Shortstop's solid play at plate and in field led Kamehameha

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

KEONI RUTH The Advertiser's State Player of the Year Deborah Booker• The Honolulu Advertiser

His power numbers (five doubles, six triples, five home runs and 26 RBIs in 19 league games) suggest a slugger who could bat third or cleanup on almost any team.

But Ruth's ability to bat leadoff, steal bases (10 in 10 attempts) and play nearly flawless defense at shortstop suggest a player who is light on his feet and nimble, with a strong arm to boot.

And his role in helping Kamehameha to a 19-3 overall record (not counting preseason) and its first state championship since 1988 suggest a leader who adheres to winning as his bottom line.

Put together, all these things suggest why Ruth was a near-unanimous choice as The Advertiser's State Player of the Year in a vote of coaches, officials and members of the media.

"He did so many things well, there really were no weaknesses in his game," Warriors coach Vern Ramie said. "He put together the complete package. It was a magical season for him."

Ruth, a senior, signed a letter of intent to play for the University of San Diego but also was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 17th round of major league baseball's amateur draft two weeks ago. He said yesterday he was "leaning more toward going to school," but has not made a final decision yet.

Ruth capped off his season by producing sacrifice flies in the quarterfinals and semifinals and going 2 for 3 with a stolen base in the state title victory over Kailua.

"He did whatever we needed, but I think there was only one game all year where he didn't get a hit," Ramie said. "He showed great leadership, even though he wasn't really a rah-rah guy. He led by example."

Ruth is joined on The Advertiser's All-State first team by three teammates: sophomore right fielder Nick Freitas, senior left fielder Kahe Santos and senior pitcher Isaac Kamai.

Freitas batted .425 with two home runs and 17 RBIs, but his value was proven early in the season when he was briefly sidelined with a back injury.

"Somehow, we just were not the same without him in the lineup," Ramie said. "And defensively, he's one of the best high school outfielders I've seen."

Santos batted cleanup in Kamehameha's potent order, hitting .419 with seven doubles, one triple and 16 RBIs. He had a .500 on-base percentage, and he drew seven walks.

"Kahe had so many big hits for us, and a lot of them were extra-base hits that broke people's backs," Ramie said. "It's amazing how timely his hits were. Defensively, with his arm he'd be a right fielder on most teams but on our team we have Nick there . And with all those guys — Keoni, Nick and Kahe — they make everybody else better."

Santos will play for UH-Hilo next season.

Kamai, a left-hander, went 10-1 with a 2.26 earned run average in the ILH and won the state championship game by going the seven-inning distance, with only one earned run and six strikeouts.

"Isaac really learned how to pitch this year; he changed speeds and was able to show you don't have to throw 90 mph," Ramie said. "He didn't get caught up in striking people out. He showed maturity by using movement to get ground ball outs."

Kamai will walk on at UH-Manoa in the fall.

Others selected to the first team are 'Aiea first baseman Kepa Wong and second baseman Taylor Watanabe, Mid-Pacific third baseman Jonathan Hee, Waiakea center fielder Shannon Camero, Iolani catcher Kala Ka'aihue, Roosevelt pitcher Kaimi Mead and utility player Cameron Kimura, Maui utility player Vance Otake and Kailua utility player Michael Kealoha.

Wong and Watanabe helped Na Ali'i go 10-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division and reach the OIA title game and state quarterfinals. Wong, a junior, batted .548 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.

"Offensively, he pretty much was our go-to guy," 'Aiea coach Ryan Kato said.

Watanabe, a senior, was a smooth defensive player who also batted .417 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. He will play for Sacramento State next season.

Hee, a senior, batted .362 with three doubles, two triples, 29 runs and 21 RBIs. In the state tournament, he went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in a first round victory over Wai'anae and 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in a 9-6 win over Baldwin in the quarterfinals.

Hee will walk on at UH-Manoa.

Camero, a senior, batted .607 with eight RBIs in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation and went 7 for 10 in the state tournament. He plans to walk on at Oregon State.

Ka'aihue, a senior, batted. 408 with two triples, four home runs and 25 RBIs in 19 games. He also was the state's unofficial leader in intentional walks with 15.

"Teams pitched around him all year," Ramie said. "Our game plan was to not let him beat us. We emphasized that we had to get the bottom and top of their order out, because we didn't want anyone to be on base when he came up. That's the kind of impact he had on offense."

Defensively, Ka'aihue's strong arm discouraged base stealing, and he threw out 39 percent of the runners who did make an attempt. He signed a letter of intent to play for UH-Manoa but was drafted in the 22nd round by the Boston Red Sox and signed a contract with them last week. He is now with the Red Sox's rookie team at Fort Myers (Fla.) of the Gulf Coast League.

Mead, a senior left-hander, went 4-0 in the OIA East regular season with a 0.78 earned-run average. He struck out 56 of 106 batters faced in 27 innings, with just six walks and 11 hits allowed.

Mead threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts against Kalani, and also had 14 strikeouts each against Kalaheo and Kailua.

He signed with UH-Manoa.

Kimura, a senior, batted an astounding .733 in the OIA East, with three home runs and 14 RBIs. He also was Roosevelt's No. 2 starting pitcher, tossing a one-hitter against Wai'anae in the OIA playoffs.

Kimura is expected to play junior college ball in California.

Otake, a senior, was a Tri-Player of the Year in the Maui Interscholastic League as a pitcher, catcher, third baseman and shortstop. He batted .382 and had a 1.30 ERA. Otake will walk on at Cal State Fullerton.

Kealoha, a junior, was Kailua's starting shortstop, batting .425 with eight RBIs from the leadoff spot and making only one error. He also was the Surfriders' No. 2 starter, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, and was named OIA East Co-Player of the Year.

Ramie was a near-unanimous choice as Coach of the Year.