Maui withdraws from baseball tourney
| • | Tournament bracket |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Maui High has withdrawn from this week's state high school baseball tournament after forfeiting seven of its last eight games for using an ineligible player, Sabers baseball coach Lee Yonamine said.
A player allegedly forged grade checks during the span of the team's past eight games, Yonamine said.
"It's something we could never foresee," Yonamine said. "There will be a change so hopefully this does not happen again."
The players were informed of the decision from the coaches yesterday afternoon. School administrators and parents later attended the meeting with the players.
Yonamine said the players were devastated by the news. He is concerned how some of them, especially the eight seniors, might react.
"Hopefully, they understand that there's more for them," he said. "To graduate and for some of them, further their careers."
Ironically, Yonamine said he had warned his players about altering grade checks.
"I told them, 'If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, but don't give up because academics come first,' " Yonamine said. " 'Whatever happens, don't forge the grades because it's going to hurt more people than those forging the grades.' "
The Maui Interscholastic League is not replacing the Sabers, who were 13-4 and the league's runner-up to champion Baldwin before forfeiting the games, leaving the tournament with 11 teams.
Keith Amemiya, the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association executive director, said the MIL told him it would not replace Maui. Kamehameha-Maui finished third in the MIL. Stephen Kim, MIL executive secretary, could not be reached.
The state tournament runs tomorrow through Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium.
The absence of Maui cancels two games. Maui was scheduled to play Moanalua, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association runner-up, in an opening round game tomorrow. Instead, the Menehunes will automatically advance to Thursday's quarterfinal against Big Island champion Waiakea.
Also, the loser of tomorrow's Kaua'i-Pearl City opening round game automatically advances to Saturday's consolation final.
The rest of the tournament schedule is not affected by time or date changes, Amemiya said.
But by playing one fewer game than the top four seeded teams — Punahou, Kailua, Waiakea and Baldwin — Moanalua saves at least one pitcher.
While four league champions have opening round byes, Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion Kaua'i High does not. Although the Red Raiders can make a case for a bye, that would not work because their opening-round opponent, Pearl City, is from the same league as Moanalua. A tournament bylaw prevents teams from the same league meeting in the first round.
"We apologize to the state tournament and the MIL," Yonamine said. "It's one of those things that happen and we have to deal with it."
Baldwin forfeited two games during the regular season, but still went on to win the MIL.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
