Mustangs Working Their Way Back To High-rent District
By Jack Danilewicz
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Kalaheo’s Talon Wemple on the mound. Photo
by Leah Ball.
Should Kalaheo return to the high-rent district of Hawaii prep baseball this spring, it will come by way of a workmanlike approach, to hear first-year head coach Tim Lierman tell it.
“We’ve preached the blue-collar work-ethic,” said Lierman, a former Kalaheo player who had spent the last few years as the Mustangs’ head junior varsity coach.“We have to fight and claw our way, out-work and out-hustle teams. There are definitely six solid teams in the East every year. We used to be one of them. After two disappointing seasons in a row, it can be hard to stay positive, but these kids have maintained a positive attitude, and they’re starting to believe in themselves.”
The Mustangs have a productive pre-season behind them as they prepare for Wednesday’s Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division opener at Kaiser. Lierman hopes his team’s demanding pre-season will pay dividends this spring, especially with Kalaheo’s first games coming against the top six finishers in the league a year ago.
“We need to start strong,” he said. “We have to play at least .500 ball in those first six games. It will be another tough race (in the East).”
Kalaheo’s last OIA post-season appearance came in 2004, while the Mustangs last made the state tournament in 2003. They finished just 2-8 in 2006, but a strong corps of seniors is back in the fold this year, highlighted by second baseman/pitcher Kyle Okumura, who enters his third varsity season. Okumura entered last weekend in the running to be Kalaheo’s starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game.
“He’ll be No. 1 or No. 2,” Lierman said. “He has a wide array of pitches, he mixes his speeds well, and he can hit all parts of the plate. As a second baseman, he’s solid. He’s Mr. Hustle. He’s also the commanding officer of the JROTC, so he’s very smart and a good leader.”
The Mustangs’ pitching staff will also feature 6-foot-3 senior Talon Wemple, who will also hold down a spot at third when not on the mound.
“He’s another who has stepped into a leadership role,” Lierman said.“He wants to turn the program around. He throws hard, he has a great arm from third, and he has some power at the plate. He’ll be a middle-of-the-order guy.”
Lierman is also high on utility infielder Donovan Correa, first baseman (and relief pitcher) Jordon Hugo, right fielder Mike Bascuk, and junior center fielder Alika Kaanapu.
“He’s not overpowering, but he hits his spots well,” Lierman said of Correa. “He throws a lot of strikes, and he has a lot of speed on his ball.
“Jordon has been swinging the bat real well,” Lierman added. “He’s worked real hard, and he’ll probably (hit) in the middle of the order. Mike hasn’t played much in the past, but he’s working hard to break into the lineup. Alika is 6-4, a power-hitter who also has great range and a strong arm in the outfield.”
In Lierman’s view, pitching will have to carry Kalaheo early on this season. “We have a lot of pitchers. That’s our main strength on the field - lots of arms. Right now, we need our defense to work harder to back up our pitchers.”
Following Wednesday’s contest with Kaiser, the Mustangs will meet Moanalua Saturday, Kalani March 28, Kailua March 31, Roosevelt April 4 and Castle April 7 over the course of their next five games.
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