The Cougars (46-18), champions of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, advanced by winning the Western District Championship last Friday. South Mountain will play Texarkana (Texas) College in an opening-round game tomorrow of the double-elimination tournament that features eight teams.

"It's pretty exciting," said Ka'aihue in a telephone interview from the tournament site.

Should the Cougars survive through the championship game, he will be in Colorado until June 4.

Ka'aihue was an all-state catcher at Iolani. He is playing first base because there are three other players on the team who are considered catchers. He said three of them, including himself, are the only ones who can play other positions. Two other catchers play the outfield.

Ka'aihue helped the Cougars reach their first JC World Series by batting .286 with a .424 on-base percentage and team-leading 44 RBIs. His six home runs were fourth-highest in the ACCAC, which uses wooden bats during the season. Ka'aihue said the league was one of a few that used wood. He said the team will use aluminum bats in the Series.

"The ball jumps a lot more (off the aluminum bat)," he said.

Ka'aihue originally signed to play at the University of Hawai'i, but was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round in 2003. He signed with the Red Sox, who later voided his contract upon discovery of an elbow injury that led to him having Tommy John surgery. He had the surgery in February 2004, but was back playing by January to make the start of this season.

Ka'aihue ended up in Arizona through his father's friend, who has a son playing at another JC in the ACCAC. Also, his brother, Kila, a prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization, trained in Arizona.

"I got to see my brother and it was a wood bat (league), which I thought was a plus," Ka'aihue said. "It just sounded like a good place to play, as far as the money side. I didn't have to pay for anything, really."

As a JC player, Ka'aihue is eligible for the draft again. But he said he is likely to return so that he can get in some catching duty.

"I think I'll come back for another year because I like it and I want to make sure my arm is healthy," he said.

Meanwhile, there are bigger issues to deal with immediately.

"We expect to win," Ka'aihue said of his team. "We have a really good team, the best I've ever played on. It has some of the best guys I've ever seen play."