Throw a ball, catch youth baseball fever

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tyler Kon races to second base while Cameron De Luze keeps eye on the throw from first at Kailua Field. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I love baseball," she said, as her granddaughter Terry and Terry's husband, Andrew Gama, sat on bleachers nearby. "I saw all my children and grandchildren play. I used to take off work to see their games. I still like to get out and see a game."

That's the thing about youth baseball in Hawai'i, supporters say.

It brings family and friends together across the Islands and keeps them that way in a time when there are a lot of dangers and distractions that can tear an 'ohana apart. It creates bonds that last a lifetime, they say.

You could see their point on display yesterday at Kailua District Park, as well as more than a dozen other places around the island from 'Ewa Beach to Mililani and from 'Aiea to 'Aina Haina, where thousands of kids from 4 years old through high school were playing ball games in at least five different organizations with almost two dozen age divisions.

• Eleven-year-old Keoni DePonte came to support his 5-year-old brother, Kaeo, at least until his own game began a little later.

• Boyhood friends Brian Matsuki and George Miyazaki coached a team of 11- and 12-year-olds, including Matsuki's son, Reyn.

• Kapu Hughes was there for her 9-year-old daughter, Iukini — just as she had been there for four older children before.

• Glenn and Lori Matsumoto brought their 4-year-old daughter, Jalyn, to see her brother, Jared, play. Their other daughter, Jenna, would have been there, too, except that she had a track meet of her own in town.

"It's all about knowing your community and feeling a part of it," said Jeanne Gonsales, who was sitting in the bleachers watching her son, Alapai, 11, play shortstop.

Out there at 7:30 a.m.

The youth baseball day starts early in Kailua.

By 7:30 a.m., even before the overnight rain showers have blown away, Matsuki and Miyazaki are out chalking white lines on a field. Assistant coach Billy "The Kid" Whicher, a former professional

ball player, is hitting practice balls to the boys. The Gonsales family is running late, though; Jeanne forgot to wash Alapai's uniform last night and is still putting it through the dryer as the drills begin.

"We're trying to share our love of the game with the kids," says Miyazaki, a 42-year-old Foremost truck driver with no kids of his own who coaches the Windward Marlins in the Pony Leagues Bronco Division.

The team practices three times and plays twice a week.

"It takes a lot of time, but we want them to learn to enjoy it, just like we did," said Miyazaki, who once played on a Kane'ohe team that went to the national finals.

Squaring off by 8:30

Racing past the opposing team, the Brewers, left, and the Pirates congratulate each other for a game well played in Kailua Field. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The T-ballers are the 4- and 5-year olds still too small to face even the friendly pitching of a coach. Instead, they whack the ball off a plastic batting tee and then run like crazy, usually in the right direction. Coaches and parents stand with the players in the field. Nobody keeps score and an inning lasts until everyone has batted.

"At this age, it's all about fun," said Hughes, the official "player agent" for the league. Often the fun includes digging around in the dirt, watching butterflies or searching for bugs even as a hard-hit ball is coming right at someone, she said.

"I wasn't expecting too much, but actually they've improved since the first practice a month ago when they didn't know how to throw or catch with a glove," said Brad Goo, a software engineer who was watching his 5-year-old son, Brenden, play only his second game yesterday.

"At first he didn't like it or want to go to practice, but now he's made new friends and wants to continue," Goo said.

Coaches in action

Across the way, where the 9- and 10-year-olds are playing in the Little League minor league, the instruction gets a little more serious, with coaches tossing out a constant stream of support and tips during the game:

Kailua Astros batter Saesha Seguirant, left, gets a little help in putting on her batting helmet from teammate Asia Richard in the dugout during their T-ball game against the Yankees at Kailua Field. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Two outs, infield. Remember the play is at first base."

"Cover the throw back to the pitcher."

"Two strikes now. Swing at anything close."

"Run! Run! Run!"

"Good job! Way to go! Nice playing. High fives!"

Coaches say the lessons go way beyond the diamond, though.

"They've got to learn about responsibility and sportsmanship," said coach Dutch Hanohano. "It gets a tad more intense at this level. They need to know they have to play hard, but remember it's still a game. This is where they learn you can't win every time."

Of course, there are still parents and coaches who take it too far, although all the youth organizations have procedures designed to cut down on problems and confrontations.

"Every parent is different," Miyazaki said. "You've got the ones who are living through their kids and the ones who think umpiring is easy. You can't eliminate that from sports, but you can control it."

Since each coach and organization brings a different philosophy to the game, parents should look around for one who makes them happy, whether it's the win-at-all-cost or just-have-fun type.

"And even if you don't like the guy, you've got to respect the time he's putting in for free to help your kid," he said.

Prayer and gentle critique

Eight-year-old Nicholas Gama, left, takes a break from his coach-pitched Little League game to greet his family: dad Andrew, mom Terry; sister Alexey, grandmother Dorothy Teves and sister Jacqueline. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

When they lose, the coaches go soft on the criticism, saving that for practice on Monday, he says. When the team wins, as it did yesterday, he tries to find room for improvement, noting that his outfielders missed several fly balls because they didn't adjust for the strong trade winds.

Then everybody comes together for a group handshake and Miyazaki has one final question for the group:

"What do we do after the game?"

"EAT!" they shout in unison.

The post-game youth baseball feeds are legendary, almost as much a part of the game as hitting, pitching and fielding.

According to Gonsales, who says "the food and the camaraderie go together," each parent is responsible for feeding the team once or twice a year after a game.

"Some of them can go with something as simple as a 99-cent Burger King hamburger or Zippy's chili and rice. Others go all out, with homemade food, barbecue, whatever. It can be a real battle of the cookouts," she said.

The food as well as the costs of equipment, uniforms and participation fees can add up, but they're nothing compared to what can happen when the kids don't stay involved, Gonsales said.

"Right over there, you can see kids in the evening hanging out doing drugs or looking for trouble," she said. "I'll take baseball instead, hands down."

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleideman@honoluluadvertiser.com.