DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Punahou's Jared Pate, left, is the Star-Bulletin's pitcher of the year, and Mid-Pacific catcher Kip Masuda, right, is the position player of the year.

The state’s top players make
up a powerful battery

ONE bolstered his power by pounding the iron.

The other rarely lifted a pound, but excelled in the art of self-control.

Jared Pate is no poster boy for Mr. America. Instead, he dominated the state's toughest baseball league and was virtually unscathed during the state tourney, leading Punahou to the championship.

Position Player of the Year Kip Masuda, Mid-Pacific, catcher Pitcher of the Year Jared Pate, Punahou Coach of the Year Corey Ishigo, Kailua

Star-Bulletin panelists selected Pate as pitcher of the year. The panel also selected Mid-Pacific catcher Kip Masuda as position player of the year.

For Pate, it's a repeat performance after being named the Star-Bulletin Player of the Year last season.

Pate won his category almost unanimously. The nimble, 6-foot senior went 9-1 with a remarkable 1.43 ERA. He walked only eight batters in 63 innings while fanning 44.

Sometimes comical off the diamond, Pate was all business on the mound. Coming off last year's five-hit shutout in the state title win over Mid-Pacific, he was at his best under pressure. At this year's state championships, he won two games, pitching 9 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and only one walk. That included his complete-game two-hitter against Kailua, a 3-1 win for the state crown.

He went 4 1/3 innings without allowing a baserunner against the Surfriders before settling for a two-hitter, permitting one unearned run. He struck out five and walked none.

"Regardless of a no-hitter," Punahou coach Eric Kadooka said, "Jared threw another perfect game for us. He was just unbelievable again."

Pate will pitch at Cal Irvine next season.

Masuda was among several players nominated for top position player honors. He got the nod over a posse that included Moanalua's Andrew Blomberg and Saint Louis' Chester Wilson.

The 5-10 1/2, 185-pound senior impressed at the plate, hitting a league-high five home runs. He also had 14 doubles and 38 RBIs while hitting .389.

It was defense, however, that separated Masuda from the pack. The Owl threw out 17 of 20 baserunners. Much of the time, opposing coaches refused to run on Masuda.

"Hands down, he's the best catcher in the state," Saint Louis coach Scot Paiva said. "Automatically, you don't want to run on him."

Masuda credited his coaches with fine-tuning his accuracy behind the plate.

"It's just repetition in practice. Our coaches emphasized the release point, being compact and throwing to the same spot every time," he said. "That made a lot of difference."

Getting serious about conditioning also was a plus.

"The honor is kinda important to me because all the offseason workouts by myself, going to the weight room extra paid off," Masuda said. He reps in the bench press anywhere from five to 10 times at 225 pounds. On the squat, he does five to 10 reps at 315.

"When you're stronger, to me, it's a boost to everything, a lot easier to compete. You can swing the bat a little faster, come around on the inside pitch a little more," said Masuda, who accepted an early offer from Long Beach State.

Having an outstanding role model didn't hurt, either.

"When I was younger I used to copy everything after Matt Inouye, all my catching and everything," Masuda said of the current UH catcheroutfielder.

Blomberg built a notable resume as a senior. As a first baseman, he hit .595 with an on-base percentage of .653. He socked five homers, nine doubles and amassed 27 RBIs. On the mound, he was 4-2 with a 3.00 ERA. He also whiffed 33 batters in 30 1/3 innings.

Wilson was a magnet of attention by pitchers. He hit .457 and had an OBP of .612. He stroked 12 doubles and drove in 18 runs. He walked 25 times. Wilson will play at Southern Utah next year.

The Star-Bulletin All-State first team includes Wilson, Ryson Mauricio (Kamehameha), Steven Dannaway (Punahou) and Landon Nakata (Punahou) in the infield. The outfield is comprised of Nick Freitas (Kamehameha), Kyle Fujimoto (Punahou) and Adam Arakawa (Moanalua). David Parrow (Kamehameha) joins Pate as a first-team pitcher.

Bucky Aona (Punahou) is the designated hitter, and Blomberg and Kelii Zablan (Saint Louis) are utility selections.

Coach of the Year honors went to Kailua's Corey Ishigo in a narrow pick over Punahou's Kadooka. Ishigo's team, seeded fifth in the Oahu Interscholastic Association East, went on to win the league championship with four wins in four days. The Surfriders then rode a wave of success and reached the finals of the state tourney before losing to Punahou.

Kadooka guided his squad to an amazing 34-3-1 season, repeating as state champions.

Waiakea's Tom Correa and Kalani's Shannon Hirai also received consideration from the panel.

First Team

Pitcher
Jared Pate
Punahou,
9-1, 63 IP, 1.43 ERA, 44 K, 8 BB

Pitcher
David Parrow
KS, 6-2, 3.27 ERA, Opponent BA .189, 42 IP, 35 K, 28 BB

Catcher
Kip Masuda
Mid-Pac,
hit. 389, 5 HRs, 14 2Bs, 38 RBIs

First Baseman
Chester Wilson Saint Louis,
hit .457, OBP .612, 12 2Bs, 18 RBIs, 25 BB

Second Baseman
Ryson Mauricio
KS, .387, OBP .500, 5 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 1 HR, 17 RBIs

Third Baseman
Steven Dannaway
Punahou,
hit .338, 2 HRs, 13 RBIs, OBP .500

Shortstop
Landon Nakata
Punahou,
great def. player. Hit .356, 15 RBIs, 9 SB, .456 OBP

Outfielder
Nick Freitas
KS, .415, OBP .513, 4 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 2 HRs, 28 RBIs

Outfielder
Kyle Fujimoto
Punahou,
hit .433, 5 2Bs, 1 3B, 18 RBIs, .514 OBP

Outfielder
Adam Arakawa
Moanalua,
hit .625, 15 RBIs

Designated Hitter
Bucky Aona
Punahou,
hit .407, 6 2Bs, 4 HRs, 34 RBIs, .560 OBP

Utility
Kelii Zablan
Saint Louis, (SSOFP)
Hit .511, 14 2Bs, 5 3B, 26 RBIs

Utility
Andrew Blomberg
Moanalua, (P/1B),
hit .595, OBP .653, 5 HRs, 9 2Bs, 27 RBIs. As pitcher, 4-2, 3.00 ERA, 33 Ks in 30 1/3 IP

Second Team

Pitchers
» Kevin Matsumoto, Kailua
» Clayton Uyechi, Waianae

Catcher
» Kamaka Crabbe, Mililani

First Baseman
» Kasey Ko, Punahou

Second Baseman
» Kekoa Sua, Kailua

Third Baseman
» Derek Grace, Aiea

Shortstop
» Tony Aquino, Mililani

Outfielders
» Kaohi Downing, Punahou
» Chaz Miyashiro, Mililani
» C.J. Tausaga, Aiea

Designated Hitter
» Jayson Kramer, Mid-Pacific

Utility
» Kirby Yates, Kauai

Honorable Mention

Aiea
» Lance Powell, U
» Kahoku Piho, P

Baldwin
» Marcus Makia, 1B
» Shaun Shima, OF
» Derrick Saito, P

Campbell
» Tristan Bailey, P

Iolani
» Wally Marciel, DH

Kailua
» Tyler Harrison, SS
» Kelii Klobucar, OF
» Ryan Rodrigues, 1B
» Matthew Kinoshita, OF
» Mike D'Alessio, C

Kaiser
» Scott Uehara, OF
» Colby Ho, 3B
» Jarryd Maeda, C

Kalani
» Trevor Teraoka, OF
» Preston Pires, C
» Micah Takahashi, P

Kamehameha
» Makana Kitamura, OF
» Elijah Chee, 3B
» Spencer Kam, C

Leilehua
» Andrew Ontai, U
» John Olley, U

Maui
» Joey Castro, 3B
» Maika Carpio, OF
» Gavin Takakura, C

Mid-Pacific
» Jayson Kramer, P

Mililani
» Jordan Apduhan, DH
» Kelsey Nakata, 3B/U/P
» Robert Reid, P

Moanalua
» Peter Arakawa, SS

Molokai
» Travis Fernandez, U

Punahou
» Maika Murashige, 2B
» Carl Graves, P

Roosevelt
» Kevin Fujii, C

Saint Louis
» Ryan Sasaki, 3B

Waiakea
» Raymond Velez, C
» Justin Kekaualua, P