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Hurricanes To Keep Going Strong In This Week’s Games

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Oliver Taoy of Kapolei stops a steal during a game against Pearl City March 5. Photo by Byron Lee, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

With their breakthrough 7-4 season in 2007, the Kapolei baseball program officially entered the high-rent district in Hawaii prep baseball.

Whether or not the Hurricanes can maintain their upward mobility this spring remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that the perception of the program among the baseball community has changed. Indeed, part of taking the next step as a program is having a preseason schedule loaded with traditional powers. In the past month, Kapolei participated in tournaments hosted by three of the state’s best - Mid-Pacific, Kailua and Iolani.

“Word got out that Kapolei has a team now,” said Kapolei coach Tom Ebanez, whose team recently completed a 16-game preseason. “We were very fortunate to play in some good tournaments - that wasn’t always the case. (It came down to) our having a great season last year. We’re pleased to be able to take the field against a team like Punahou. We look at playing a team like that as kind of a measuring stick.”

There can be no doubt that Kapolei’s regular-season schedule is equally tough. The Hurricanes opened with games versus defending OIA champion Pearl City (a 15-1 loss) and Mililani (an 8-0 victory) on March 5 and 8, respectively, and followed those encounters with a much-anticipated match-up with Waianae last Wednesday.

This week, the Hurricanes travel to Campbell for a game against the Sabers at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and a game against Leilehua set for Saturday. Because a renovation to Kapolei’s field is not complete, the Hurricanes will play every game on the road this season.

“It has been hard on everyone- players, coaches and parents - but the kids played well throughout the preseason,” Ebanez said.

Although it’s still early, Thursday’s game at Campbell should figure big in the season. In addition to its impact on the OIA Red West race, bragging rights will be at stake as always.

“Knowing we’re so close (in proximity) and that a lot of kids know each other, it’s a rivalry,” said Ebanez, who graduated from Campbell himself in 1981. “It’s always special to go over there and play. The competition level will be intense. They’re a good team.”

Junior shortstop Kalani Brackenridge and senior utility player Curtis Donald lead the way. Brackenridge was a First Team All-Star last year in the West and hit a team-best .349 in the pre-season. Donald, who plays center field, second base and catcher, was a Second Team selection in 2007.

“We’re real pleased with what Kalani has been doing,“Ebanez said of Brackenridge. “We’ve had him in the first and third slots in our batting order, and he’s produced and gotten on base most of the time.

“Curtis is a heck-of-a fielder,” he added of Donald. “He has a lot of speed - that’s his strength - and he’s a gamer.”

Kapolei also welcomed back an experienced pitching staff with seniors Kalani Omoto, Oliver Taoy and Michael Sanchez all having logged in a lot of innings already. Omoto paved the way for Kapolei in its opener, going the distance and giving up only two hits, while striking out four in their 8-0 victory.

“There were a lot of times in that game when he could have went down the tubes, but he kept his poise and kept battling. He’s grown a lot since last year.

“Oliver brings a lot of leadership, too,” Ebanez added of Taoy. “The kids respond to him. Michael fields very well. When his bat comes around, he’s going to be a complete ballplayer, and he’ll be dangerous.”

Ebanez also has seen his team’s depth increase since last year. With the JV season played in the winter now instead of the spring, the Hurricanes benefited like a lot of other programs when several members of their JV team immediately moved up to join the varsity.

“We’ll have a lot of sophomores. Right now, we’re trying to get them to gel with the older guys, and it’s working out. It’s nice to see that. We (coaching staff) can focus more on fundamentals instead of working on getting them to play hard.”

Kapolei’s game against Leilehua starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fred Wright Park in Wahiawa.