Posted on: Friday, March 18, 2005
League depth should create intriguing race
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff
In the highly competitive Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball season, it doesn't take long for a marquee matchup to happen.
Defending state champion Punahou will play 2003 state champion Kamehameha at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Ala Wai Field.
The new 21-game ILH season starts today with three games and four tomorrow at various sites. Unlike last year, there is no postseason tournament and the league will have two automatic state tournament berths. Last year, the ILH runner-up Buffanblu won a playoff with Lahainaluna for the last state berth. The ILH and Maui Interscholastic League had equal representation, necessitating a playoff. The ILH picked up the extra berth this season because the Big Island Interscholastic Federation lost its third berth when Laupahoehoe dropped the sport. State representation is proportional to the number of teams in each league.
"We're appreciative of having two teams going back," Pac-Five coach Todd Koishigawa said.
The question is which two teams will represent the ILH among the usual suspects: Iolani, Kamehameha, Mid-Pacific, Punahou and Saint Louis.
What makes the league interesting is no one has a stacked deck. If there's a strength in one area, there's a question mark in another.
"All of the top five teams have great strengths," Maryknoll coach Duane Eldredge said. "But all have some question marks."
Punahou returns The Advertiser's Co-Player of the Year in right-handed pitcher Jared Pate, as well as first baseman Kasey Ko, shortstop Landon Nakata, outfielder Kaohi Downing and third baseman Steven Dannaway.
"We're pretty deep, but a little inexperienced," 2004 State Coach of the Year Eric Kadooka said. "We'll be developing some other guys. We have three freshman pitchers."
Mid-Pacific has a strong battery with pitchers Jayson Kramer, Reece Uyeno and Conan Young, and catcher Kip Masuda.
"We're not very athletic, so it's a little harder," Owls' coach Dunn Muramaru said. "We'll have to scratch for runs."
Kamehameha returns all-state outfielder Nick Freitas and left-handed pitcher David Parrow. The Warriors also welcome back Ryson Mauricio, starting third baseman on the 2003 state title team who has moved to second base after recovering from shoulder surgery.
"We have a few guys returning from last year, but we still lack experience at some key positions," Warriors coach Vern Ramie said.
Iolani has two left-handed starting pitchers in senior Ian Mopas and junior Wally Marciel. Marciel is ranked 206th in a Baseball America/Prospects Plus top 400 scouting report for high school juniors. Mopas pitched five innings of a combined no-hitter with Jared Nohara in a 4-1 win against Maui earlier this month.
Coach: John Matias Players to watch: 2B Christian Stephenson, LHP Robert Cuizon, RF/RHP Duncan Ebert, 1B Raymond Alapai, C Kai Higa, SS Travis Derby, LF Scotty Talaesea, DH Kaimana Balanon. Coach: Dean Yonamine Players to watch: LHP Wally Marciel, LHP Ian Mopas. Coach: Vern Ramie Players to watch: RF Nick Freitas, LHP David Parrow, 2B Ryson Mauricio, C Stuart Kam, SS Aaron Nichols. Coach: Duane Eldredge Players to watch: RHP Peter Kirst, CF Brennan Young. Coach: Dunn Muramaru Players to watch: RHP Jayson Kramer (signed with Hawai'i), C Kip Masuda (signed with Long Beach State), LHP Conan Young, SS Chad Takabuki, RHP/INF Reece Uyeno. Coach: Todd Koishigawa Players to watch: CF Ronel Trias, RHP Nick Miyamoto, C Aaron Chilcote. Coach: Eric Kadooka Players to watch: RHP Jared Pate, 1B Kasey Ko (signed with BYU), SS Landon Nakata (signed with Penn State), OF Kaohi Downing, DH Bucky Aona, 3B Steven Dannaway, 2B Maika Murashige, CF Reyn Kubota, LF Paul Snieder, C Michael Chock. Coach: Scot Paiva Players to watch: 1B Chester Wilson, SS Keli'i Zablan, 3B/RHP Ryan Sasaki, CF Shaun Kauleinamoku, RHP Cameron Bayne. Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
DAMIEN
IOLANI
KAMEHAMEHA
MARYKNOLL
MID-PACIFIC
PAC-FIVE
PUNAHOU
SAINT LOUIS
