii at Hilo players Nalei Sooto and Keola Park had their summers cut short by injuries suffered on the Japan trip. Sooto, who was hitting .312, hurt a shoulder, and Park, hitting .256, injured an ankle.
Gary Ahu, a redshirt freshman for the Rainbows this past spring, left the Movers shortly after the team returned from Japan.
The Movers finished the summer with a 9-9 record at home, 12-23 overall.
In the third-place game, the Shuto University All-Stars beat Guam, 5-2.
Tohoku 110 003 000-- 5 7 0 Movers 000 040 00X-- 4 5 5 Takashi Yamamoto, Hisashi Kitani (7), Ryo Kumagai (8) and Yoshiyuki Ishihara; Mike Mattern, Kenneth Yamaoka (6), Daniel Fitzgerald (6) and Jim Wallace. W--Yamomoto. L--Mattern (1-3).