[ HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL ]
OIA’s parity leaves
little room for error
In a league where balance is standard fare, one sentiment runs through Oahu Interscholastic Association members as they open regular-season play this week: There's little margin for error.
"The key is to not beat yourself with mental breakdowns," Waianae coach Kekoa Kaluhiokalani said. "With the parity that we have today, everyone has a chance. Our approach is to play as hard as we can and not emphasize winning or losing."
Added Roosevelt coach Kerry Higa: "You make one mistake, and anyone can beat you. We can lose to anybody, and I also think we can beat anybody."
Roosevelt and Waianae rate among the more interesting teams to track heading into league play this week. Both schools finished second in their respective divisions in 2003 behind traditional powers Kailua and Aiea, and both hope to make a quantum leap this spring.
Not that the Surfriders and Na Ali'i have relinquished their customary roles among the conference favorites. Expectations for both programs, after all, are set in stone.
"At this point, Aiea is still the favorite," Kaluhiokalani said of the West. "They have so much talent coming back. We've played Kailua, Kalani, Kalaheo and Kaiser, and they're all very good. The East is going to be a good race, too."
Kailua has won four straight OIA titles, but Surfrider coach Corey Ishigo rates the Surfriders "behind schedule" entering their opener with Castle tomorrow. Kailua finished its preseason with a 2-8 record.
"As a team, we're not on pace," Ishigo said. "This year, we've lost (preseason) games 23-3, 17-0 and 15-1, and that's never happened to us before. But it takes time, so I'm not too worried about it."
Indeed, history has taught Ishigo not to hit the panic button. Kailua finished both its 2002 and 2003 preseasons with dismal records, only to regroup in time to win the OIA championship in both of those years. In addition to their string of OIA titles, the Surfriders were the state tournament runner-up last season and delivered the OIA its last state title in 2001.
Highlighting the list of returnees for Kailua are shortstop Michael Kealoha, catcher Sean Medeiros, outfielder Keahi Goo and pitcher Chris Mahelona, who established himself as one of the state's most capable by season's end.
"Right now, he (Mahelona) is a little rusty -- he's not throwing enough strikes -- so he isn't where we would like him to be yet," Ishigo said. "Our pitching has been terrible, and it's our No. 1 concern, along with hitting. And we're not hitting like we should be, not yet at least.
"Baseball is a sport that takes so much work on fundamentals and technique that it takes awhile to get into baseball playing shape, especially when you have athletes who play multiple sports. The biggest plus we have is that we always have athletes with size and speed."
The Surfriders won't have to stray far from the neighborhood to find resistance with Kalaheo and Castle poised to have a say in the race. Equally rugged competition figures to come from Roosevelt and Kalani. The Falcons boast senior pitcher/outfielder Randy Kitagawa, infielder/pitcher Chassis Moody, junior catcher Preston Pires and junior outfielder Trevor Teraoka.
"Pitching is our strength, and that will help us," Kalani coach Shannon Hirai said. "Good pitching will keep you in games, and we have five guys we feel comfortable with. Our downfall has been our hitting. At one point, we were hitting .180 as a team. We're at .270 now, so we've begun to come around the past few weeks."
Kalani moved its league opener with Farrington to Friday so it could continue its preseason in Las Vegas for part of the week. Roosevelt pins its hopes largely on five key performers -- senior center fielder Danny Taniguchi, junior catcher Kevin Fujii, senior outfielder Joshua Danz, senior first baseman Jared Furtado and Saint Louis transfer Justin Goo, who will be first in the Rough Riders' pitching rotation.
In the West, OIA runner-up Aiea returns eight seniors, including catcher Aaron Asher, pitcher Blake Lamug, right fielder Bryson Tajiri, first baseman Kepa Wong and second baseman Blaze Moleta. Junior shortstop Lance Powell also figures big in Aiea coach Ryan Kato's plans.
"This team is battle-tested," Kato said. "They've been through everything you can think of. It's a matter of putting their minds to it, attending to detail, and getting it done. They have the talent, but I don't think we're maximizing our talent right now, and that's seems to be an issue for us.
"My biggest concern," he continued, "is getting them to play as a team. The concept of 'team' needs to be better addressed."
At Waianae, early-season optimism centers on junior pitcher Clayton Uyechi, one of the best at his position in the West last season.
"He has excellent control and command of his pitches and an above-average curveball that he has the confidence to throw at any time in the count," Kaluhiokalani said.
Also back for the Seariders are senior pitcher/center fielder Allen Holt, senior second baseman/pitcher Dillon Guzman, junior third baseman Ranson Sylva and catcher Mike Ferreira, a three-year starter.
"Pitching and defense will be our strengths," Kaluhiokalani said. "We're still trying to fill in spots, but at times we've been really, really, good."