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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 7, 2003

'Aiea baseball team focuses on the present not the past

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The undefeated 'Aiea High School baseball team has turned the word "WIN" into an acronym.

"For us, it means 'What's Important Now,' " Na Ali'i coach Ryan Kato said. "It's not about what we accomplished in the past. The only thing we're focused on now is the game we have to play next."

That philosophy would serve well for all 12 teams in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association tournament, which begins today with four first-round games. The way the regular season panned out, there were almost no sure things and a "win" was promised to no one.

Take, for example, Eastern Division champion Kailua (9-1). Although the Surfriders won the division by two games, they also were taken to 16 innings by McKinley, a team that finished 1-9.

"OIA baseball was different this year," said Kailua coach Corey Ishigo, who has guided the Surfriders to three consecutive league crowns. "It was tougher, because even the teams on the bottom were a lot better than in the past."

Also, consider that West champion 'Aiea (10-0) needed a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to edge Leilehua, a team that failed to make the playoffs, in the regular-season finale.

"This year, it's anybody's tournament; it'll just be who is the hottest team," Kato said. "The talent in the OIA is dispersed, and even for us it's been a battle every time we've laced up the cleats. We've had to fight and claw."

Na Ali'i mainly have won with solid pitching and defense, along with hustle and speed on the bases. Junior catcher Aaron Asher can shut down opposing running games with his strong arm, and pitchers Blaze Moleta and Nelson Hao earned key victories with efficient pitching against Wai'anae and Pearl City, respectively.

'Aiea also got a big boost with the return of pitcher Blake Lamug, who was ineligible until the regular season's final week.

"We're happy to have him back," Kato said. "Now, hopefully, we can click on all cylinders."

Ishigo is hoping for the same from his club, which in the past has clearly stepped up a notch in the postseason.

"I don't know if these guys have it (in them), because only three or four of them were with us last year," Ishigo said. "They'll have to learn how to do it, and I don't know what will happen."

Junior right-hander Chris Mahelona has been Kailua's most consistent pitcher, most recently turning in an 11-strikeout shutout of Kalaheo.



ILH BASKETBALL

• Sacred Hearts, Mid-Pacific advance: Sacred Hearts and Mid-Pacific advanced in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Third-Place Tournament with victories last night at McCabe gym.

Megan Burton scored 27 points as Sacred Hearts defeated Saint Francis, 60-43, while Jasmine Vieira scored 12 points to help Mid-Pacific hold off Hawai'i Baptist, 45-40.

Mid-Pacific will play Maryknoll at 5 tonight and Sacred Hearts will meet Iolani at 6:30. Both games will be played at McCabe gym.

The winner of the tournament will earn the ILH's third berth in next week's state tournament.

SAINT FRANCIS 10 12 5 16—43
SACRED HEARTS 14 13 16 7—60

ST. FRANCIS—Samantha Kuwata 2, Monica Chock 9, Jennifer Lim 3, Tesia Ahai 0, Latasha Griffin 0, Jasmine Dulan 15, Chelsey Powell 2, Tiyana Fao 0, Lauren Upadhyaya 4, Melanie Keliipuleole 6, Siutiti Takai 2. Totals 18 2-10 43.

SACRED HEARTS—Nikki Agor 0, Emmy Agustin 2, Colbey Aiwohi 1, Megan Burton 27, Jennifer Faumuina 6, Cherie Kinoshita 1, Nicole Lehner 17, Tiare McClellan 0, Karis Moi-Simeona 0, Samantha Saito 5, Tamieka Trujillo 1, Sandy Tsui 0, Lola Williams 0. Totals 24 10-21 60.

3-point goals—Saint Francis 5 (Dulan 3, Chock 1, Llamedo 1). Sacred Hearts 2 (Lehner 1, Saito 1).

Hawai'i Baptist 6 15 9 8—40
Mid-Pacific 13 11 10 11—45

HAWAI'I BAPTIST—Jodi Kamemoto 5, Kara Onosaki 5, Rayna Kitaguchi 4, Kara Morita 20, Cara Hiyakumoto 0, Jessica Ho 0, Chelsea Yasuda 6, Tiffany Chang 0, Angie Lee 0. Totals 15 6-11 40.

MID-PACIFIC—Sherice Ajifu 6, Jasmine Vieira 12, Shannon Nishi 5, Mariko Strickland 0, Kristina Lin 6, Kelli Kajiwara 2, Leihoku Pederson 0, Danielle Mafua 3, Caroline Beddow 11. Totals 18 5-12 45.

3-point goals—Hawai'i Baptist 4 (Kamemoto 1, Yasuda 2, Onosaki 1). Mid-Pacific 4 (Ajifu 2, Lin 1, Nishi 1).

• La Pietra prevails: The La Pietra Blue intermediate team completed a 12-0 season last night to capture the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II championship.