Windward P.O.N.Y. All-Stars Head For California Regionals

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The Windward P.O.N.Y. All-Star team: (front, from left) C. Wayton, K. Zuttermeister, J. DePonte, A. Ramseyer-Ho, A. Baldwin, R. McMonigle, E. Mahaulu, M. Thomas, and (back) coach D. Kaida, B. Higa, N. Chow, A. Amimoto, B. Dymond, head coach T. Kekaula, J. Matsumoto, T. Kon, K. Sasaoka and coach D. Hugo. Photo by Don Baldwin.

As he prepares his Windward P.O.N.Y. (13-14 year old division) All-Star team for the upcoming Western Regionals in Fullerton, Calif., coach Tusi Kekaula’s emphasis remains exactly where it was when he first assembled the team back in June.

“We’ve drilled into them at every practice that it’s about the team and not about you, and they’ve jelled and played well together as a team,” said Kekaula, who has been coaching Little League teams for 21 years. “Most of these kids were the aces on their regular teams, but here, they’re looked at as just another player.”

Such is the challenge of most who coach all-star teams.With limited time together as a group and the potential for ego-driven issues, the search for cohesiveness is always an ongoing process. No such problems existed for Kekaula’s team this summer - one of the reasons he believes Windward emerged from the pack to win the state (Little League) tournament recently in Hilo, where they completed a six-game sweep to punch their ticket for California. Windward defeated Aiea 9-4 in the title game on July 13.

“It wasn’t easy for them all at first, but they changed their outlook and became a very close team,” Kekaula said. “Everything we taught them about being a team, they made use of. Anything we asked them to do, they did. They thought about the team first and themselves second. We’re very proud of them.”

Windward will leave for Fullerton Aug. 2, and return Aug. 11. The tournament, which will feature eight teams, is set to run from Aug. 4 to 9, with the winner advancing to the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania. With the stakes on the rise, Kekaula can’t help but regard the upcoming trip to California as a business trip. Moreover, many of Hawaii’s youth teams have always fared well in Mainland baseball tournaments over the years.

“We’re going there for one reason, and for one reason only, and that’s to win the thing,” said Kekaula. “We’ll have a couple of days after it’s over to see things.”

Windward’s 15-player roster includes Chase Wayton, Jordan Deponte, Kila Zuttermeister, Alika Ramseyer-Ho, Aaron Baldwin, Ethan Mahaulu, Brandon Higa, Aalona Amimoto, Bryson Dymond, Tyler Kon, Kory Sasaoka, Noah Chow, Ryan McMonigle, Michael Thomas and Jared Matsumoto. Assistant coaches Don Hugo Jr. and David Kaita also will join Kekaula in making the trip.

Kekaula downplayed any negative effects the travel might have on Windward, noting that the team had to travel to Hilo for the state tournament. To ensure his team was properly rested for their state tournament games, Windward team members were sent to bed at 8:30 p.m. - a practice that will continue in California.

“We could still hear them giggling,” Kekaula said with a laugh, “but they were asleep by 10 usually. We don’t think we’ll have any problems (keeping distractions to a minimum).”

On the field, pitching and solid defense have carried Windward to date, a trend Kekaula is counting on to continue.

“It’s nice to be able to hit, and we can do that, too, but with good pitching you can keep the score down against anybody. I strongly believe in pitching and defense. Our pitching has been real good so far.”