Kamehameha grad Lum back in game

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

After two seasons away from the game, Pakilika Lum is back on the baseball field. With a new outlook.

Lum, a 1999 Kamehameha Schools graduate, has joined the University of Hawai'i baseball team. He last played for USC during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

"It feels good to be back," Lum said. "But my outlook is a little different. I'm just trying to have fun. When I went away, it really became a job. I know it will become a job at the next level, but (for now) I just want that Little League feeling of enjoying the game. Not so much 'I gotta do this' and put this much stress on myself."

Lum was a standout outfielder for Kamehameha, being named to the all-state team his junior and senior years. Although touted as a draft pros-pect out of high school, Lum wasn't picked. He headed for USC, which had offered him a scholarship earlier in his senior year.

But after two seasons with the Trojans, he returned home. There were more pressing issues than a game.

"It was to help my grandmother," he said. "She had a stroke and we didn't want to put her in a care home. So my brother (Keali'i, who played at the University of San Francisco) went up there (USC) to go to grad school. So we traded places. So now I'm at home helping with my grandma."

Lum said he attended Kapi'olani and Leeward community colleges to obtain his associate's degree so he could transfer to UH, which he did last spring semester. Because of NCAA rules, he has five years to complete four years of athletics eligibility. Since this is his fifth year of college, he is a senior in eligibility. He said his family encouraged him to give baseball another try.

"They said I'd regret it," Lum said. "I didn't want to regret anything. This is my last year, so they told me you better go out and play, so I figured I'd try to get some work in."

He did play in open leagues during the summer, but "that's the only thing."

Lum's comeback hit a bump last month when he collapsed while working out. He felt chest pain and tingling in his arms. He said he had a number of heart-related tests done, but none revealed any problems.

"All the symptoms related to a heart attack," Lum said, "but all (the doctor) could say was that it was probably dehydration and low blood sugar (as the reasons for the symptoms)."

He had been inactive for about five weeks. Although he was cleared by his personal physicians, Lum said his records had yet to be transferred to UH's physicians until Tuesday, when he was cleared to resume working out with the team.

Lum's role is as a backup first baseman to senior Andrew Sansaver, UH coach MIke Trapasso said.

Lum says he's just happy to be back in the game. Whether a pro career awaits him is not so much a concern these days as it was when he was coming out of high school.

"I just kind of look at it that if it comes, it comes," he said. "I'll just work hard. If it does come, yeah, good. If it doesn't, then I'll finish my education."

Lum said he will graduate next spring with a degree in sociology.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.