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FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Senior Jayson Kramer is an important part of Mid-Pacific's pitching staff and lineup this season.

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Regular season
more important

The toughest baseball league in the islands has returned to its marathon ways.

Home to four of the top five teams in the Star-Bulletin Baseball Top 10, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu would have been in another battle royal this season with just one state berth. But that's changed.

With the addition of a second berth in the state championships, the ILH discarded last year's tournament format. Instead, the league has returned to the 1990s with a round-robin setup that requires three trips through the slate.

Out goes the tournament. In comes the three-game-per-week grind that will test the mettle of every team down to its last player. That could prove difficult for smaller, younger teams like Damien and Pac-Five. Squads with a wealth of pitching, like Punahou and Iolani, stand to benefit the most as the season begins today.

"With 21 games, the key thing is pitchers," Pac-Five coach Todd Koishigawa said.

Iolani coach Dean Yonamine views the long regular season as a plus.

"The last time the ILH had 21 games was 1997. The top two this year are gonna be tough because you gotta battle so much," he said. "Psychologically, you gotta get your guys up every day."

Saint Louis coach Scot Paiva is not changing his approach.

"Even with the postseason tournament, we wanted to just be in it with five or six games left," he said. "If we're 8-7 with six games left, that's not going to do it."

Veteran coach Dunn Muramaru of Mid-Pacific is taking the same approach to the season, but has some concerns.

"It could be a problem with motivation at the end. That wouldn't be real good," said Muramaru, who has guided the Owls to four state crowns.

Defending state champion Punahou is ready for the duration.

"I think it's a plus for us," coach Eric Kadooka said. "It tests your whole team vs. playing just once or twice a week."

Even the change of days, from Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday to Tuesday-Friday-Saturday, is going to have an effect.

"You don't have that extra day. You have to set up your rotation differently," Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said.

On the other side of the coin, the dissipation of the postseason ILH tournament kills much of the drama and second-chance hope of many teams that were middling in regular-season play.

"I talked to coaches a long time," Kadooka said. "Their only concern is that the league separates midway (through the schedule) and that can cause problems. The beauty of the old format was you knew you'd still get another chance."

Instead, an ace like Jared Pate has an opportunity to take an even bigger role, if necessary. Pate's return from a muscle strain near his shoulder is key for Punahou's title defense.

"We rested him over the summer. He could go six or seven innings for us right now," said Kadooka, who has limited the 5-foot-10 senior to 60-pitch counts in nonconference play. Pate has not pitched more than four innings yet this season.

The lengthy regular season also taxes catchers.

"I think it's a whole different picture for us as coaches. Having a backup catcher now is a big thing," Maryknoll coach Duane Eldredge said.

Long season or not, it takes very little for teams in the ILH to get pumped up. Since the state baseball championships began in 1959, current ILH teams have won 24 titles. That includes the last three by Punahou, Kamehameha ('03) and Mid-Pacific ('02).

The league has been represented in the state final in every year since 1994. With that kind of success, coaches were pleased when the league received a second state berth recently. That happened only because Laupahoehoe dropped out of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation schedule, tipping the formula numbers in favor of the ILH.

After going 16 years between state titles, the Buffanblu aren't content.

"We've worked harder. We've done team building and we look at this season as more of a challenge," Kadooka said. "I've tried to minimize the press and keep things low key."

His methods have worked, apparently. Punahou, ranked No. 1 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10, went 13-1 in nonconference play.

Damien

Coach: John Matias

On paper: The Monarchs are so young (how young are they?) ... there are three seniors and no juniors. That's right. Damien is essentially a junior varsity team with a trio of old fuddy-duddy seniors. They aren't, however, entirely rookies.

Left-hander Robert Cuizon and righty Duncan Ebert started last year as freshmen. Matias, the former University of Hawaii slugger, knows his team is youthful.

"I treat 'em all the same as seniors. They have to learn. They're playing with the big boys," he said.

Christian Stephenson, one of the seniors, starts at second, bats fifth and closes when the opportunity arrives. Another senior, Raymond Alapai, starts at first base.

The top three hitters in the order weren't around during the 1980s. Leadoff man Kai Higa, the catcher, is just a sophomore, and shortstop Travis Derby and left fielder Scotty Talefea are freshmen. Another sophomore is cleanup hitter Kaimana Balanon. An injury limits Balanon to DH duties.

The Monarchs are 7-7 in nonconference play, including a trip to Molokai's tournament two weeks ago.

The skinny: The change in format from the tournament to overall record is certainly a blow to teams like Damien, which has just 14 players. Instead of the chance of getting hot during the tournament, Matias and his staff need to find a way to get the most out of the 14 over a schedule that includes three games per week.

X factor: "If they eliminate the mistakes, they'll be all right," Matias said. "We're basically feeding them to the wolves."

Iolani

Coach: Dean Yonamine

On paper: Word on the Raiders is about their abundance of southpaws. Longtime ILH fans may have never seen a pitching posse with so many lefties. Wally Marciel, Ian Mopes and B.J. Takushi are Yonamine's starters.

"We're very fortunate. Our pitching is a strength, and that's what we're banking on," Yonamine said. With games scheduled each week on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, Marciel, Mopes and Takushi fit the bill well.

"We've never been like a Mid-Pac or Kamehameha or Punahou," Yonamine said. "We're not going to get double-digit runs. We need solid defense and pitching."

Speed is another weapon in the Raiders' arsenal. Left fielder Mike Hirokawa is possibly the fastest in the league. Leadoff man Kyson Morikuni (CF) and right fielder Greg Hackler, the fifth hitter in the lineup, are keys to the offense. So far, Iolani (10-3) has gotten big production from Travis Nishioka and designated hitter Mark Factora.

Nishioka has connected well at the plate despite a sore arm.

The skinny: Ranked eighth in the Top 10, the Raiders haven't gotten the attention of the ILH's power-hitting squads. Not yet, anyway. "We're a little off the radar, which is good," Yonamine said. "Midway through the season, teams are gonna have to pick and choose who they want to go after."

X factor: The long grind of the season may be perfectly suited for Iolani's deep pitching staff. As long as the pitchers stay healthy, it will be difficult for Iolani's foes to stay in games the way the Raiders will.

Kamehameha

Coach: Vern Ramie.

On paper: Kamehameha went 16-3 in nonconference play, earning a No. 4 ranking in the first poll of the season. The Warriors kept 26 players on the roster, the largest number during Ramie's 14 years. They bring back senior ace David Parrow and a host of talented hitters.

"I'm excited about seeing our younger guys throw," Ramie said. "I like the mix of our returning guys and the young guys."

Parrow, one of the top hurlers in the state, has been sharp in preseason. "He's had a great curveball, but our pitching coaches have worked with him on spotting his fastball better, and now he has a fantastic changeup," Ramie said of the southpaw. "He's not a big guy, but he has a big heart."

Koa Kaleo, a right-handed senior, has earned the No. 2 spot in the pitching rotation. "He's thrown very well in preseason. I'm looking forward to getting him a lot of innings," Ramie said.

Nick Freitas, a four-year starter, is back in right field. Catcher Stuart Kam solidifies the defense, while leadoff hitter Jayson Rego anchors the outfield.

The skinny: The Warriors had little problem with offensive production in nonconference play. On the mound, time will tell. "Pitching is the key. We'll go as far as our pitching takes us," Ramie said. "I have one proven starter and the other guys are untested."

Among those seeking to nail the third spot in the rotation are Erik Price, John Worthington and Waylen Sing Chow. Worthington and Sing Chow, a lefty, are sophomores.

X factor: Second baseman Ryson Mauricio has made a remarkable recovery from shoulder surgery. "He's worked so hard to get back. I really didn't think he'd be ready," Ramie said of the senior. "But he's back at 100 percent."

Maryknoll

Coach: Duane Eldredge

On paper: Eight returning seniors give the Spartans more experience than teams like Damien and Pac-Five. They went 3-10 in nonconference play, but Eldredge saw improvement.

"We played well all preseason, but we didn't win," the sixth-year coach said. "We're playing more consistent ball."

Junior right-hander Peter Kirst returns as Maryknoll's ace. Brennan Young, another junior, returns to center field. "He holds down our outfield," Eldredge said.

The skinny: Eldredge is waiting for his team's bats to awaken. "We have to hit the ball better and get timely hits," he said. "If we can play with confidence, we could ruffle the feathers of the big boys."

X factor: Starting catcher Brian Tabata has missed more than two weeks due to the flu. Eldredge is happy with the play of backup Hiroshi Kuroda, but would love to have both catchers available for the long haul.

Mid-Pacific

Coach: Dunn Muramaru

On paper: The Owls have seniors Conan Young and Jayson Kramer to anchor their pitching staff. Another senior, Reece Uyeno, played some DH and pinch-hit last year, but will also see some innings on the mound.

Behind the plate, Kip Masuda enters his senior season, while the infield is junior-heavy. Chad Takabuki is at shortstop, with Adam Tamashiro at second and Blayne Fuke at third.

The skinny: Pitching depth is a concern. "We don't have the depth. We drop off after the first couple guys," Muramaru said.

X factor: Aaron Fujiki, a freshman, gives MPI a boost. "I'm not afraid to put him in. We've gotta find a way to put his bat in the lineup," Muramaru said of the catcher. "He's a mature kid."

Making the varsity at MPI as a freshman is a rarity. "I can remember the ones who made the team. Kyle Hara, Ricky Bauer, Ryan Basco," Muramaru said. Hara went on to become was player of the year, going 11-0 as MPI won its first state title in 1990. Bauer now pitches for UH.

Pac-Five

Coach: Todd Koishigawa

On paper: Like Damien, the Wolf Pack are young. Two of their top pitchers are freshmen, and the Pack have six ninth-graders in all. "It'll be interesting. The kids are really motivated, so that makes it easier," Koishigawa said.

Sophomore Samson Aina will shuttle between the mound and the middle infield. Nick Miyamoto, one of only three seniors, will start on the mound and also see time in relief. "He'll be a key in eating up innings for us," Koishigawa noted.

Ronel Trias, a junior center fielder, is the leadoff hitter.

The skinny: Being young is one challenge. Improving their defense is another. "We had 12 errors in one game, but since then, we haven't had more than two in one game," Koishigawa said.

X factor: The Wolf Pack may not have the deepest squad, but with their young talent, the vision is long term. "We have a lot of work to do, but we've grown in every game," the coach said. "I'm proud that they learn every day."

Punahou

Coach: Eric Kadooka

On paper: The Buffanblu are so much more than just a team built around an ace. But it never hurts to have someone like Pate, a pitcher who knows how to win under pressure.

"He's sneaky fast and throws a ton of strikes," Kadooka said. "He forces the other team to swing the bat, and he can throw good pitches on any count."

Pate gets a lot of movement on his fastball and changes speeds well. He also throws a curve and a change. Support comes from a solid defense led by shortstop Landon Nakata, a four-year starter.

First baseman Kasey Ko, leadoff hitter Kaohi Downing and southpaw hurler Kurt Komatsubara are also valuable contributors.

The skinny: "We don't have the 1-2 punch we had last year, pitching-wise. We can't throw Jared against everybody like we did before," Kadooka said. "That's going to be different for us."

Not that any of Punahou's opponents will feel much pity. Perhaps the most intriguing decision by Kadooka has been to bring up three freshman pitchers.

Harrison Ishida, Paul Snieder and Reece Kiriu all figure to see significant innings despite their youth. Ishida, a right-hander, starts today against Damien.

"They all throw strikes. Hopefully, they'll become three Jared Pates, though they're each different," Kadooka said. Carl Graves, a junior lefty, is a fireballer who could be a pleasant surprise.

"I'm trying to hide him," Kadooka said. "He's real crafty."

X factor: Batting in front of Ko, the cleanup man, is senior Christian Aona. The football defensive lineman sat out last year with an ACL injury. After playing football last fall, he had a knee scoped. Yet, he trimmed down to 275 pounds on his 6-foot frame.

"He hits the ball like a man. He's the real deal," Kadooka said.

Saint Louis

Coach: Scot Paiva.

On paper: The hitting is there, but time will tell if the fifth-ranked Crusaders have enough pitching to make a season-long run. Right-handers Cameron Bayne and Grant Costa are integral parts of the staff. Costa, who will start today against Maryknoll, is only a sophomore.

Freshman Kyle Gonzaga, son of former Waipahu standout Benny Gonzaga, will see some time on the mound. So will senior Nainoa Campbell and sophomore Jayson Fukumoto, both coming off rehab stints and showing signs of strength.

At the plate, however, the Crusaders are often without peer. First baseman Chester Wilson hit .614 against ILH pitching last year.

The skinny: Saint Louis went 10-3 through preseason while going through changes. Versatile Kelii Zablan has made the transition from center field to shortstop. Ryan Sasaki, who also pitches, moved from short to third base, and Ryan Brilhante won the job in left field. "He's worked hard. He gave up his other sports and now he's starting," Paiva said.

Speedy Shaun Kauleinamoku is in center, and last year's DH, Sheldon Santiago, is now catching.

"We need longevity," Paiva said. Zablan is also being counted on to close games. "We need our No. 2 and No. 3 guys and relievers can buy us time until I can get Kelii."

X factor: Other than Campbell, there is no other senior hurler. "They played American Legion last summer, but they haven't experienced varsity ball yet," Paiva noted.