'Aiea, Waiakea loaded with depth, experience

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Blake Lamug is one of three solid starters on 'Aiea's pitching staff. He pitched a three-hit shutout against Roosevelt in the OIA championship game. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

HHSAA/Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championships Games at Les Murakami Stadium Today's games Game 1—Honoka'a vs. Leilehua, 11:30 a.m. Game 2—Roosevelt vs. Hilo, 2 p.m. Game 3—Kaua'i vs. Pearl City, 4:30 p.m. Game 4—Punahou vs. Kaiser, 7 p.m.

Champions log Past five years 2003—Kamehameha 2002—Mid-Pacific 2001—Kailua 2000—Moloka'i 1999—Moloka'i Breakdown by league ILH 23, OIA 14, MIL 7, BIIF 1 Breakdown by school 8—Iolani 6—Punahou 4—Baldwin, Kailua, Mid-Pacific, Kamehameha 2—'Aiea, Kaiser, Moloka'i 1—Campbell, Castle, Farrington, Hilo, Kalani, Leilehua, Maui, Radford, Saint Louis

That's when a Hawai'i High School Athletic Association committee selected 'Aiea (12-1) as the No. 1 seed over unbeaten Waiakea, which returns eight starters from last year's state semifinal team and went 14-0 to win the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.

HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said "it was a tough decision, because either could have been No. 1."

But a scenario in which Waiakea was No. 1 would have created unusual matchups from the first round on, and new guidelines on seeding approved at last summer's athletic directors conference would have further complicated the brackets if Waiakea was No. 1.

Coaches at 'Aiea and Waiakea, meanwhile, have downplayed the importance of a No. 1 seed.

"There's not much difference," Waiakea coach Tom Correa said late last week, when asked if he expected his Warriors to be seeded No. 1. "The main thing in tournament bracketing is not having to play the first day. We're just happy to be seeded so we can save one pitcher."

'Aiea coach Ryan Kato echoed those thoughts.

"We're just glad we have the first-round bye," Kato said. "The way the teams are in the tournament this year, you could get anybody to be the No. 1 seed. I definitely do not think we're any better than anyone else. A lot of teams have what it takes as far as pitching-defense-offense."

'Battle-tested'

Whether No. 1 or No. 2, talk of tournament favorites starts with 'Aiea and Waiakea. Each team has several players who have won youth league World Series championships the past three summers, giving them plenty of experience on a big stage under the bright lights.

Four Warriors were members of the Hilo team that won the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine, in August. Na Ali'i have 10 players who were on Junior League World Series championship teams in either 2000 or 2001.

"Any time you're in that situation, with your backs against the wall in a big game or big tournament, that experience is invaluable," Kato said. "All those guys are battle-tested."

Correa said he noticed how the World Series experience has helped his players as well.

"They don't panic, they're more worldly when it comes to baseball and their maturity really shows," Correa said. "They have the confidence they can play with anybody."

'Aiea returns the bulk of its team that took fifth in last year's state tournament and shows almost no weaknesses. Na Ali'i's only loss came in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association season opener to Leilehua, a 6-5 heartbreaker in which the Mules scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

'Aiea was missing five senior starters in that game who were suspended for breaking team rules on a preseason trip to Maui. Those players were reinstated after the first week of OIA play and Na Ali'i proceeded to win 12 straight games.

'Aiea has three legitimate starting pitchers in Blake Lamug, Shawn Hao and Blaze Moleta. Lamug pitched a three-hitter to shut out Roosevelt in the OIA championship game, and Hao pitched a four-hitter with six strikeouts to help Na Ali'i defeat Kaiser, 7-2, in the semifinals.

And Kato had enough confidence in Moleta, who pitched a one-hitter against Wai'anae last year, to start him in a crucial game against Pearl City this season.

"They're all interchangeable, and that's a testament to how hard they work," Kato said. "They're so competitive, they're about as equal as you can get. As a staff, I have all the confidence in the world in them. None of them will light up the radar gun, but I wouldn't trade them for anybody."

All three also work with one of the state's best catchers, Aaron Asher. With his quicksilver catch-and-throw, Asher usually disrupts any base stealing plans opposing coaches may have.

Asher also bats leadoff in a potent lineup in which the No. 5 batter, Lance Powell, has struck out only once all season. 'Aiea's bats are so productive, several reserves carry averages of .400 or better.

"But like anyone else, our ability to hit depends a lot on the pitchers we face," Kato said. "There's too much variables when it comes to offense, so we like to focus on pitching and defense. All I ask the defense is to make all the routine plays, which they've been able to do lately. It's something we're proud of."

Value in pitching, depth

For Waiakea, this Warriors team is one the school is hoping will finally bring home a state title. There is plenty of reason for optimism, starting with University of Hawai'i-bound pitchers Myles Ioane and Ronnie Loeffler.

Ioane, a 6-foot lefty, is 8-0 with an 0.78 earned run average, 72 strikeouts and just six walks in 34 innings pitched. He has allowed only 13 hits, and pitched back-to-back perfect games against Kohala and Ka'u.

Ioane's fastball has been clocked as high as 86 mph and he also features an effective curve.

"His thing is he keeps his pitches to a minimum," Correa said. "In the first perfect game, he threw only 78 pitches and had 17 strikeouts, and in the second perfect game he had no three-ball counts. That says a lot."

Loeffler, 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA, has a fastball clocked at 85 mph and a sharp-breaking "6-12" curve.

"He's a lot more seasoned this year because he sat out basketball, which gave him three more starts," Correa said. "He's more polished this season."

Waiakea's third pitcher, Matt Patterson, has thrown just 7-plus innings this season. But Patterson leads the team with a .657 batting average and four-year starter Avery Kagawa is right behind at .620. Correa said shortstop Owen Otsuka is the team's sparkplug.

"Our value is in our pitching and our overall depth," Correa said. "We have 17 seniors, and it's been very competitive for playing time. These players have been saddled with high expectations since the end of last year but they've already had a taste of success and they have tournament experience."

A not-so-dark horse

If 'Aiea and Waiakea can be considered seeds 1A and 1B, then No. 3 seed Mid-Pacific could just as well be 1C. The Owls went 15-5 in the highly competitive Interscholastic League of Honolulu but have a strong chance at their second state title in three years because of a deep pitching staff.

Senior right-hander Harry Kuroda has signed with UH and retired 16 batters in a row against Punahou last week to help MPI win the ILH championship. The Owls also can start lefties Conan Young and Chris Freshour or right-hander Jayson Kramer.

Mid-Pacific's offense is led by Kuroda and another UH recruit, right fielder Ryan Asato.

"I've seen the ILH (champ) go up to states with five losses and win the whole thing," Correa said.

Even ILH runner-up Punahou, which faces Kaiser in tonight's feature game, is a serious contender.

Kato said the No. 1 seed is only good until the first pitch is thrown.

"Our guys know there's something special with this situation (being No. 1), but what matters is who gets it done this week," Kato said. "That's why we play the games."

Justin Goo pitched in three games over four days, helping Roosevelt reach the final of the OIA championship. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Mid-Pacific's Harry Kuroda pitched the Owls to the overall ILH title over Punahou. Advertiser Library photo

The teams 'O'ahu Interscholastic Association (5) 'Aiea (12-1), seeded No. 1 Roosevelt (10-4) Pearl City (10-4) Kaiser (10-3) Leilehua (11-2) Maui (1) Baldwin (13-1), seeded No. 4 Interscholastic League of Honolulu (2) Mid-Pacific (16-5), seeded No. 3 Punahou (16-6) Big Island Interscholastic Federation (3) Waiakea, seeded No. 2 Honoka'a (10-5) Hilo (12-2) Kaua'i Interscholastic Fed. (1) Kaua'i (9-3)