[ HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL ]
The smallest things can
tip ILH baseball race
It's almost a given that Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball won't have a clear front-runner this year.
All eight coaches agree that there are too many good teams in the league -- which starts today with four games -- for one squad to dominate.
A year ago, Kamehameha won the league and went on to win the state championship, but the contenders are lining up for their turn.
"Iolani won the Mililani tournament, Punahou is going to be very tough and Mid-Pacific is good every year," Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said. "And Saint Louis has very good athletes and I'm sure they'll be competitive."
The talk among coaches centers on Kamehameha's wealth of talent, Punahou's cohesiveness and veteran leadership, Mid-Pacific's fundamentals and the high number of returnees on the Iolani and Saint Louis rosters.
As usual, the Warriors can hit and pitch. Kanekoa Texeira is their top gun on the mound, while infielders Ryson Mauricio and Dayne Ogawa, outfielders Travis Young and Nick Freitas and catcher Keola Kaluhiokalani are dangerous at the plate.
Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru is low-key on his team's chances.
"We're just an average team," said Muramaru, whose team finished second and qualified for the states a year ago. "We've got some pitching back, and if it holds up and we score enough runs, we should be OK."
The Owls' Harrison Kuroda is one of the state's top pitchers, and Muramaru thinks Conan Young, Chris Freshour and Jayson Kramer will be a big help on the mound.
Shortstop Randy Rundgren and outfielder Ryan Asato are two of Mid-Pacific's senior leaders. Kuroda and Asato have signed to play for the University of Hawaii.
Punahou pitchers Jared Pate and Shaun Kiriu and four three-year starters -- first baseman Kasey Ko, second baseman Michael Lam, shortstop Landon Nakata and left fielder Mark Veneri -- may carry the Buffanblu far.
Many opposing coaches are concerned about Punahou, which won nine of its last 10 games a year ago.
"We still have to prove it on the field and show we're worthy of the praise," Buffanblu coach Eric Kadooka said. "Some days we hit good, some days we don't. Without a doubt, pitching is the key for us."
Punahou opens against Saint Louis today at 6 p.m. at Ala Wai Field, and Pate is expected to face the Crusaders' highly touted hurler Marc Nobriga.
Pitcher/shorstop Edwin Apostle, catcher Jowen Thornton-Murray, third baseman Danny Lee, center fielder Kelii Zablan and first baseman Chester Wilson are Saint Louis' other top returnees.
"The league is very good this year and we do have a lot of guys back," new Saint Louis coach Scot Paiva said. "But I've seen everybody beat everybody in the preseason."
Iolani also can't be counted out. The Raiders have virtually everyone back -- except All-State catcher Kala Ka'aihue -- from last year's team that barely missed making the states.
Coach Dean Yonamine wants to avoid a repeat of last year's late-season dive.
Third baseman Kelly Teramoto, shortstop Galen Komo and pitchers Eric Muraoka, Wally Marciel and Sean Freas are among Iolani's leaders, along with catcher Bert Mitsunaga, who moved in from the outfield.
"We've got some good arms that we need to rely on to keep us in games," Yonamine said.
New Pac-Five coach Todd Koishigawa thinks his team is improved over last year's squad, which knocked off Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific.
"I think we're more focused and that should get us further," he said.
Pitchers Owen Simmons and Tyler Inouye, middle infielder Jacob Mellor and multi-purpose player Paul Nishimura are the keys to the Wolfpack's fortunes.
Maryknoll coach Duane Eldredge is satisfied with his plan.
"We want to disrupt the big guys," he said. "That's our season ... that's what we do.
"This is a good league, very much so, especially the top five," he said. "I truly believe everybody is going to beat each other."
Eldredge is counting on two four-year players -- pitcher Kody Seminara and first baseman Reid Nakamura.
Damien coach John Matias thinks some of the Monarchs' football success might rub off on the baseball team. Three starters -- third baseman Ranson DeCosta and outfielders Elijah Souza and Sean Stoltzman -- played for the school's football squad, the runner-up in the Division II state football tournament.
"They got that taste of winning and have that winning attitude," Matias said.
Shortstop Jason Look, catcher Nick Zieser and first baseman Raymond Alapai are among Damien's other key ingredients.