Mel Seki, the winningest baseball coach in Pearl City High School's history, died Sunday. He was 73.

Seki coached the Chargers from 1993 to 2007, compiling a 151-70-3 record. He led the Chargers to two O'ahu Interscholastic Association championships and three Western Division titles. He took his team to 10 state tournaments, leading the Chargers to state runners-up in 1993 and 2007.

Seki was The Advertiser's Coach of the Year in 2007. He also was junior varsity coach at Waipahu before coaching at Pearl City, leading the Marauders to an OIA JV championship.

"He knew the game," said Gary Nakamoto, who succeeded Seki as the Chargers' coach this past season. "Instructionwise, he was a good teacher. He was knowledgeable, very instrumental to the kids."

Seki was a star shortstop at Saint Louis School, graduating in 1953. He earned bachelor's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also played baseball, and the University of Hawai'i. He was a teacher at Highlands Intermediate, vice principal at Leilehua and principal at Moanalua Intermediate, where he worked for 18 years before retiring in 1990.

Seki is survived by wife, Laura; sons David and Steven; and grandchildren Sophia Lynn and Skyler Reed.

Service is 6:30 p.m. July 6 at Mililani Mortuary Mauka. Visitation starts at 5 p.m.