Good Pitchers, But Tough Season
By Jack Danilewicz
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One in a series of prep baseball previews.
In an OIA Red West race with little margin for error, rule No. 1 is for a team to get out of its own way and eliminate self-inflicted wounds, to hear Mililani head baseball coach Dean Sato tell it.
“Normally the team that commits the least amount of mistakes will win,” said Sato, whose Trojans took third in the OIA last season en route to a state tournament appearance.“The West will be one of the toughest (divisions in the state). There are a lot of good pitchers coming on - everyone has one or two guys they can go to at any time.”
In the Trojans’ case, first choice is senior pitcher Dustin Antolin, who is a four-year player in the program, and the likely starter for Wednesday’s season opener at 3:30 p.m. at home against Waianae.
“He has speed - his fastball is between 88 and 91 (miles per hour) - and he can hit the ball well, too,” Sato said. “We’ll have him in the No. 3 spot (in the batting order). He’s matured, and he’s getting better and stronger. We think he’ll be drafted (at season’s end).”
In addition to Antolin, Mililani also welcomes back key seniors in pitcher/infielder/outfielder Kylen Cadiam, first baseman/designated hitter Travis Jones and outfielder/pitcher Jay Yoshigawa. All were solid contributors to Mililani’s OIA playoff run last spring. A 12-11 loss to perennial East power Kailua in the semi-finals is all that kept them from making the league’s title game.
“Kylen’s strength is his pitching and his defense,” Sato said. “He’s more of a finesse, ‘spot’ pitcher. Travis (Jones) is a good hitter. He has good power, and he can hit to all fields. Speed and defense are Jay’s strengths.”
Juniors Travis Inouye and Joey Aquino also are back after promising sophomore seasons in 2007. Inouye is projected to start at catcher, while Aquino will play third base when not pitching.
“Travis (Inouye) is a good defensive catcher with a decent arm, and he’s also a good hitter,” Sato said. “Joey has a lot of arm strength.”
As in past years, pitching figures to go a long way in determining the fate of the Trojans’ season. In the postseason, depth within a pitching staff comes more into play when teams are forced to play several games in several days - which is usually the case with the OIA and state tournaments held in consecutive weeks.
“Being consistent with pitching and defense is the key, and we’re starting to find it now,” said Sato, whose team finished 12-5 overall last year. “Those are our strengths. We stress more the defense (than offense).”
The Trojans, who won an OIA title in 1997 under current athletic director Glenn Nitta, took a 12-3 preseason mark into last weekend’s Maui High School Pre-season Tournament and appear to be on track to make another strong run in the Red West.
Sato credited members of the community for the baseball talent that has been passing through the program through the years. He is in his fifth season as Mililani’s head coach. “I appreciate our athletic director, all the families and the Little League coaches in the community for all their support,” he said. “The coaches do a wonderful job of teaching the kids the game, and it makes my job easier. I’m really thankful for that.”
Mililani will play its first three league games at home, including Wednesday’s game with Waianae. The Trojans will also host Kapolei Saturday and Campbell March 12.
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