Kailua: Slow Start But Fine Finish?
By Jack Danilewicz
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Jared Matsumoto pitching for
Kailua High School. Photo by
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In the world of prep baseball, it’s important to remember that champions are crowned in May.
That’s always been a comforting thought for Kailua, which has made a habit of slow starts and strong finishes in recent years. The fact that the Surfriders took a 3-13 pre-season record into the weekend could only mean that they’re right on schedule for another late season run in 2007.
“We always play a tough schedule, and the time to learn is in pre-season,” said Kailua coach Corey Ishigo, who has won five Oahu Interscholastic Association titles as well as the 2001 state title with the Surfriders.“It’s not about wins and losses in the pre-season. This is not as talented (a group) as we’ve had, but the work ethic is there. They put in a lot of time.
“It comes down to the kids buying in and listening,” he added. “This group is coachable.”
Ishigo will count on five holdovers from 2006, when the team finished 12-5 and won the consolation championship of the Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championships last May. A week earlier, Kailua had advanced to the semifinals of the OIA Tournament, eventually finishing fourth. Back in the fold are center fielder/pitcher Preston Nakata, outfielder Kainoa Uemoto, catcher Rayner Yokoi, infielder/pitcher Kili Vierra and multi-position player Zach Akamine.
“Zach is one of the best athletes in the state,” Ishigo said of Akamine, who was starting quarterback on the Kailua football team last fall.“He can do anything, and he sometimes tries to do too much. We’ll play him anywhere the team needs him. He played shortstop for us last year.”
Nakata and Uemoto will anchor the outfield for Kailua. Nakata is a three-year starter.
“Experience is his strength,” Ishigo said of Nakata, “and his defense is good. He has good range in the outfield - he can track down balls that most people can’t get to.
“Kainoa is a big hitter,” he added of Uemoto, who packs 220 pounds into a 6-foot frame. “He used to be lazy, but maybe he wasn’t happy with the season he had last year. He’s gotten bigger through weight training. He did a lot of work on his own.”
Vierra will bring experience to the infield, meanwhile, while Yokoi is seasoned behind the plate.
“Kili is the ultimate team player - he thinks of the team more than he does himself,” Ishigo said. “Rayner is a leader. He’s a hardworking kid who will speak up if he has to.”
Solid pitching has been the Surfriders’ forte in past seasons, but Kailua “has struggled” in that area to date, the coach said.
“We don’t have a go-to guy (as in the past). We’ll probably use a number of pitchers this year. Hopefully, a couple of guys will step up. Right now, we’re working a lot on team chemistry and, hopefully, everything else will fall into place.”
Kailua continues pre-season play this week when they take part in the Waianae Tournament. On Thursday, Kailua plays a road game against Kapolei and returns home Friday for a game with Kahuku. Both of those games begin at 4 p.m. Kailua’s opponent (and site) on Saturday will be determined by the outcome of its games on Thursday and Friday. Kailua opens its regular season at home March 21 against Kaimuki.
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