FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mid-Pacific Institute senior Harrison Kuroda has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Hawaii next year.
Armed and ready
The Owls' can count on
pitcher Harrison Kuroda
to lead them this season
Harrison Kuroda knows the highs and the lows of playing in the state baseball tournament.
The Mid-Pacific right-handed pitcher was instrumental in the Owls' run to the title two years ago. He was also on the mound when one swing of the bat knocked the team out in the semifinals last season.
Kuroda files
Name: Harrison Kuroda
Likes: Contemporary Hawaiian music and R&B Top 40
Favorite TV show: "Smallville," because actress Kristin Kreuk "is hot"
Favorite movie: "Bull Durham"
Favorite subject at school: "Anything that doesn't require a book."
Favorite postgame meal: Garlic chicken with all rice (no macaroni salad) at Manoa Barbecue.
Quote: "Anything you do, do it 100 percent. I don't like to sell myself short."
"Kailua's Ryan Rodrigues hit me hard. He hit a walk-off home run with two strikes on him to end it," Kuroda said. "I'm glad it was my fastball, my best pitch, because if it was any other pitch, I would still be second-guessing myself today."
But Kuroda isn't dwelling on it. He's a senior now and working hard to get Mid-Pacific back to the states.
He'll also be busy after the season, preparing for his freshman campaign at the University of Hawaii. He signed his letter of intent last November.
"As far as competing in college goes, my main thing is keeping healthy and to have a consistent trend of improvement," Kuroda said. "I think it's going to be fun. UH has some good pitchers this year and hopefully I can give them a run for their money."
When Interscholastic League of Honolulu coaches were asked for their input on who the best players in the league are, every one of them mentioned Kuroda.
"He's one tough competitor," Owls coach Dunn Muramaru said. "He's a winner. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he finds a way to win. A lot of pitchers lose their composure when they don't have their best stuff.
"He's a real good kid, too, always upbeat and that's an important attitude to have because we have so many inexperienced players on the team."
Two years ago when a Mid-Pacific starter struggled early against Baldwin in the state semifinals, Kuroda came in in relief and got an important win.
"They (the Bears) had all the momentum and he brought the team back to order," Muramaru said.
Kuroda was a member of the Aiea Little League's junior team (ages 13-14) that won the World Series in Taylor, Mich., in the summer of 2000.
"That was awesome, very awesome," he said. "That team was very talented, and most of the players have gone on to become OIA or ILH all-stars or to play in college. A lot of them -- like catcher (and fellow UH recruit) Aaron Asher and pitcher Blake Lamug --are playing for Aiea High School now. Aiea is a great community, a baseball town and a nice atmosphere to play baseball."
Kuroda is excited about this year's MPI squad, which was off to a 2-1 start heading into last night's game against Punahou.
"I can't say enough about this team," he said. "We've got (outfielder) Ryan Asato, who also signed with UH. And Randy Rundgren is one of the higher-profile shortstops. We've also got a good catcher in Kip Masuda and the seniors are working real hard on keeping the team balanced."
But what does Kuroda think about when an intimidating batter steps to the plate?
"I try to find that rhythm, that groove, so everything falls into place and clicks," he said. "My fastball is my most effective pitch and I base the rest of the stuff around it to get guys out. Every pitch is a potential out, so I'm trying to get guys out on the least amount of pitches. The best way is to go in with a fastball and make them try and hit it.
"I'll be ready if I face Rodrigues again. Definitely."
Muramaru said among Kuroda's best assets are his overall command and his ability to get ahead of hitters.
Family is a major factor in Kuroda's baseball life.
"My mom, my dad, grandparents and brother are all my No. 1 fans," he said. "My grandfather has come to every single one of my games since I've been at Mid-Pacific. And my brother, Hiroshi (a Maryknoll player), is such a happy-go-lucky guy. He keeps me from getting down on myself. And he's so easy-going, it's hard to get mad at him."
Kuroda said he's thinking about taking up communications at UH because he wants to work at ESPN some day.
But that's the future. He has more pressing things on his mind now.
"First and foremost, we've got to get to the states," he said.
