Campbell’s Young Baseball Boys Maturing As A Team

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One reason the Campbell baseball program has thrived the past few years is its ability to develop role players who fit nicely with its handful of marquee players. As Rory Pico leads the Sabers throughout their American Legion League summer season, those sentiments remain very much on his mind.

Campbell returns both Po’o Kaalekahi and Robert Kahana next spring, but relative unknowns should figure big throughout the rest of the lineup.

“They’ll be the leaders, the ones who carry us,” Pico said. “With a lot of young guys with us this summer, they’ve already put themselves into leadership roles.

“But two guys won’t carry us far. We need everyone to step up. Hopefully, the young guys can grow and get more reps. That will be a key to our success.”

Much of the summer roster is incoming sophomores and juniors, so ALL play is especially useful for developing talent, in Pico’s view. All told, the Sabers will have played 20 games by the time the summer wraps, including contests against Punahou, Kamehameha and Mid-Pac, among ILH teams taking part. Should they make the post-season, the Sabers will play even more, although Pico admitted his team was “on the outside looking in,” with four games to go late last week.

“We need to win out, and we may need some other teams above us (in the standings) to lose,” said Pico, whose team hosts Damien at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Sabers have won 17 regular-season games over the past two years and were the OIA’s Division I runner-up to Pearl City last spring. Campbell also made the state baseball tournament for the second straight year.

The summer has been one of highs and lows, however. Campbell opened ALL play with a 6-1-1 record before dropping seven games in a row, although part of the reason for the slide was more likely that many players traveled to the Mainland for tournaments and were not with the Sabers.

“We had a bunch of guys gone and only nine or 10 to play in some games, but that’s not an excuse - although that had a lot to do with it.”

In addition to Kaalekahi and Kahana, Pico also had high praise for Paul Arakaki and Don Gallano, who both played large roles in the spring.

“They’ve been mainstays and workhorses for us,” Pico said. “Paul is usually at second (base), but he’s had to pitch a lot and catch with the others gone. Don is usually a shortstop/second baseman and he’s pitched and played all over.”

The Sabers also have a pair of recent graduates playing ALL in both Mike Mamea and Avery Marquez. Elsewhere in the lineup, upand-coming players are to be found.

As in past years, the ALL allowed wood bats only during much of the regular season. Pico likes the arrangement, especially given the Sabers’ youth.

“It’s a little bit different game,” he explained. “We find ourselves having to play small ball more. It teaches kids another way to manufacture runs, which is good. If the purpose is to get better, there isn’t a better league for us than American Legion.”