Baldwin, Maui hope home field has its advantages

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

•

Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championship At Iron Maehara Stadium, Wailuku TODAY — Roosevelt vs. Hilo, 11:30 a.m. Kalaheo vs. Kaua'i, 2 p.m. Wai'anae vs. Mid-Pacific, 4:30 p.m. Maui vs. 'Aiea, 7 p.m. TOMORROW — Quarterfinals, Kailua vs. winner of Roosevelt-Hilo at 11:30 a.m. Waiakea vs. winner of Maui-'Aiea at 2 p.m. Kamehameha vs. winner of Kalaheo-Kaua'i at 4:30 p.m. Baldwin vs. winner of Wai'anae-Mid-Pacific at 7 p.m. FRIDAY — Semifinals, 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY — Third-place game, 5 p.m.; championship game 8 p.m.

In 2000, the Moloka'i Farmers, who belong to the MIL, won their second consecutive state crown.

This time around, Maui fans are hoping one of their two island representatives — third-seeded Baldwin and unseeded Maui — can win it all. But judging from the 12-team field, the home-field familiarity might not be enough.

"It's pretty wide open," Baldwin coach Kahai Shishido said. "I really don't see one real dominant team."

Baldwin, as well as top-seeded Kamehameha, No. 2 seed Kailua and No. 4 seed Waiakea, draw byes in the first round, which begins today. Maui winds up the four-game schedule against 'Aiea at 7 tonight.

"We have a pretty tough first day," Maui coach Lee Yonamine said. "But sooner or later (in the tournament) you have to play everybody. All 12 teams are pretty tough."

A look at the five O'ahu Interscholastic Association representatives indicates some balance. Granted, the teams with the two best records in the OIA, Kailua and 'Aiea, played for the league title. But Kailua did it by winning three tournament games in its final at-bat.

Kalaheo, the fifth OIA representative, lost to Roosevelt in the bottom of the seventh inning in the quarterfinals.

"If we had beaten Roosevelt, who knows what would have happened," Kalaheo coach Alex Racoma said.

The two Interscholastic League of Honolulu representatives, Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific, have combined to reach the state final in each of the past six years. The Warriors have been runners-up in two of those appearances, while the Owls have been second three times. The Owls beat the Warriors in the final last year.

Kamehameha features one of the state's top pro prospects in shortstop Keoni Ruth, who has power and speed. Outfielders Nick Freitas and Kahe Santos, as well as catcher Baba Merino and first baseman JP Kennedy, have pop for a program that has traditionally hit the ball well.

Kamehameha has been a runner-up three times since winning its last state title in 1988.

Mid-Pacific had four second-place finishes in the states between its three consecutive titles from 1990-1992 and last year's championship. The Owls earned a state berth after a slow start by eliminating everybody else in the ILH tournament and beating Iolani in a playoff.

Mid-Pacific has relied heavily on right-hander Harrison Kuroda (6-4, 3.08 ERA), who has pitched 61 innings this season. His stellar relief effort in last year's quarterfinal (six innings, one earned run against Baldwin) allowed the Owls to save their top two starters for the semifinal and championship games.

The Owls also return key hitters from last year's team in shortstop Troy Hanzawa, first baseman Keven Whalen, center fielder Ryan Leong, right fielder Ryan Asato, infielder Jonathan Hee and designated hitter Marc Inamasu.

Kailua, the 2001 state champion, is armed with right-hander Chris Mahelona, who pitched a six-hitter to beat 'Aiea, 2-1, in the OIA championship on one day's rest.

Roosevelt, the third OIA team, has one of the top pitchers in the state in left-hander Kaimi Mead, who is signed with the University of Hawai'i.

Baldwin, looking for its first title since 1995, isn't an overpowering team in either hitting or pitching, Shishido said. Right-handers Jonathan Honda and Jeff Kajiwara spot their pitches and rely on their defense to make plays. Catcher Meade Tabata, shortstop Gered Mochizuki, left fielder JJ Eno and second baseman Shevis Shima provide the offense.

"We have one home run over the fence and one inside-the-park," Shishido said.

Maui, whose only losses are to Baldwin (like Baldwin's only losses are to Maui), has a strong pitcher in right-hander Vance Otake, who has accepted a walk-on offer to UH. Another right-hander, Joseph Kala, pitches when he isn't playing third.

"'Aiea's a real disciplined ball club," Yonamine said of his first-round opponent. "We cannot give up too many walks or commit too many errors."

Big Island champion Waiakea (12-0) is the only unbeaten team in the field. The Warriors also are one of the few who have more than one quality starting left-hander in Myles Ioane and Kulea Bondallion. Right-hander Ronnie Loeffler also is counted on. Coach Tommy Correa said all three are good control pitchers.

NOTES

Windy city: Except for games at Moloka'i, the two Maui teams played all of their games at Maehara Stadium, mostly at night. Maui coach Lee Yonamine and Baldwin's Kahai Shishido said the wind might be a factor.

"Knowing how to play the wind factor might be somewhat of an advantage," Shishido said. "But it's not a distinct advantage per se. It's still Hawai'i. It's not like a completely different altitude or different sky. It's just that the wind will blow."

At least one visiting team should be ready for the wind. Waiakea has played on Maui for preseason tournaments for the past seven years. The Warriors beat the Sabers on Maui in preseason.

Been there, done that: Baldwin is making its state-leading 31st appearance in the 45th annual tournament ... Kalaheo is making its fifth appearance, the fewest of the field. The last time the Mustangs were in the tournament was 1994, the only team in the field that made its last appearance in the previous millennium.

'Bow ties: Four tournament head coaches are former University of Hawai'i players: Kamehameha's Vern Ramie, Kailua's Corey Ishigo, Baldwin's Kahai Shishido and 'Aiea's Ryan Kato ... Meanwhile, former UH assistant coach Les Nakama is an assistant at 'Aiea.

Homecoming: Kamehameha right-handed pitcher Kanekoa Texeira is from Kula, Maui.