Kailua, Kahuku Nurse OIA Wounds While Aiming For States

Del.icio.us

Kailua High School pitcher and designated hitter Jared Matsumoto. Nathalie Walker photo, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

For Kailua and Kahuku, the “second season” is also an opportunity for second chances.

Indeed, after unfortunate circumstances undermined the momentum of both programs in their respective OIA Tournament appearances recently,the Surfriders and Red Raiders are both understandably eager to play again in this week’s state baseball tournament.

Kailua, which had entered the Division I OIA Tournament as the top seed out of the East, lost the championship game 2-1 to Pearl City in a game that was not without controversy, as an interference call on the Surfriders at the plate in the top of the seventh helped to seal their fate.

“It’s all behind us now, but we also want to keep that feeling inside (as motivation),” said Kailua catcher Kale Sumner. “We don’t want to have that feeling of losing again, especially in a championship game.”

The Surfriders’effort against Pearl City, which has won 48 of its last 55 games (including the 2009 preseason slate), was still nothing less than stellar as they limited the Chargers to a season-low three hits. Kailua had advanced to the title game with impressive wins over fellow state qualifiers Mililani (3-0) and Campbell (16-6), and they figure to be a factor this week,although the tough ending against Pearl City ensures them they’ll have to win four games instead of three to win the state title.

In the Red Raiders’ case, a bad case of the flu hit the team, most notably projected starting pitchers R.J.Van Ness and Kekoa Hughes as well as out-fielder Jacob Kalua, led to a lineup makeover in the Division II OIA Tournament. Kahuku got by Waialua in the first round, but lost to Waipahu (5-2) and McKinley (9-1) in the semifinals and third-place game, respectively. Kahuku had won nine of 11 regular-season games before the flu caught up with Van Ness’ team. The trio were unable to dress for any of Kahuku’s three games, but were approaching 100 percent last week as they practiced.

“They feel now as if they have to prove something since we slipped in the OIA,“coach Roger Van Ness said.“It’s time for us to show we want to make up for it. We’ll be stepping up a level as we’ll be going against all of the best teams. When we’re on and have our full roster, we can hang with the best of them.”

Although Roger Van Ness wasn’t to know of their first-round opponent for Wednesday until late last weekend,he expects to go with R. J.Van Ness as his starter. A Player of the Year candidate in the OIA’s DII, R.J. averaged 10 strikeouts a game in the regular season. Hughes will likely get the call in Thursday’s game, while J.J. Nozawa will also be available.

Like the Red Raiders in DII, Kailua will rely on a deep and talented pitching staff in its bid for a DI state title. The Surfriders used five pitchers in the OIA Tournament, including Bryson Gauthe, Alika Ramseyer-Ho,Alan Baldwin, Jared Matsumoto and Ryan McMonigle. Gauthe got the call for Kailua’s OIA Tournament-opener versus Mililani and responded by combining on a four-hitter with Ramseyer-Ho, who is the only pitcher among the group to have appeared in all three games.

Sumner also noted Kailua’s defensive play as a key.“We’ve worked a lot on our defense, and our pitchers know the defense will be there to back them up,” he said. “We just have to continue to trust in each other. Every time we put on our jerseys, we think we have a chance to win. Lately, we’ve been doing a lot of team bonding.We’re a close team.”

Offensively, Sumner leads the way for Kailua. The reigning Red East Player of the Year, as selected by conference coaches in 2008,he missed the Mililani game with a mild concussion after being hit in the head in batting practice the day before,but came back big-time in Kailua’s semifinal win over Campbell, going 4-for-5 with a home run,a double and four RBI.

Pairings for the state tournament, which will run Wednesday through Saturday, were to be announced late Sunday. The Division I tournament will be played exclusively at Les Murakami Stadium in Manoa, while the DII tourney will hold its first round and quarterfinal games at Hans L’Orange Park in Waipahu.