[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]

KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Mid-Pacific is back on top again. Besides being state champions, Matt Inouye, left, and Patrick McGuigan, right, are Players of the Year, and Dunn Muramaru is Coach of the Year.

Battery power

Inouye and McGuigan formed
a winning combination

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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

NE endured the emotional anguish of opportunity lost.

The other conquered the physical and psychological aftermath of a devastating injury.

Together they formed the battery that powered Mid-Pacific to the state baseball championship.

MPI catcher Matt Inouye and pitcher Patrick McGuigan top this year's Star-Bulletin All-State team. After overcoming personal challenges, they led the Owls to their first state title in a decade.

"As we started playing more and more, this team started coming together," Inouye said. "More and more we felt we had to get back there and finish up some business we had to take care of."

Inouye is the All-State Position Player of the Year, while McGuigan takes Pitcher of the Year honors. MPI coach Dunn Muramaru was picked as the state Coach of the Year for guiding the Owls through a tumultuous season.

The selections were made based on the recommendations of a panel of coaches, scouts and media members from around the state.

Inouye drew motivation for his senior season from his last memory of the 2001 season.

Inouye stood at home plate as Kailua's Mike Cathcart stomped on the dish in the bottom of the seventh to give the Surfriders a 9-8 win in the state championship game.

He chewed on the pain of that loss for a year, and was ready to spit out the bitterness this spring.

"If you have a season like we had last year and end up losing in the big game, it'll be on your mind pretty much the whole season," he said. "But we just had to work hard and come back strong."

Said Muramaru: "I think it was a personal thing for him, to come back after last year."

Inouye came back to lead the Owls offensively, hitting .408 with a .763 slugging percentage. He hit three homers and drove in 28 runs. He struck out just six times in 76 plate appearances.

In only his second season behind the plate, Inouye threw out nine of the 16 runners who attempted to steal.

Inouye was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year and a first-team Interscholastic League of Honolulu all-star.

"He's a leader on the field and the guys turned to him when we got down," McGuigan said. "He was pretty focused this year. Sometimes he got frustrated, but he knew what he wanted and he would do whatever it took to get there."

Inouye has signed with the University of Hawaii and was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 41st round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft earlier this month.

McGuigan's status entering the season was questionable after he took a line drive in the face last summer.

He underwent reconstructive surgery to repair a shattered cheekbone and the orbit around his right eye. McGuigan didn't pick up a ball again until October and struggled to shake off the mental effects of the injury.

"I just tried to go slow," he said. "Sometimes you try to rush yourself, but it's still scary the first time out.

"It was a big thing to get back and to be better than I was before that."

The right-hander recovered in time to post a 7-1 mark, including three complete games, five saves and a 0.65 earned run average. He also struck out 44 batters while walking 12 in 65 innings.

"His ball has the most movement of any pitcher I've caught for," Inouye said. "His arm speed is always the same, his motion is always the same, you never know what's coming. He always seems to find that first strike and all his pitches are accurate."

McGuigan, who is headed for the University of San Francisco, figured in three of the Owls' four state tournament victories. He won in relief in MPI's 3-2 victory over Aiea in the first round. He then tossed a six-inning shutout against Kailua in the semifinals.

He returned the next night to pitch 213 innings of scoreless relief to earn the save in the championship game against Kamehameha. In three tournament appearances, McGuigan surrendered just six hits and a walk in 1213 shutout innings to earn Most Outstanding Player honors.

"He was our go-to guy the whole year," Muramaru said. "Physically, mentally, he's just a tough kid."

As a team, the Owls overcame injuries and personal tragedy throughout the year.

Keven Whalen, an All-State first-team outfielder, dealt with the death of his father midway through the season. Second baseman Isaac Omura, a second-team pick, suffered a knee injury during the preseason that sidelined him most of the ILH schedule. Ryan Basco, a pitcher and the second-team designated hitter, labored through shoulder problems and closed the season by earning the win in the state title game.

"They came together after all the things they went through," Muramaru said. "They really felt for each other."

Iolani first baseman Kila Ka'aihue, Moanalua second baseman Geoffrey Say, Kamehameha shortstop Keoni Ruth and Kamehameha third baseman Zach McAngus join Inouye on the first-team as infielders.

Ka'aihue was the top local high school player taken in the draft, thanks to his powerful bat. Say was a smooth fielder and a spark plug atop the Menehunes' lineup. Ruth finished second in the ILH in home runs with three and ranked among the Warriors' leaders in RBIs. McAngus also provided a steady bat for the ILH champions.

Whalen, Kamehameha's Tyler Perkins and Roosevelt's Corey Higa make up the All-State outfield. All three were catalysts for their teams' offenses and excelled defensively. Perkins signed with Portland while Higa earned entry into Penn of the Ivy League.

Kailua junior Cody Texeira-Vickery earned the first-team designated hitter spot by batting .606 and driving in 17 runs for the Surfriders.

Kamehameha's Shannon Kahale is the All-State utility player for being the ace of the Warrior pitching staff and one of their most productive hitters. Kahale opened the season by pitching 23 scoreless innings and finished among the league leaders in victories. He also provided punch in the third spot in the batting order.

McGuigan headlines the first-team pitchers, followed by Waianae's Dane Awana and Roosevelt's Chris Mols.

Awana, a senior left-hander, baffled hitters with a darting fastball in the mid-80s. Mols, another lefty, was 5-1 with a save. He closed the year by throwing a no-hitter against Kailua in the state tournament third-place game.

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Star-Bulletin All-State Baseball Team

Position player of the Year: Matt Inouye, Mid-Pacific.
Pitcher of the Year: Patrick McGuigan, Mid-Pacific.
Coach of the Year: Dunn Muramaru, Mid-Pacific.

FIRST TEAM

Catcher Matt Inouye, Mid-Pacific Sr.

First Base Kila Ka'aihue, Iolani Sr.

Second base Geoffrey Say, Moanalua Sr.

Third base Zach McAngus, Kamehameha Sr.

Shortstop Keoni Ruth, Kamehameha Jr.

Outfield Tyler Perkins, Kamehameha Sr.

Outfield Keven Whalen, Mid-Pacific Jr.

Outfield Corey Higa, Roosevelt Sr.

Designated Hitter Cody Texeira-Vickery, Kailua Jr.

Utility Shannon Kahale, Kamehameha Sr.

Pitcher Patrick McGuigan, Mid-Pacific Sr.

Pitcher Dane Awana, Waianae Sr.

Pitcher Chris Mols, Roosevelt Sr.

SECOND TEAM

Catcher Shawn Saito, Mililani Sr.

First Base Jarid Kawamoto, Kailua Sr.

Second base Isaac Omura, Mid-Pacific Sr.

Third base Ronnie Carvalho, St. Joseph Jr.

Shortstop Troy Hanzawa, Mid-Pacific Jr.

Outfield Kahe Santos, Kamehameha Jr.

Outfield Brian Tucker-Salas, Aiea Sr.

Outfield Sean Ortiz, Maryknoll Sr.

Designated Hitter Ryan Basco, Mid-Pacific Jr.

Utility Kamaile Santos, Kailua Sr.

Pitcher Charles Haasenritter, Hilo Sr.

Pitcher Christopher Balatico, Mililani Jr.

Pitcher Allen Castro, Maui Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Catcher: Matthew Haasenritter, Hilo; Kala Ka'aihue, Iolani; Todd LaFountaine, Punahou; Brandon Loo, Roosevelt; Jowen Murray-Thornton, St. Louis; Meade Tabata, Baldwin.

First base: Trey Brown, Mililani; Kasey Ko, Punahou; Keahi Rawlins, Molokai; Vinnie Souki, King Kekaulike.

Second base: Aaron Fuller, Kamehameha; Spencer Nakamura, Kahuku; Shaun Sasaki, Kailua; Brandon Sato, St. Louis; Taylor Watanabe, Aiea.

Third base: Danny Lee, St. Louis; Calvin Uyechi, Waianae.

Shortstop: Jeremiah Bohnet, Kahuku; Jostin Chung, Kealakehe; Grandon Costa, St. Louis; Davin Feary, St. Joseph; Chad Itokazu, Pearl City; Jordan Tom, Castle.

Outfield: Che Doran, St. Joseph; Nick Freitas, Kamehameha; Mike Garcia, Kalaheo; Justin Humalon, St. Louis; Avery Kagawa, Waiakea; Ikaika Lester, Molokai; Kapena Mathias, Maui; Gainor Nitta, Mililani; Kaili Panui, Kapaa; Sal Paragas, Waianae; James Strombach, Moanalua; Mark Veneri, Punahou; Matthew Terukina, Roosevelt.

Designated hitter: Bobby George, St. Louis; Jonathan Hee, Mid-Pacific; Chase Kaiuwailani, Aiea; Cid Moses, Waianae.

Pitcher: Ikena Dupont, Kamehameha; Jaryd Kiyabu, Waipahu; Blake Lamug, Aiea; Chris Loo, Iolani; Kaimi Mead, St. Louis; Ikaika Neizman, Lahainaluna; Kyle Neuberger, Kapaa; Rich Olsen, Iolani; Justin Pate, Mid-Pacific; Jonathan Serapion, Pearl City; Tyson Usui, St. Joseph.

BIIF

Player of the Year -- Charles Haasenritter, Hilo.
Co-Coaches of the Year -- Sidney Nozaki, Hilo; Gary Ahu, St. Joseph.

First team -- Catcher: Matthew Haasenritter, So., Hilo. First base: Reyn Shimooka, Sr., Hilo. Second base: Branden Kawazoe, Sr., Waiakea. Third base: Ronnie Carvalho, Jr., St. Joseph. Shortstop: Mark Nishimura, Sr., Hilo; Jostin Chung, Jr., Kealakehe. Outfield: Avery Kagawa, So., Waiakea; Che Doran, Sr., St. Joseph; Lamaur Madrid, Jr., Hilo. Pitcher: Charles Haasenritter, Sr., Hilo; Tyson Usui, Sr., St. Joseph. Utility: Brett Kimura, Sr., Hilo. Designated hitter: Gerred Faisca, Sr., St. Joseph.

Second team -- Catcher: Keola Nobriga, Sr., Honokaa. First base: Josh Kotomori, Jr., Keaau. Second base: Jeremy Kaaukai, So., Hilo. Third base: Kayne Palea, Sr., Waiakea. Shortstop: Davin Feary, Jr., St. Joseph. Outfield: Shannon Camero, Jr., Waiakea; Joshua DeRego, Sr., Honokaa; Jonathan Kang, So., Kealakehe; Adam Tabieros, Sr., Konawaena. Pitcher: Warren Shikuma, Sr., Waiakea; Morgan Kruger-Burgess, Sr., Kealakehe; Kamalu Blaisdell, Fr., Keaau. Utility: Daniel Leite, Sr., Waiakea. Designated hitter: Travis Chong, Sr., Waiakea.

Honorable mention -- Hilo: Jaryd Taise. Hawaii Prep: Justin Lee, Neil Matsuo, Bully Fergerstrom. Kau: Brenten Castillo, Kendrick Sanders, Chase Cabudol, Bronson Avenue. Keaau: Kie Awong, Kai Calip, Kainui Meyers, Rolan Benevides. Kealakehe: Alika Telles, Tyler Roy, Chaun Heu. Konawaena: Rickey Bailey, Cody Maeda. Kohala: Kaanoi Carvalho, Ian Ortlieb, Bryce Dela Cruz. Pahoa: Rendell Naiga, Tyler Borge. St. Joseph: Robert Correa-Midel, Ben Bautista. Waiakea: Cheynne Hirota, Loren Demello, Mark Manuel.

ILH

Player of the Year -- Patrick McGuigan, Mid-Pacific
Coach of the Year: -- Vern Ramie, Kamehameha

First team -- Catcher: Matt Inouye, Sr., Mid-Pacific. First base: Kila Ka'aihue, Sr., Iolani. Second base: Brandon Sato, Sr., St. Louis. Third base: Zach McAngus, Sr., Kamehameha. Shortstop: Keoni Ruth, Jr., Kamehameha. Outfield: Tyler Perkins, Sr., Kamehameha; Keven Whalen, Jr., Mid-Pacific; Sean Ortiz, Sr., Maryknoll. Utility: Jonathan Hee, Jr., Mid-Pacific. Designated hitter: Ryan Basco, Jr., Mid-Pacific. Pitcher: Patrick McGuigan, Sr., Mid-Pacific; Kaimi Mead, Jr., St. Louis.

Honorary all-stars -- Isaac Omura, 2b, Mid-Pacific; Kala Ka'aihue, C, Iolani.

Second team -- Catcher: Todd LaFountaine, Sr., Punahou. First base: Kasey Ko, Fr., Punahou. Second base: Kelly Teramoto, So., Iolani. Third base: Danny Lee, So., St. Louis. Shortstop: Troy Hanzawa, Jr., Mid-Pacific. Outfield: Kahe Santos, Jr., Kamehameha; Nick Freitas, Fr., Kamehameha; Mark Veneri, So., Punahou; Justin Humalon, Sr., St. Louis. Utility: Shannon Kahale, Sr., Kamehameha. Designated hitter: Bobby George, Jr., St. Louis. Pitcher: Rich Olsen, Sr., Iolani; Ikena Dupont, Sr., Kamehameha.

Honorable mention -- Damien: Raymond Alapai, Cheyne Kawamoto, Destin Alameida, Justin Cole, Daniel Chamizo, Brandon Tamanaha. Iolani: Dustin Goto, Galen Komo, Chris Loo, Jay Marcouiller, Bert Mitsunaga, Trenton Teruya, Reid Saito, Reed Tanaka, Bobby Webster, Todd Yoshioka. Kamehameha: Aaron Fuller, Isaac Kamai, Baba Merino. Maryknoll: Greg Aquino, Kawika Calizar, Brandon Goshima, Reily Maeda, Kody Seminara. Mid-Pacific: Marc Inamasu, Blake Kaneshiro, Justin Kashiwaeda, Harrison Kuroda, Ryan Leong, Tyler Okamura, Justin Pate, Grant Yamaguchi. Pac-Five: Tyler Inouye, Patrick Simmons, Kelsey Kuniyuke, Ryan Mellor, Paul Nishimura, Dane Nakasone, Kevin Yamada. Punahou: Justin Ariki, Chad Moriyama, Michael Lam, Landon Nakata, Matt Oda, Jason Owens, Jared Pate, Kyle Seminara, Brett Service, Ryen Shimizu. St. Louis: Shane Butcher, Grandon Costa, Travis Gonzaga, Justin Goo, Cruz Hatanaka, Leon Julian, Sean Kauweloa, Guy McDowell, Jowen Murray-Thornton, Kaleo Perreira.

KIF

Player of the Year -- Kyle Neuberger, Kapaa
Coach of the Year -- Shannon Masada, Kapaa

Catcher -- Brandon Ishibashi, Jr., Waimea. First base: Mark Ruiz, Sr., Waimea. Second base: Michael Ishibashi, So., Waimea. Third base: Leonard Zalopany, So., Waimea. Shortstop: Clarence Aki, Jr., Waimea. Outfield: Rayton Bonilla, Jr., Kapaa; Kaili Panui, Sr., Waimea; Alec Reichle, So., Kauai. Pitcher: Kyle Neuberger, Jr., Kapaa. Utility: Tyler Wakuta, Sr., Kapaa.

OIA East

Players of the Year -- Chris Mols, Roosevelt and Kamaile Santos, Kailua.
Coach of the Year -- Syd Kawahakui, Kahuku.

First team -- Catcher: Jason Taniguchi, Castle. First base: Jarid Kawamoto, Kailua. Second base: Geoffrey Say, Moanalua. Third base: Travis Canonizado, Kalani. Shortstop: Jordan Tom, Castle. Outfield: Corey Higa, Roosevelt; Matthew Terukina, Roosevelt; James Strombach, Moanalua. Utility: David Chu, Kaiser. Designated hitter: Cody Texeira-Vickery, Kailua. Pitcher: Kamaile Santos, Kailua; Chris Mols, Roosevelt.

Second team -- Catcher: Alex Ponciano, Kahuku. First base: Neal Manutai, Moanalua. Second base: Spencer Nakamura, Kahuku. Third base: Garrett Yamamoto, Kailua. Shortstop: Lorin Nakagawa, Moanalua. Outfield: Cameron Kimura, Roosevelt; Levi Manutai, Kailua; Ryan Lum, Castle. Utility: Mike Garcia, Kalaheo. Designated hitter: Scott Shinsato, Castle. Pitcher: Kyle Nakamichi, Moanalua; Jason Peters, Kaiser.

Honorable mention -- Castle: Jeff Syrop, Noah Kon, Darin Hamada, Justin Tsutsumi, Matt Matsukawa, Billy Fallau, Casey Daniel. Farrington: Criston Barba, Paul-Alan Dela Cruz, Chris Faavesi, Sanford McKee, Joshua Badua, Matt Bell. Kahuku: Melvin Silva, Kyle Pao, Jeremiah Bohnet, Daniel Tuttle, Spencer Colburn, Cory Supranovich, Kyle Juliano, Bronson Ponciano Ahue, Walker Vave. Kailua: Shaun Sasaki, Lawrence Hamocon, Chad Kajiyama, Bronson Ho, Kealii Kalahiki, Michael Kealoha, Taleki Mailau, Jason Moore, Chad Nishizuka, Jonathan Tabar. Kaimuki: Leland Ohelo, Jay Tokuuke, Tino Caires, Kaulana Kaluna. Kaiser: Neale Asato, John Uehara, Casey Fukuda, Ricky Hamasaki, Landon Kaaua, Chris Sakuda, Cory Makino, Sean Samson. Kalaheo: Nick Sargent, Chris Kojima, Aren Vivieros, Shane Harada, Justin Anderson, Scott Galusha, Cody Racoma, Grant Shiroma, Sean Fernandez. Kalani: Grant Arakaki, Scott Harada, Brandon Ishii, Randy Kitagawa, Len Shimabuku, Scott Komine, Bryce Sumida. McKinley: Kai Lopez, Blaine Yoshino, Ty Tokunaga, Casey Lee. Moanalua: Brett Tanigawa, Scott Batula, Ric Fukushima. Roosevelt: Brandon Loo, Marvin Rombaua, Ivan Fujii, Blake Isobe, Derek Shigano, Kevin Fujii.

OIA West

Player of the Year: Dane Awana, Waianae.
Coach of the Year: Glenn Tokunaga, Waianae

First team -- Catcher: Shawn Saito, Mililani. First base: Trey Brown, Mililani. Second base: Taylor Watanabe, Aiea. Third base: Calvin Uyechi, Waianae. Shortstop: Chad Itokazu, Pearl City. Outfield: Bryan Tucker-Salas, Aiea; Gainor Nitta, Mililani; Aaron Powell, Aiea. Utility: Jaryd Kiyabu, Waipahu. Designated hitter: Chase Kaiuwailani, Aiea. Pitcher: Christopher Balatico, Mililani; Dane Awana, Waianae.

Second team -- Catcher: Aaron Asher, Aiea. First base: Keahi Kapana, Campbell. Second base: Brandon Yamamoto, Pearl City. Third base: Ryan Tanabe, Pearl City. Shortstop: Chase Nakamura, Aiea. Outfield: Chad Rodrigues, Waianae; Ikaika Soares, Waialua; Nolan Kugiya, Pearl City. Utility: Spencer Omalza, Leilehua. Designated hitter: Cid Moses, Waianae. Pitcher: Blake Lamug, Aiea; Jonathan Serapion, Pearl City.

Honorable mention -- Aiea: Ricky Takushi, Dylan Libadisos, Justin Nii, Dustin Grace, Kepa Wong. Campbell: William Tennent, Jacob Cadelinia, Ikaika Trinidad, Jonah Canionero, Garrett Hermosura, Jason Scholl, Shauncey Saito. Leilehua: Ricky Paderes, Patrick San Nicholas, John Dolac, Kory Yamamoto, Daylen Hale. Mililani: Brian Uranaka, Justin Amano, Dustin Nuibe, Adam Inaba, Nick Mizusawa, Whitney Shimatsu. Nanakuli: Ikaika Asinsin. Pearl City: Brandon Wythes, Kellen Concepcion, Darrick Tanigawa. Radford: Matt Ryan, Kori Wade, Tyson Kindred, Brant Onaga, Victor Mejia, Chris Walden. Waialua: Lee Matsuura, Gavin Nakamura, Keone Peiler, Charles Tantog, Calvin Kawai. Waianae: Michael Ferreira, Keone Taaca, Kalani Viernes, Travis Kanae-Rodrigues, Chevy Teves, Sal Paragas. Waipahu: John Fauatea, Chane Garcia, Shane Jelf, Travis Atualevao, Ross Garabiles, Mike Manzano, Clifton Gumban.

MIL

The Maui Interscholastic League has not released its baseball all-stars.

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League all-stars chosen by each league.

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