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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Eight teams battle for Best of West crown

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

 •  Best of the West

WHAT: Invitational tournament for high school and college players ages 19 and under

WHO: Eight teams, including four from Hawai'i and one each from Alaska, Arizona, California and North Carolina

WHEN: Pool play today through Thursday with games at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; bracket play on Saturday and championship round on Sunday

WHERE: Central O'ahu Regional Park, Waipi'o

TODAY'S GAMES: Field No. 1: T-Birds (Alaska) vs. Hawai'i, 10 a.m.; Kailua vs. Western Baseball Club (Calif.), noon. Field No. 2: Hammahedz vs. Scottsdale (Ariz.), 10 a.m.; Greensboro (N.C.) vs. Leeward, noon.

The 11th annual Best of the West Hawaiian Baseball Classic gets underway today with four games at Central O'ahu Regional Park in Waipi'o.

This year's eight-team tournament, for high school and college players aged 19 and younger, features four teams from Hawai'i and one each from Alaska, Arizona, California and North Carolina.

The three-time defending champion, formerly known as West O'ahu and the Hawai'i Hurricane, is back under the name "Hawai'i Hammahedz." The team includes former Kamehameha Schools standout Tyler Perkins — a three-time Advertiser All-State outfielder (2000-2002) — along with former All-State utility player Gainor Nitta of Mililani (2001) and current All-State first baseman Kepa Wong of 'Aiea.

The Leeward (O'ahu) Athletic Club is making its seventh tournament appearance, with 2003 Advertiser Player of the Year Keoni Ruth of Kamehameha highlighting the roster.

Kailua, a team primarily made up of Windward American Legion players, is led by 2003 first-team All-State utility player Michael Kealoha. A fourth team from Hawai'i, managed by Maryknoll coach Duane Eldredge and coached by Kalaheo's Alex Racoma, is entered as a replacement for a team from Southern California that could not make the trip.

The Hawai'i team is made up of players from Radford, Kaiser, Kalaheo, McKinley, Farrington and Maryknoll.

"I think it'll be good for our kids to see what it can be like" to play top competition, Eldredge said.

The Alaska T-Birds are primarily a team of players from East Anchorage High, which has the highest winning percentage in the state the past six years. East Anchorage has won three regional championships and one state title in that span.

The Greensboro (N.C.) Palominos have produced more than 400 college players and 29 professional players in the past 20 years, including current major leaguer Tony Womack of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Scottsdale (Ariz.) Dawgs are back for their fourth Best of the West appearance, with seven players from the Coronado and Chaparral high school teams that faced each other in the 4A state title game.

The Western Baseball Club, based in the Los Angeles area, has 14 college players — including six from Pasadena City College. Western coach Mark Gabbard made his first appearance in the Best of the West Classic as a player for Phoenix in 1995.

Pool play will continue with four games per day through Thursday, with the teams taking Friday off before returning Saturday for bracket play. The championship game is tentatively set for 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

All games will be played at Central O'ahu Regional Park. In past years, the semifinals and championship were played at Aloha Stadium or Les Murakami Stadium, but neither venue is available this year, tournament co-director Bill Berger said.

There is no admission charge for any of the games.