Posted on: Wednesday, March 23, 2005
OIA East Baseball Preview
Race for title starts today
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
If it's deja vu for Kaiser High, preseason injuries just might portend a defense of its O'ahu Interscholastic Association East baseball title.
All of the East teams, save for Moanalua, start regular-season play today. The Cougars play at Kaimuki at 4 p.m.
The Menehunes, who also figure to be in the hunt, start Saturday when they host Kalaheo. Moanalua is in a tournament in Las Vegas, where Campbell also is playing.
"We're just like last year," Kaiser coach Peter Ho said. "Last year in preseason, we had a lot of injuries. We're just starting to play (with the starters) together. Up until a week and a half ago, we were still juggling our lineup."
The Cougars return most of their position starters, but lost East all-star pitcher Michael Heu to graduation.
"Our pitching is untested yet," Ho said.
But the offense should provide enough support for the pitchers.
"They can hit," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said of Kaiser's players.
The East coaches agree that the race is open. The usual contenders — Castle, Kailua, Kaiser, Kalani and Moanalua — were mentioned the most.
Kailua returns two first-team all-stars in first baseman Ryan Rodrigues and shortstop Tyler Harrison, who moves over from second base.
Moanalua returns two strong pitchers in Andrew Blomberg and Chance Daskauskas. Plus, they are backed by a strong defense.
"They play fundamental baseball," Kailua's Ishigo said. "They're the Mid-Pac of the OIA."
The surprise, though, might be McKinley.
"McKinley's going to surprise people," Kalani coach Shannon Hirai said. "They don't make too many errors."
The top six teams from the East and West advance to the OIA tournament. The top four from the tournament qualify for the state tournament.
Correction: Wai'anae's Ransen Sylva's name was misspelled in Tuesday's OIA West capsules.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
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OIA EAST CAPSULES Castle
Coach: Joe Tom Jr. Players to watch: C David Mohika, 1B/RHP Travis Pa'aga, SS I'i Kanaeholo, 2B Brandon Kon, 3B/2B Kelsey Kochi, OF/LHP Ikaika Reppuhn, RF/RHP Shane Dydasco, OF Corey Paredes. Farrington
Coach: Brandon Baniaga Players to watch: CF Alex Mendoza, 3B/RHP Alison Tolentino, C/3B/RHP Anthony Gabrillo.
Kahuku
Coach: Steve Van Ness
Players to watch: RHP/C/SS Bronson Ponciano, RHP/SS/LF Kurtney Silva, RHP/SS Keola Kahele, CF Chiro Ramirez, 2B Kimball Niumatalolo, 3B B.J. Adolpho.
Kailua
Coach: Corey Ishigo Players to watch: 2B Kekoa Sua, 1B Ryan Rodrigues, SS Tyler Harrison.
Kaimuki
Coach: Duke Chinen Players to watch: SS/RHP Kaeo Neal, SS/RHP/OF Corey Morihara, 2B/RHP/OF Akoni Sexton, RHP/U Daren Morimoto, RHP/OF/1B Swaine Seto-Mook. Kaiser
Coach: Peter Ho Players to watch: 3B Colby Ho, CF Scott Uehara, LF Landon Kaaua, C Jarryd Maeda, 1B Jeff Peters, SS Neale Asato, 2B Andy Uehara, RHP Reyn Kimura. Kalaheo
Coach: Alex Racoma Players to watch: INF/RHP Sean Tamba, OF/LHP Brandon Uehara, U/RHP Doug Cox, C/RHP David Pershin. Kalani
Coach: Shannon Hirai Players to watch: CF Trevor Teraoka, SS Marcus Fujita, C/3B Dustin Pires, C/3B Joshua Markwith, RHP Reid Matsumura. McKinley
Coach: Lester Higa Players to watch: Unavailable at press time. Moanalua
Coach: Scott Yamada Players to watch: RHP Andrew Blomberg, P Chance Daukauskas.
Roosevelt
Coach: Kerry Higa Players to watch: C Kevin Fujii, RHP Kalani Yoshimura, U Riki Nakagawa, RHP David Chow, SS Keenan Loo.
