Pate masterful during ILH season

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Punahou senior ace Jared Pate was the model of consistency throughout the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season, and that ultimately resulted in him being named ILH Player of the Year after a vote of league coaches.

Senior Jared Pate finished 7-0 as Punahou won its first Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship since 1994. Advertiser library photo

He started the regular season with a five-inning no-hitter against Kamehameha, then followed it with a five-hit shutout of Mid-Pacific. Pate withstood an 11-hit attack by Saint Louis to win, 9-6, then shut out Iolani, 3-0.

Pate faced MPI again and tossed a four-hitter with five strikeouts, beat Iolani a second time with a three-hitter and closed out the season with a five-hitter and six strikeouts against Kamehameha.

Pate is joined on the league's all-star first team by four teammates: junior third baseman Steven Dannaway, senior left fielder Kyle Fujimoto, senior right fielder Kaohi Downing and junior designated hitter Bucky Aona.

Dannaway was steady on defense and in the middle of Punahou's batting order, hitting fifth. Fujimoto did not crack the starting lineup until the third week of the season, but once he did, he never stopped hitting. Downing was a reliable on defense, and Aona was one of the ILH's most feared sluggers all season.

Kamehameha was represented by three seniors: second baseman Ryson Mauricio, right fielder Nick Freitas and pitcher David Parrow.

Mauricio made a smooth transition from third base to second and solidified the Warriors' lineup with a powerful bat in the No. 2 spot in the order. Freitas, a four-year starter, batted third and made spectacular plays in right field.

Parrow dealt Punahou its first loss of the season and also pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts in a victory over Mid-Pacific.

Saint Louis' all-star trio was senior first baseman Chester Wilson, senior shortstop Keli'i Zablan and junior third baseman Ryan Sasaki. Wilson, like Aona, was a feared slugger and Zablan also was productive at the plate throughout the season. Sasaki was another solid infielder and batter for the Crusaders.

MPI placed seniors Kip Masuda and Jayson Kramer on the first team. Masuda was a skilled defensive catcher who also could hit. Kramer was the Owls' ace.

Iolani junior Wally Marciel, a starting pitcher and first baseman, rounds out the first team as a utility player.

Kamehameha's Vern Ramie was named Coach of the Year after overcoming an eye injury to guide the Warriors to a second-place finish in the final standings.