'Aiea alum, team hope to heat up
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
| • | COMING UP
WHAT: First Hawaii Title Rainbow Baseball Tournament WHO: Hawai'i, Chicago State, The Citadel, Oregon State WHEN: Today to Saturday WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium TICKETS: $7 blue and orange sections; $6 adults in red section; $5 for 65-years-and-older; $4 UH students and ages 4-18. DISCOUNT: Using wrappers from Wonka, Nestle and David products, spectators may get prorated discounts for tournament tickets. Two wrappers equals a $1 discount; four = $2; 6 = $3; 8 = $4; 10 = $5; 12 = free adult ticket. Nestle and Wonka wrappers must be from 1.2-ounce packages or heavier and David's bags from 2.25 ounces or heaver. PARKING: $3 RADIO: KKEA AM 1420 will broadcast the UH games TV: KFVE (Channel 5) will broadcast the UH games, except for Thursday and Saturday. SCHEDULE: Today—The Citadel vs. Oregon State, 2 p.m.; Chicago State vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. Tomorrow—Chicago State vs. The Citadel noon; Oregon State vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. Thursday—Oregon State vs. Chicago State, 2 p.m., The Citadel vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. Friday—Semifinals, 2 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. Saturday—Consolation, 2 p.m.; Championship, 6:35 p.m. |
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Being the only player from Hawai'i on the Chicago State Cougars baseball team — heck, he says he's the only Hawai'i student on campus — has led to the usual stereotypes about his home state.
"You get the stereotype questions," said Sakurai in a Sunday telephone interview from Kentucky, where his Cougars were swept in three against Eastern Kentucky to open their season. " 'Do you surf all day? or 'Do you have to paddle between the islands?' But it's OK."
Sakurai, a 2003 graduate of 'Aiea High, is a freshman infielder for the Cougars. During the Eastern Kentucky series, he played second, shortstop and third base. Sakurai had an infield single, stolen base and scored a run in Sunday's 19-3 loss.
He is expecting a huge backing at tonight's game against Hawai'i in the First Hawaii Title Rainbow Tournament. Game time is 6:35 p.m. About 100 family members and 'Aiea PONY League members will be attending the game, Sakurai said. Sakurai said he helps his father, Raymond Sakurai, coach during the summer and winter breaks.
He will be the designated tour guide for his teammates in Hawai'i. It also might be a good way to bury those stereotypes.
"A lot of guys haven't even been to the West Coast, so they're really excited," Sakurai said. "Everybody's asking me to teach them how to surf."
The Cougars have three players listed from California and one from Palau.
Sakurai said he never dreamed he would be going to college in the Windy City.
"I was always trying for the West Coast — California, Oregon or Washington," he said. "Never the Midwest."
Chicago State found him after viewing video tapes distributed by the Hawaii Sports Network. He said second-year coach Terrence Jackson liked what he saw.
"Coach was really persistent," Sakurai said. "He called me on a regular basis. He said it was Division I and they would play in Hawai'i. The coach only saw me play on video tape."
Sakurai said he is on an academic scholarship for this year, but has been promised a baseball scholarship for next year.
The Cougars are obviously looking forward to their weeklong stay. Besides their three games at Eastern Kentucky, where the temperature was in the 40-degree range, the team has had only about three outdoor workouts in Chicago, where Sakurai said it was about 25 to 30 degrees before they left for Kentucky. He said they have been hitting in indoor batting cages most of the time.
"You appreciate Hawai'i more," Sakurai said. "Hawai'i is an awesome place to live."
His family and friends try to make his stay in Illinois as comfortable as possible by sending him Hawai'i food products. His parents send him mail-ready Zippy's meals.
"I also have a lot of li hing stuff," he said. "I always have something to munch on."
He's tried to get his Mainland teammates to sample, but "they don't like it."
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
