Sabers Sort Through Versatile Players For A Solid Lineup
By Jack Danilewicz
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Campbell High junior Kevin
Newcomb executes a left-
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For Campbell baseball coach Rory Pico, the game-day ritual of filling out his lineup card figures to be a challenge in and of itself this season - not that a roster of very versatile players is bad thing.
“We have a good group of guys who can play in a lot of places,“said Pico, who is entering his fourth season as Sabers head coach.“I know all about them as individuals. We’re still trying to figure out our identity as a team. It’s a ‘feel-out’ process. It’s still early, and there’s time to grow and learn. I think we’ll be able to compete with the better teams, but we’re still not in a comfort zone yet. We’re hoping players will step up and start solidifying their (starting) positions.”
The Sabers, who finished 6-4 in the OIA’s Western Conference last season, will build around five key returnees - seniors Blayne Dikito, Isaiah Kaaihue and Keneke Kapule as well as juniors Sebastian Locquiao and Cameron Howser.
Dikito will anchor the pitching staff. A three-year varsity player, he logged more innings pitched than anyone on the roster last season, and will likely be the starter March 21 when Campbell opens its season at Waianae.
“Pitching is the area that I’m least worried about,” said Pico, whose team won its last six regular-season games in 2006. “Blayne’s biggest strength is his experience. Hopefully, he can continue to give us solid innings. He’ll be one of our two starters throughout the season.”
Kaaihue will be the second baseman when available, as he’ll be splitting his time between the baseball diamond and the golf course, where he’ll also compete for the Campbell golf team.
“He gets less repetitions than the others, but he’s a smart kid, so we never have to worry about him,” Pico said.“He’s a hard worker who gets the job done.”
Kapule recently joined the team following paddling season and is expected to hold down a spot in the outfield.
“He’ll be in the mix this year if all works out,“Pico said.“We’re deep in the outfield. We have five who can play any of the three positions.”
Campbell’s defensive promise is due largely to the return of Howser, the team’s veteran catcher, and Locquiao, who will divide his time between first and third base in addition to doing some pitching.
“Cameron controls a good game back there. Defensively, he throws well and he does a good job of blocking the ball. He can stick it a little on offense, too.
“Sebastian brings some pop to our lineup also,” he added.“He led us in extra base hits and runs batted in last year so, hopefully, he can continue with that.”
Elsewhere the Campbell lineup is young with juniors who are making the transition this spring from junior varsity to the varsity.
“It (varsity) is a different level,” Pico said.“Offensively, we have to score runs, and our rhythm at the plate isn’t there yet, but the boys work hard and they’re getting better every day that they come out, which is the objective of pre-season.”
Campbell’s pre-season continues on Wednesday, when the team travels to Moanalua for a game. Moanalua’s Na Menehune are coached by Scott Yamada, who was Pico’s own coach at Campbell in the 1990s.
2007 Campbell High School Baseball Schedule
March 21 at Waianae
March 24 Mililani
March 28 Waipahu
April 4 Radford
April 7 at Kapolei
April 11 Waialua
April 14 at Nanakuli
April 18 Pearl City
April 21 at Aiea
April 25 at Leilehua
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