OIA West preview

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

(Preseason record, if known; and home field in parentheses)

'AIEA
(15-3; 'Aiea Recreation Center)

Na Ali'i defeated ILH leader Mid-Pacific and defending state champ Kailua and won the Castle tournament in preseason. Junior LHP Ranon Aquino and sophomore RHP Blake Lamug looked good. With the game on the line, coach Ryan Kato said, he'd like to see senior RF Aaron Powell at the plate.

"We have lots of speed in the outfield," with junior LF Chase Kaiuwailani, senior CF Bryan Tucker and sophomore LF Dylan Libadisos, Kato said.

Junior 2B Taylor Watanabe and Kaiuwailani are dependable at the plate while senior 3B Rickey Takushi and junior C Justin Nii lead the defense.

"Our first and foremost goal is to understand the little things it takes to be successful, off the field and on the field — knowing the stuff you have to bring to the table day in and day out to be a successful ball club," Kato says. "Wins will be a byproduct of that."

CAMPBELL
(7-7, school)

The Sabers went 8-1 to win the West last year but stumbled in the OIA Tournament and did not get to states. "We played well on Kaua'i and won the Waimea tournament" in preseason, coach Lane Watanuki said. "That's our goal, playing like that."

Chad Bailey, Campbell's stud pitcher, graduated but Watanuki says "if we can throw strikes and play solid defense ... we'll be competitive." He likes the power of senior 1B Keahi Kapana, a 6-1, 270-pounder.

Watanuki, in his 19th season, is dean of OIA West coaches with the retirement from coaching of Mililani's Glenn Nitta.

LEILEHUA
(Fred Wright Park)

The 15-game preseason was a "learning experience" for the Mules' 13 players, "trying to find the right nine," coach Garett Yukumoto said.

He found a dependable pitcher in sophomore RHP Spencer Omalza, dependable hitters in utility fielders John Dolac (senior SS/P) and Daylen Hale (junior C/P/2B) and a dependable leader in senior OF Mackenzie Hanson.

"I hope the rest of the guys will step up," Yukumoto said. "Everybody needs to be a contributor, whether we have 13 guys or 25."

MILILANI
(3-7, school field)

The Trojans framed a jersey with No. 28 to signify Glenn Nitta's 28 years as head coach and presented it to Nitta as he retired to become athletic director. "Hopefully, we'll keep up the tradition that coach Nitta had," said former assistant/now head coach Cary Kihara. "Mililani has always been 1 or 2 in the West. I think we have the talent to do it."

That talent starts with senior LHP/OF Gainor Nitta, recovering from a shoulder strain, senior RHP/3B Adam Inaba, and senior C Shawn Saito, who showed the best swing and best ability to handle pressure in preseason.

All the starting pitchers play positions, too, like juniors LHP/OF Chris Balatico and P/3B Dane Mizusawa, who also has had shoulder problems. Junior SS Dustin Nuibe "solidifies the infield with a great glove," Kihara says.

Mililani finished preseason with a 0-3 trip to Las Vegas, but Kihara saw promise in the way the Trojans "played tough" against highly respected Durango.

NANAKULI
(0-4, school field)

Junior right-hander Michael Nakagawa is the Golden Hawks' top pitcher and junior C Ikaika Asinsin the best clutch hitter. Coach John Lopes is counting on junior Mario Bartholomew at shortstop and pitcher.

PEARL CITY
(9-3, school field)

The Chargers finished the preseason with three wins in the La'a Kona Tournament, including a confidence-building, 5-4 victory over Kaiser ace Jason Peters in eight innings. "The kids are anxious to start the season," 10th-year coach Mel Seki said.

Seki said 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior RHP Jonathan Serapion is a "good Division I prospect" and is protected by last year's closer, junior RHP Chad Itokazu. RHP Scott Yasumoto, up from the JVs, had a good preseason.

Senior Brandon Yamamoto moved from shortstop to second base and had a very promising preseason at the plate. "Defense will be our strength," Seki said, led by Itokazu at shortstop until he is needed to pitch.

RADFORD
(3-11, school field)

Senior RHPs Kori Wade and Victor Mejia will be surrounded by an inexperienced infield: sophomores Adrian Ragadio and Danton Julian at 2B and SS, senior Shane Roberson playing 3B for the first time and freshman 1B Chris Walden, who had been the Rams' soundest hitter in preseason.

Junior Matt Ryan will catch while two sophomores are key players: utility fielder Reilly Kindred and pitcher/2B Andrew Atmospera.

WAIALUA
(3-5, Waialua Recreation Center)

Senior RHP Charles Tantog and junior RHP Gavin Nakamura will start. Nakamura is also the Bulldogs' best clutch hitter, coach Herbert Onizuka said. Senior 3B/C Keone Peiler and senior CF Ikaiki Soares are also mainstays.

Waialua has 18 players this year, a 50 percent improvement from last season. "We're all pulling together," Onizuka said.

WAI'ANAE
(8-4-1, school field)

A preseason that included victories over Roosevelt, Moanalua twice and a tie with Punahou makes coach Glenn Tokunaga's goal of "making the playoffs" seem entirely reasonable.

Senior LHP Dana Awana is the Seariders' ace and senior DH Cid Moses their most consistent hitter.

Five juniors and a sophomore up from last year's strong junior varsity team will start, led by 3B/P Calvin Uyechi, who is also a classroom ace with nearly straight A's, Tokunaga said.

WAIPAHU
(approximately 3-12, school field)

The Marauders will be "pitching by committee," 18-year head coach Milton Takenaka said. "We had no consistency during preseason. Our inexperienced pitchers would throw a couple of good innings, then look terrible."

Takenaka says Waipahu has "athletes, but not the baseball kind. We have been making a lot of mistakes."

Sophomore John Faufatea, a first-year player, shows promise and probably will catch. Junior CF Travis Atualevoa can run.