Sugar Mill prep game returns Sunday
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
After a one-year hiatus, the Sugar Mill Senior Classic baseball game will return Sunday at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu.
Game time is 1 p.m. and it is free.
The game was founded in 1999 by former Kansas City Royals scout Eric Tokunaga. Since he left two years ago to become an international scout based in Charlotte, N.C., for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan, the game was discontinued last year. But 2 1/2 months ago, Tampa Bay Rays scout Casey Onaga decided to revive the game, which features graduating seniors from around the state.
"I kind of realized last year, we didn't have a last game to show off the top seniors," Onaga said. "I brought it back to showcase the talent. All of the other sports have (an all-star game). Baseball deserves to have one."
The game is sponsored by Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union and Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union. Also, Hawaii Winter Baseball will be donating bottled water for the players and promotional giveaways for the fans, Onaga said.
In previous games, the teams were divided by Interscholastic League of Honolulu players and O'ahu Interscholastic Association players with Neighbor Island players split between teams. This year, the teams are mixed, so some players from the same schools will be on opposite teams.
Alumni from this game who have made to the major leagues include Shane Victorino (St. Anthony 1999), Chad Santos (Saint Louis 1999), Jerome Williams (Waipahu 1999), Bronson Sardinha (Kamehameha 2001) and Kurt Suzuki (Baldwin 2001)
Here are the players scheduled to play:
GRAY TEAM
Catchers—Darby Ventura (Damien), Keoni Haina (Saint Louis), Keenan Tanaka (Kailua).
First basemen—Easton Torigoe (Mid-Pacific), Bryson Nakamura (Pearl City), Scotty Talaesea (Kailua).
Middle infielders—Danny Higa (Saint Louis), Kainoa Tom (Castle), Josh Bninski (Punahou), Travis Derby (Damien)
Third basemen—Jordan Limahai (Kailua), Kaden Tabil (Moloka'i), Skyler Cabacungan (Baldwin).
Outfielders—Tamatoa DeMello (Saint Louis), Jordan Monico (Moanalua), Mitchell Crim (Maui), Aaron Soong (Kaua'i), Quintin Tiapula (Wai'anae), Duane Kiyota (Pearl City).
Pitchers—Dustin Antolin (Mililani), Dane Kinoshita (Mid-Pacific), Josh Saio (Saint Louis), Aaron Asato (Kamehameha-Maui), Eric Hudson (Waipahu), Brent Nakasone (Leilehua), Kelsey Outram ('Iolani), Bryan Raines (Castle).
WHITE TEAM
Catchers—Aaron Fujiki (Mid-Pacific), Kolten Wong (Kamehameha-Hawai'i), Ryan Kurosawa (Hilo)
First basemen—Paul Snieder (Punahou), Cole Shidaki (Saint Louis), Travis Jones (Mililani)
Middle infielders—Tyler Abasial ('Aiea), Russell Doi (Mid-Pacific), Ryno Acosta (Pearl City), Reece Kiriu (Punahou)
Third basemen—Blake Amaral (Kamehameha-Hawai'i), Daren Baccay (Leilehua), Kia Kapana (Campbell), Jordan Agcaoili (Maui)
Outfielders—Matt Suiter (Punahou), Kyle Gonzaga (Saint Louis), Zach Fujimoto (Maryknoll), Kylen Cadiam (Mililani), Brian Alben (Waiakea), Ben McQuown (Wai'anae)
Pitchers—Randy Castillo ('Aiea), Kamakani Usui (Saint Louis), Cory Yuh (Pearl City), David Jordan Buster (Kaua'i), Michael Jahns (St. Anthony), Pulama Silva (Castle), Jeeter Ishida (Punahou)
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.