Hirayama Returning To Head Trojan Baseball Program

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Mark Hirayama didn’t lie awake at night worrying about whether he’d become a head baseball coach someday, enjoying successful stints as an assistant at Punahou and Kamehameha. But the longtime Mililani resident was quick to admit that being hired to lead the Trojan baseball program is ideal.

“There’s definitely great community support, baseball-wise,” said Hirayama, who also was an assistant at Mililani under both Glenn Nitta and Cary Kihara.“The baseball talent that comes out of Mililani is outstanding, and with the facilities the kids have access to, it’s a great position to be in. There’s a lot of excitement about baseball,and that definitely gives you an advantage. It’s nice to have a good group to pick from.

“My thing has always been to give back to baseball and to the kids,” he added.“Baseball has created a lot of opportunities for me.”

Hirayama has been a fixture in Island prep baseball since he graduated from UH in 1990. He joined Pal Eldridge’s staff at Punahou the next year before working as an assistant at Mililani.

He spent the last five years with Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie. “He’s tough to replace, he’ll be missed from our program,“Ramie said of Hirayama.“His biggest asset is his love of the game and his commitment to teaching the kids and mentoring them. He’s always been a great student of the game. It’s one thing to know it, but another to be able to get that message to the kids.”

“I owe a lot to those guys,“added Hirayama.“I had a strong relationship with Pal and Ramie and coach Nitta. I feel like I’m ready for the challenge.”

He was still finalizing his staff late last week, but he expects Gainor Nitta and Kurt Miyahira to be a part of it. Both played for Mililani when Hirayama was an assistant coach and have been working with the Trojans’ American Legion League team this summer.

“They’ve both been real helpful,” said Hirayama, who is finishing up his duties as a Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League coach these past few weeks.“It gives me an advantage.”

Although a power hitter in his own playing days, Hirayama takes a defensive-minded approach as a coach. “Good hitting will beat good pitching every day of the week,” he said. “You have to build a foundation of pitching and defense.Your offense will take care of it in the end. If we play good fundamental baseball, we’ll be in a position to compete in the end.”

While Mililani’s varsity season doesn’t officially begin until February, the JV team starts practice soon, as its season was switched to fall in 2007.

A native of Hayward, Calif., Hirayama played prep baseball at Moreau High and spent three seasons at a junior college before transferring to UH in 1989.