Chargers’ Win Is In Their Pitch
By Jack Danilewicz
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Ewa Beach’s Brooke Doane, a Kamehameha Schools
senior and the No. 1 ranked girls 18s player,
returns a shot at the 2007 USTA National Junior
Open at Central Oahu Regional Park in Waipio.
Photo by Byron Lee, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Pearl City baseball coach Mel Seki had more on his mind than team-bonding as he prepared his players for this week’s Maui High School Pre-Season Tournament.
He hopes the event, which features traditional power Baldwin among others, will serve as a preview of the 2007 state tournament, which the Chargers would like to be a part of.
“It’s a good way to access your team,” said Seki, who is entering his 15th season as the Chargers’ head coach.“The teams that will be at the state tournament will be there. They always have outstanding teams from the outer Islands.”
The Chargers, who missed last year’s state tournament after qualifying in 2005, took a 2-2 pre-season record into the weekend, having posted wins over Moanalua (4-3) and Pac-Five (21-0), while losing to Mid-Pacific (6-4) and Iolani (7-6) from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Should the Chargers be a factor in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s Western Conference this spring and make a long post-season run, they will likely trace their success back to their pitching staff, according to Seki.
“The potential is really there for them,” he said. “One of our major goals is to get into the state tournament. Our depth is among the best that we’ve had here. It’s one of the most balanced between right-handed and left-handed pitchers. Being a left-handed pitcher is an advantage, and we have two.”
Seki was referring to juniors Cory Yuh and Bryson Nakamura, both of whom figure big in Pearl City’s plans this spring, along with up-and-coming junior right-hander Jason Rasa. Any of the three could end up the Chargers’ starting pitcher when they open the regular season March 21 at home against Radford.
“They have good size, and they’re still developing,” said Seki, whose team finished 8-4 last season. “We think they all have real bright futures.”
Three-year letterman Kurt Tanabe highlights the infield. He will also pitch, probably in relief, according to Seki.
“Leadership and experience are his strengths,” Seki said of Tanabe. “He’s a dependable third baseman and one of the hardest throwers that we have.”
Seniors Kellen Ushijima and Chad Quillopo will start at first and second base, respectively, while in the outfield, Seki envisions playing Carlton Tanabe (also a catcher) and Robby Nakayama, whom he calls “probably our quickest and fastest runner.” Senior catcher Jeff Domingo also returns to the fold.
Offensively, the Chargers got off to a good pre-season by tal-lying 35 runs in their first four games. Nakamura appeared in three of those games, collecting two hits in each.
“The potential is there for us to develop our hitters,” Seki said. “We have a pretty balanced attack with quite a few left-handed hitters at the top and bottom of the order, and our team speed should be better than average.”
In Seki’s view, as in past years, the West race will be balanced, with little margin for error.
“Mililani, Aiea, Waianae and Leilehua - any one of them can challenge. The team whose pitching is solid and the one that makes the least mistakes will come out ahead.”
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