Pitching To Showcase Trojan Underclassmen In Red West
By Jack Danilewicz
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There are seven teams in the OIA Red West Conference, and six of them will have the same mind-set as the baseball season begins to hit its stride this week: Catch Pearl City!
The Chargers enter the season as the three-time defending OIA champion.
“Overall, they have quality all-around,“Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said.“They’re stacked. They hit the ball well, they have pitching and they play good defense. They have some real talented players.”
For its part, Mililani was playing as well as anyone deep into the OIA Tournament last year, weathering a wave of flu-like symptoms that undermined momentum en route to grabbing the league’s last berth for the state tourney. Mililani’s late run, which included wins over East powers Kaiser and Kalani, proved that its talent pool is solid enough to keep it in the mix.
As was the case last year, developing cohesiveness remains a high priority to Hirayama. The team lost several key pitchers to graduation, but interest is on an upward spiral with 37 hopefuls having turned out for the first day of tryouts this winter.
“That is always a positive - we like to give as many kids as possible an opportunity to play high school baseball. There were a lot to choose from. It’s good to see the excitement in the program.
Hirayama’s team went 6-6 in its regular season and 11-8 overall in 2009. “Guys will have to play together and do the little things correctly, and we’ll be OK.”
When sizing up prospects, pitching is a recurring theme for Hirayama, who envisions underclassmen getting the call in a lot of outings. Mililani was to open its Red West slate last Saturday with a double-header against conference power Waianae. This week, key games versus Kapolei loom today (home) and Saturday (away).
“That will be a telltale sign - the pitching staff. If they can be effective, it will be what carries us. We have to rally around our pitching.”
To that end, juniors Mike Yasamura,Wade Taoka, Chad Hiyakumoto and sophomore Cody Mark figure to form the pitching rotation early on. Yasamura had been nursing a sore elbow early last week but should be ready to go for the regular season.
“He threw some innings for us last year,” Hirayama said. “He’s not overpowering - none of our pitchers is - but he’s a competitor. He’ll go out and throw strikes for us, and he gives us a chance to make plays. Wade played JV for us last year. Just watching him, he has some toughness and he’s come around. He changes speeds, and he’s effective.
“Cody is not overpowering, but he also is one who will throw strikes,” he added. “Chad throws a little harder than the others, and hopefully he’ll give us some strong innings.”
While the pitching will showcase underclassmen, there is experience elsewhere in the lineup, most notably with seniors Andrew Benitez and Chad Bolibol at third and first base, respectively.
“Andrew is one of our leaders - he’s a hard worker on and off of the field,” Hirayama said of Benitez,who is projected to bat between the No. 3 and No. 5 spots in the order.
“Chad is one of our biggest hitters. He holds his own, defensively, but we’re looking more for him to drive in some runs for us.
“We have a lot of work to do in all aspects, but we’re definitely excited to get the season started,“Hirayama added. “We’re on the younger side, so we’ll need to have some sophomores and juniors step up.”
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