Punahou juniors play big role in ending MPI's 'mystique'

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Punahou's first state baseball title since 1989 was formed three years ago with four freshmen.

Pitcher Jared Pate, first baseman Kasey Ko, shortstop Landon Nakata and outfielder Kaohi Downing all made the varsity as freshmen. Throughout this year's state tournament, the four juniors played instrumental roles leading to last night's championship.

"This is great," Nakata said. "You can't even describe the feeling. We just played hard throughout the tournament and got the states."

Punahou coach Eric Kadooka liked what he saw in the four players who made his team three years ago.

"They're just baseball players," Kadooka said. "They're gamers and we developed them like anybody else in our program. And they have one more year left."

Ko, named the all-tournament first baseman, was 7 for 13 (.538) with three doubles and six RBIs.

Pate, last night's winning pitcher with a three-hit performance, was 2-0 in the tournament, both complete-game victories. The only runs he allowed in Tuesday's 3-2 win against Kaiser in the tourney opener were unearned. He finished with a 0.00 earned run average. He was named the tournament's most outstanding player.

Nakata batted .250, but it was his defense that saved the Buffanblu in Thursday's semifinal win against 'Aiea.

Downing was hitless in the tournament, but also contributed with strong defense.

Ko and Nakata were starters as freshmen. They took their knocks along the way.

"We got experience (since our freshman year) and as we went along in the season, it helped us a lot," Ko said.

Pate, who beat MPI, 2-1, in the regular-season finale that forced a three-way playoff, said the title was special since his brother, Justin, who played on MPI's state title team in 2002, was in attendance, giving the Pate family two state champions from different schools.

"Mid-Pac's a good team and I really wanted to beat them," Pate said. "To beat them twice this year is really good."

As for sibling rivalry?

"I think he's happy for me, but at the same time, he's probably mad I won, too," Pate said.

For the four who made the team as freshmen, it was an accomplishment that finally materialized.

"We've played together for five years (counting intermediate) and we were always expected to be here, and now we're really happy that we've accomplished what we came to do," Pate said.

The closest Pate came to allowing a run was in the third with a runner on third with two outs. Ryan Asato swung and missed on a third strike. As the ball got away from catcher Robert Kurisu, Chris Freshour came in for what everyone thought was MPI's first run. But it was ruled the pitch hit Asato after he swung and the ball was ruled dead, ending the inning without a run scoring.

Pate used only 81 pitches. He gave up his third hit of the game to start the seventh to Randy Rundgren. But Kip Masuda hit grounder to Nakata, who started a rally-killing double play before Chad Takabuku flied out to center to end the game.

"We go with him (Pate) because he's our best," Kadooka said. "He said he was ready. That's why we went with him."

For Downing, the Buffanblu finally ended what he called that "mystique" MPI had over them in recent years.

"We always seemed to come out afraid, but tonight, there was that special something in everyone's eye," Downing said. "We played the game of our lives tonight and I feel happy for the seniors."

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