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.
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Pate went 7-0 to help the Buffanblu win their first league championship since 1994.
Senior Jared Pate finished 7-0 as Punahou won its first Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship since 1994.
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.
First Team
Pos.Player School Cl. 1BChester Wilson Saint Louis Sr. 2BRyson Mauricio Kamehameha Sr. 3BRyan Sasaki Saint Louis Jr. 3BSteven Dannaway Punahou Jr. SSKeli'i Zablan Saint Louis Sr. OFKaohi Downing Punahou Sr. OFNick Freitas Kamehameha Sr. OFKyle Fujimoto Punahou Sr. CKip Masuda Mid-Pacific Sr. PJayson Kramer Mid-Pacific Sr. PDavid Parrow Kamehameha Sr. PJared Pate Punahou Sr. UWally Marciel Iolani Jr. DHBucky Aona Punahou Jr. Player of the Year: Jared Pate, Punahou Coach of the Year: Vern Ramie, Kamehameha Second Team Pos.Player School Cl. 1BReece Uyeno Mid-Pacific Sr. 2BAdam Tamashiro Mid-Pacific Jr. 3BElijah Chee Kamehameha Sr. SSLandon Nakata Punahou Sr. OFShaun Kauleinamoku Saint Louis Sr. OFKyson Morikuni Iolani Sr. OFRonel Trias Pac-Five Jr. CStuart Kam Kamehameha Jr. PCameron Bayne Saint Louis Jr. PConan Young Mid-Pacific Sr. URyan Matsumoto Maryknoll Sr. DHJustin Doane Saint Louis Jr. Honorable Mention Damien: Robert Cuizon, Travis Derby, Duncan Ebert, Thomas Esclito, Kai Higa, Christian Stephenson, Scotty Talaesea. Iolani: Marc Factora, Greg Hackler, Brett Hasegawa, Chris Johnson, Case Miyahira, Ian Mopas, Travis Nishioka, Jarvis Nohara, Jon Sakoda, BJ Takushi, Riley Yamamoto. Kamehameha: Kamu Freitas, Koa Kaleo, Makana Kitamura, Aaron Nichols, Jamie Smeigh. Maryknoll: Nick Castello, Ikaika Duyag, Matt Fukumoto, Nick Holmberg, Brett Ikei, Peter Kirst, Brian Tabata, Brennan Young. Mid-Pacific: Aaron Fujiki, Blayne Fuke, Nick Furumoto, Jared Hara, Nathan Rice, Chad Takabuki. Pac-Five: Nick Miyamoto. Punahou: Danny Cho, Michael Chock, Carl Graves, Scott Hiramoto, Harrison Ishida, Kasey Ko, Reyn Kubota, Maika Murashige, Paul Snieder. Saint Louis: Cody Barrett, Ryan Brilhante, Nainoa Campbell, Grant Costa, Jordan Duropan, Kyle Gonzaga, Sheldon Santiago. |