Hilo baseball faces tough competition
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Despite coming off a single-digit win season, there is no backing down by the University of Hawai'i-Hilo baseball team.
Advertiser library photo • May 2000
After a 5-45 record in their second and last season as an affiliate member of the Western Athletic Conference, the Vulcans return to Division I independent status with an ambitious schedule that includes two nationally ranked teams.
Hilo coach Joey Estrella led the Vulcans to a 5-45 record as an affiliate member of the Western Athletic Conference last season.
Florida State (47-19 last year), ranked second by Collegiate Baseball and No. 6 by Baseball America, and Oral Roberts (48-13), ranked 31st by Collegiate Baseball, highlight a schedule filled with teams that have traditionally been strong over the years.
Also on the schedule are San Diego State (34-26), UCLA (30-27), Pepperdine (42-18) and Brigham Young (38-22).
But the strength of schedule was not intentional, said UHH coach Joey Estrella, who enters his 26th season.
"There was no strategy in putting together this schedule," he said. "It just happened these teams were able to come over to play us.
"I'd put up our power rating against anybody's."
The Vulcans open the season tomorrow against Division II Sonoma State. They will play doubleheaders tomorrow and Wednesday starting at 5 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, at Wong Stadium.
The Vulcans return three pitchers who made starts last season in right-handers Robert Shimabuku (1-11, 9.45 ERA), Zebb Watts (0-8, 5.35) and Clay Daugherty (0-2, 14.73). Joining them will be juniorcollege transfer Jeremiah Wolske, a left-hander. They all will be in the rotation.
"Our pitching has improved from a year ago," Estrella said. "But there's not enough depth to play against the kind of teams we're playing."
Freshman James Onaga III also shows promise, Estrella said. He is one of seven hometown players on the team. Onaga graduated from St. Joseph last year.
"For the Hilo fans, it should be more interesting because of the Hilo kids in the lineup," Estrella said.
Lost is starter Anthony Bernal (0-11, 7.70 ERA ), who transferred to Fresno State.
Offensively, the Vulcans again lack power (16 team home runs last year). They have decent speed, but not the kind provided by outfielders Brian Rooke and Ryan Petersen; they combined for 27 of the team's 40 steals. Both were seniors last year. Rooke was drafted and signed by the Oakland Athletics.
Returning position players include junior Nalei Sooto (.248) at catcher, sophomore Johnny Dudoit (.241) at third base, senior Chad Agustin (.145) at second base, senior Keola Park (.257) in right field, senior Darren Chu (.205) in center and junior Kaliko Oligo (.269) in right.
Junior-college transfers Daniel Lockett and Scott McLaughlin are tabbed at shortstop and first base, respectively.
Estrella said freshmen Travis Hayashida (Kailua) and Ryan Oberg (Philomath, Ore.) also might see time at shortstop because Lockett will be used as a closer. Oberg also can play third base.
Also showing promise is freshman Ryan Hanohano, who graduated from Waiakea last year. He could play first base or designated hitter.
"One thing about this team is the chemistry is a whole lot better (than last year's)," Estrella said. "The kids work really hard."
Despite problems competing in Division I — they had their ninth consecutive losing season, compiling a 125-295-2 record during that span — the Vulcans will remain in Division I another season. Even though Hawai'i Pacific University would like UH-Hilo to join it in Division II, mostly for scheduling purposes, the Vulcans find themselves in a bind.
Estrella's complaint is that in Division II, conference champions and other teams with strong records are not guaranteed postseason berths; he cited HPU's 1999 season, when the Sea Warriors were 32-12, but stayed home.
"Unless Division II gets an automatic berth, it's hard to go to Division II," said Estrella, who added even Division III invites all of its conference champions to postseason.
Although not in the WAC this year, the Vulcans still will play UH-Manoa, March 15-17 in Hilo and March 30 at the Rainbow Easter Baseball Tournament at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Vulcans end their season with a nine-game road trip to the West Coast. They will play a four-game series at Oregon State, a single game at Sacramento State and finish with a four-game series at Pacific in Stockton, Calif. Their season ends April 20.
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