UH-Hilo may join NCAA Division II for baseball
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
If a plan comes together, the University of Hawai'i-Hilo baseball program will switch to NCAA Division II status by the 2003 season.
Vulcans' coach Joey Estrella said he will likely know by the end of summer if a number of Northwest area teams and Hawai'i Pacific will be able to form a conference of their own.
The Vulcans suffered their worst season by going 5-45 overall and 3-33 in their final year as an affiliate member of the Western Athletic Conference. After being an affiliate for two years, the Vulcans were not retained by the WAC. They will compete as a Division I independent next season.
"A league is the way to go," Estrella said in reference to scheduling. "With HPU (and UH-Hilo), we really had to hustle to get a schedule. It will be more feasible (for teams coming to Hawai'i) because they can play more than one school. The only thing is we'd lose the Division I schools."
When a Division I school plays programs from other classifications, the games count against the schedule limit of 56 but the wins do not, hence a reluctance for Division I schools to schedule a non-Division I opponent.
Estrella is putting the final touches on next year's schedule, which includes Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Florida State, Pepperdine, Brigham Young and the Rainbow Easter Tournament.
Games on the West Coast include Oregon State, Sacramento State and the University of Pacific.
Meanwhile, Estrella has signed shortstop Chris Fielder of Aliso Niguel High in California. Estrella is awaiting letters of intent from some junior college and Hawai'i high school players.
SUMMER BALL
• Japan-bound: Summertime means it's time for Island Movers baseball.
The team will leave for Japan June 20 and return July 13. They will play 18 games in various parts of the country.
The Movers also will play host to the International Tournament Aug. 6-9 at Rainbow Stadium.
San Francisco State coach Dave Nakama will return as coach. He will be assisted by Keith Komeiji and Garrett Yukumoto.
University of Hawai'i players on the team are outfielder Kevin Gilbride, relief pitcher Bryan Lee, infielder Gary Ahu and starting pitcher Sean Yamashita.
UH-Hilo will be represented by infielder Keola Park, catcher Nalei Sooto and pitcher Rob Shimabuku.
Players from Hawai'i playing at Mainland schools are New Mexico's Marvin Wong (Iolani) and Ken Yamaoka (Mid-Pacific), both pitchers, and Lewis-Clark State infielder Micah Furtado (Kapa'a).
• New England-bound: Former Iolani all-state players Kainoa Obrey and Douglas Jackson, both of Mountain West champion Brigham Young, are the only players from Hawai'i who will be playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, which uses wooden bats.
The two will play for the Newport (R.I.) Gulls. Their season starts Sunday, but they won't leave here until Monday. Both recently returned from Nebraska, where the Cougars were eliminated from the NCAA Regionals.
Both sophomores were named to the All-MWC first-team. Obrey, a third baseman, led the Cougars with a .381 batting average. Jackson, an outfielder, was next at .370.
