Young Chargers Step Up To Play In Higher ALL Division

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For the members of the Pearl City baseball team, the next few weeks will be all about positioning, collectively and individually.

The Chargers are trying to solidify their playoff position for the American Legion League’s post-season, having held the fifth spot as of late last week with four games remaining. Individually, positions are up for grabs as Charger head coach Gary Nakamoto eyes his lineup card for next spring, when Pearl City goes after its fourth straight Oahu Interscholastic Association championship.

“We’ve played everybody, and we’ve tried to move guys into different positions to see where they can play next year,” he said.

“Some guys are doing exceptionally well, and some guys are struggling. Some of them are showing they can play another position. (American Legion League) gives them the opportunity to prove what they can do.”

The Chargers lost a number of key players off of their team from the spring, which went 16-2 overall to go with its OIA title, but a talented group of veterans nevertheless returns, including mainstays Chace Numata, Kahana Neal, Kawika Pruitt and Royce Murai.

“They’ve all been playing real well,” said Nakamoto, whose team was 10-4-1 with five games to go in the American Legion League regular season.

Much of the intrigue surrounding the Chargers this summer centers around the younger players since Pearl City is playing up a level in a sense, choosing to compete in the 19-and-under division. Nakamoto moved up three freshmen and a sophomore to his summer roster and doesn’t have any college-aged players in the fold, unlike some of the other schools, in an effort to expose his team to better pitching.

“We have a couple of young guys who impressed me a lot - guys like Tyler Tokunaga and Chevas Numata,” Nakamoto said. “Tyler has pitched exceptionally well. He’s doing his job out there.

“Chevas has done pretty good, too, and (senior-tobe) Edwin Izumigawa has been pretty good in American Legion (play).”

Pearl City was off the week before last, as half of the Chargers team was away in California competing in a tournament. The Chargers returned to action versus still-unbeaten Mid-Pacific last Wednesday (6-2 loss) and were to meet Mililani over the weekend.

The game versus Mid-Pacific was the first in which the Chargers were allowed to use aluminum bats after all teams were limited to using wooden bats through much of the regular season.

“We’ll see what happens now,” Nakamoto said of the switch-over. “The other teams will probably be hitting the ball just as well, too. It’s not only for us.”

For the Chargers, the summer league season has been a success for another reason. It has provided Pearl City with its share of close encounters - the kind of games that weather teams for the upcoming spring season.

“Our pitching has been pretty good, and most of the games have been real close,” Nakamoto said.

“It’s been pretty interesting playing teams with a lot of college kids. Hopefully, we can get into the playoffs, and whatever happens, happens.”

Pearl City returns to action on Wednesday versus Kalani with a game against Campbell set for Friday. Both games will be played at Central Oahu Regional Park and will begin at 4:30 p.m.