Mid-Pacific's Kuroda is ILH's top player

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mid-Pacific senior Harry Kuroda was 7-4 with a 1.90 ERA, and batted .412 as the Owls won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu title. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

He pitched a five-hitter, striking out seven and walking two, to lift the Owls to a season-opening 6-0 victory over Pac-Five. Then Kuroda combined with Conan Young on a four-hitter and drove in the go-ahead run with a triple in the sixth inning to lift MPI to a 2-0 victory over Saint Louis.

Two days later, he was brought in to pitch against Kamehameha with the score tied 4-all in the sixth inning.

And in the season's fourth game, Kuroda tossed 2á innings of scoreless relief and batted 3 for 3 to help the Owls hold off Punahou, 2-1.

This trend carried on throughout the season, culminating in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship for Mid-Pacific and ILH Player of the Year honors for Kuroda in a vote of league coaches.

Kuroda went 7-4 with a 1.90 earned run average and also had one save. At the plate, he batted .412 while hitting from the No. 3 spot all season.

Only one other Owl, shortstop Randy Rundgren, was selected to the first team.

League runner-up Punahou led the way with five selections: second baseman Michael Lam, outfielder Mark Veneri, pitcher Jared Pate, designated hitter Noah Phillips and utility player Shaun Kiriu.

Saint Louis followed with three first-team selections: first baseman Chester Wilson, third baseman Danny Lee and catcher Jowen Murray-Thornton. Wilson is believed to be the league's batting champ with a .544 average.

Kamehameha outfielders Nick Freitas and Travis Young round out the first team.

Kuroda, Lam, Freitas and Veneri are repeat first-teamers.

MPI's Dunn Muramaru and Saint Louis' Scot Paiva shared Coach of the Year honors.