Posted on: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
HOMEGROWN
Monterey Peninsula taps Hawaii baseball talent
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
If Monterey Peninsula College's baseball team is any indication, former prep players from Hawai'i are in abundance in California's junior and community colleges.
The Lobos, who were 22-21 under head coach Daniel Phillips this season, have eight players with local ties on its roster.
"We had a great season, we broke the school record for wins (in a season)," Phillips said. "We play in one of the tougher (junior college) conferences in the state and being a smaller JC, having out of town kids is important."
The MPC middle infield is composed of a pair of former Valley Isle standouts in freshmen Kalaika Kaho'ohalahala (Maui '07) and Shaun Shima (Baldwin '07).
"Kalaika was one of our main pitchers and our starting second baseman. He actually ended up being our closer near the end of the year," Phillips said. "Shaun Shima played shortstop every day and hit over .300."
Kaho'ohalahala batted .305 in 42 games with 51 hits, 21 RBIs and 21 runs scored. Shima appeared in 39 games, with a .305 batting average, 40 hits, 18 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Sophomore Jimmy Legsay (Baldwin '06) went 4-1 on the mound, leading the team in innings pitched (76 2/3) and strikeouts (52). Freshman Kili Vierra (Kailua '07) made 13 appearances with a 1-0 record and one save. He registered 21 strikeouts to seven walks in 24 1/3 innings. Freshmen pitchers Richard Mariano (Mililani '07) and Duncan Ebert (Damien '07) also made contributions.
Phillips, who is in his fifth season at MPC, says he has seen the number of players from Hawai'i grow to an unprecedented level.
"It seems like every year there are more and more players that are becoming more aware of the JC leagues in California," Phillips said. "They're not just on the team, but starting and making a difference."
MPC isn't the only school with local players. In fact, neighboring Hartnell College has seven former Hawai'i prep players.
The Panthers boast Coast South All-Conference first-teamer Ridge Carpenter (Kalani '07).
Carpenter, an outfielder, started all 42 games for Hartnell this season, batting .382 with 65 hits in 170 at-bats. He had 45 RBIs, 50 runs scored and was 27 of 30 in stolen-base attempts.
Outfielder Adam Arakawa (Moanalua '06) was named to the CSC's second team after appearing in 40 games with a .364 batting average for Hartnell. He had 52 hits, 53 RBIs and 34 runs scored.
Peter Arakawa (Moanalua '06), Adam's brother, also earned second-team all-conference honors, batting .339 in 42 games with 58 hits, 29 RBIs and 44 runs scored.
Hartnell finished its season 27-15, including 13-12 in the conference. Monterey Peninsula was 10-15 in conference.
Phillips said coaches in the conference are not allowed to recruit players from outside the immediate area and he relies on players finding him.
"It's just word of mouth, they go back home and talk and others followed," he said. "It's a nice tradition (having Hawai'i players). Our local community likes them, they embrace them and they're a part of our athletic program."
MORE BASEBALL
San Diego State senior shortstop Troy Hanzawa (Mid-Pacific '03 of Wahiawa) was named first-team All-Mountain West Conference for the second straight year, after batting .375 with 27 RBIs and 26 runs scored. Last weekend, Hanzawa went 7 for 13 with four RBIs in a three-game series against Cal State Fullerton. Hanzawa went 0 for 4 yesterday as the Aztecs dropped their MWC Tournament opener, 6-2, to UNLV.
BYU junior first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05 of Kailua) went 3 for 5 with an RBI in a 15-2 win over rival Utah Friday. Ko batted 3 for 5 with three RBIs in Saturday's 13-10 comeback win over the Utes. BYU trailed 10-0 after seven innings, but Ko helped trigger a 12-run eighth with an RBI single to break the drought. Ko went 0 for 2 with two walks yesterday as the Cougars dropped their MWC Tournament opener, 9-3, to Utah.
Penn State junior second baseman Landon Nakata (Punahou '05) went 6 for 15 in a four-game series against Minnesota last weekend. Nakata also walked twice, scored twice, drove in two runs and executed two sacrifices for the Nittany Lions, who will meet Indiana in today's opening round of the Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Southern Utah junior outfielder Nick Freitas (Kamehameha '05 of Honolulu) was named co-Player of the Week by The Summit League after going 7 for 20 in a four-game series against Oakland (Mich.). Freitas belted four home runs, drove in seven runs from the leadoff spot, scored five runs and stole three bases. Junior second baseman Keli'i Zablan (Saint Louis '05 of 'Ewa Beach) was 8 of 16 in the series, including a 4-for-5 day in Sunday's finale. Zablan was a double short of the cycle with two RBIs, four runs scored and a stolen base in the Thunderbirds' 11-10 win. Sophomore first baseman Bucky Aona (Punahou '06 of Makakilo) was 5 for 14 with seven RBIs in the series while junior corner infielder Chester Wilson (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) went 7 for 16. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Alec Reichle (Kaua'i '04 of Koloa) gave up nine runs — five earned — on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in Sunday's game, but he did not factor in the decision. Reichle registered six strikeouts against three walks. Southern Utah opens The Summit League Tournament against Western Illinois tomorrow.
Sacramento State senior second baseman Taylor Watanabe ('Aiea '03) went 3 for 6 in Sunday's 13-6 loss to Fresno State. He also drove in a run and scored one. The Hornets and Bulldogs split the four-game series and meet in tomorrow's opening round of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Ruston, La.
Central Arizona, with sophomore outfielder CJ Johnson ('Iolani '06), will meet Iowa Western Saturday in the opening round of the Junior College World Series at Junction, Colo. Central Arizona last won the title in 2002. Johnson will play for Hawai'i next season.
Grinnell (Iowa) sophomore shortstop/outfielder Chad Takabuki (Mid-Pacific '06 of Honolulu) was named to the Mid West Conference's Southern Division First Team. Takabuki had a team-high .378 batting average with five home runs. He held a .485 on-base percentage and slugged .559.
Linfield infielder Shannon Chung (Kalani '05 of Kane'ohe) scored the winning run in the 10th inning of a 4-3 win over Webster Saturday at the NCAA Central Regional. Linfield advanced to the Division III Finals in Appleton, Wis. It plays Wisconsin-Whitewater Friday.
SOFTBALL
Cal freshman infielder Sanoe Kekahuna (Baldwin '07) was 1 for 12 over the weekend as the Bears advanced out of the regional in Fresno, Calif. Kekahuna walked twice and scored a run in four games. Cal meets No. 1 Florida, the tournament's overall top seed, in the Super Regionals, Friday through Sunday.
East Carolina infielder Cristen Aona (Punahou '06 of Kapolei) hit a home run and drove in two runs in a 4-2 win over Mississippi Valley Saturday in the Baton Rouge, La. Regional. Aona had a double in a 9-1 loss to LSU, but the Pirates were eliminated by the host Tigers.
Sophomore infielder Anita Manuma (Campbell '06 of 'Ewa Beach) did not appear in any games for Tennessee last weekend in the Knoxville, Tenn. Regional. The Volunteers were eliminated by Virginia Tech.
Junior outfielder Lau Emmsley-Chang (Kamehameha '05 of Kailua) did not appear in any games for Creighton last weekend in the Iowa City Regional. The Bluejays were eliminated by host Iowa.
BYU senior catcher Emi Snow Willing (Kamehameha '03 of Mililani) went 1 for 8 in three games in the Chapel Hill, N.C. Regional last weekend. The Cougars were eliminated by Georgia.
Purdue went 1-2 at the Los Angeles Regional last weekend, dropping two games to Nevada. Junior middle infielder Liane Horiuchi (Kamehameha '05 of Wahiawa) redshirted for the Boilermakers this season.
MEN'S GOLF
Pacific (Ore.) freshman Max Bonk (Hawai'i Prep '07 of Kamuela) was named to the Golf Coaches Association of America/PING Division III All-West Region Team after finishing in a tie for 28th at the NCAA Championships last week in Braselton, Ga. Bonk, who shot rounds of 69, 81, 76 and 77, is also a finalist for the Phil Mickelson Award, given to the most outstanding freshman in Division III men's golf.
Point Loma Nazarene (San Diego) junior Sam Cyr (King Kekaulike '05 of Makawao) won medalist honors at the NAIA Championships last week in Plymouth, Ind. Cyr, who finished second last year, fired rounds of 69, 70, 71 and 70, becoming the third Point Loma Nazarene golfer to win an NAIA individual title. He was named an All-American for the third consecutive year.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Arizona junior Amanda Wilson (Waiakea '03 of Hilo) shot rounds of 77, 76 and 76 to finish at 13-over 229 at the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento, Calif., on May 10. Wilson and Stanford junior Mari Chun (Kamehameha '05 of Pearl City), who shot rounds of 75, 78 and 76, both finished in a tie for 69th place.
Wilson shot a 4-over 76 at yesterday's first round of the NCAA Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
Portland State junior Kayla Morinaga (Sacred Hearts '05 of Waipahu) finished 103rd at the NCAA West Regional. Morinaga, who shot rounds of 83, 79 and 83, finished the season with a team-best 78.53 scoring average.
Furman (S.C.) freshman Jackie Hilea (Moanalua '07 of Kane'ohe) finished in a tie for 32nd at the NCAA East Regional in Athens, Ga. on May 10. Hilea finished 11-over par 227, firing rounds of 72, 79 and 76.
Hilea also qualified for the NCAA Championships, where she opened with a 5-over 77 yesterday.
New Mexico State sophomore Britney Choy (Leilehua '06 of Wahiawa) finished one stroke behind Hilea in the East Regional at 12-over 228.
Pacific (Ore.) freshman Valerie Kitamori (Waiakea '07) finished in a tie for 60th (42-over 330) at the NCAA Division III Championships last weekend in Waverly, Iowa. Sophomore Tami Park (Waiakea '06) was 76th (47-over 335) and freshman Jasmine Ching (Waiakea '06) finished in a tie for 89th (56-over 344).
WOMEN'S TENNIS
DePauw (Ill.) freshman Janelle Arita (Punahou '07 of Mililani) was named the National Rookie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for NCAA Division III. Arita posted a 26-8 singles record and 19-6 doubles record, helping the Tigers to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title.
TRACK & FIELD
Southern California junior Donovan Lim (Punahou '05) tied for sixth at the Pac-10 Championships with a jump of 6-feet-8 3/4 inches.
Eastern New Mexico freshman sprinter Britney Stephens (Mililani '07) was named Lone Star Conference Track Athlete of the Week last month after placing fourth in the 100 (12.53) and 10th in the 200 (26.34). Both times were ENMU's best since it joined NCAA Division II in 2003.
Seattle freshman d'Andre Benjamin (Mililani '07) finished seventh (5,077 points) in the decathlon at last month's GNAC Multi-Event Championships hosted by Central Washington.
COMMITMENTS
Kai Maiava, a 2007 Baldwin graduate, has accepted a scholarship to play football at UCLA. Maiava requested — and received — his release from Colorado, where he earned Freshman All-America honors at offensive guard last year. Maiava's brother, Kaluka, is a linebacker for crosstown rival USC.
Kamehameha senior Zane Dydasco will attend the United States Air Force Academy to play soccer.
'Iolani senior Blaine Gonsalves has accepted a soccer scholarship from Tulsa.
Mililani senior Allison Kagawa will play soccer for Brown.
'Iolani senior Julia Nishioka will attend Claremont McKenna, where she will play soccer.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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