Campbell Baseball Positioning For Postseason Spot
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usFor the Campbell baseball team, the coming weeks will be all about getting into position to get into position.
“My goal is for us to be in control of our own destiny at the end (of the regular season),” Campbell coach Rory Pico said. “We don’t want to have to depend on others (to make the playoffs). If we do what we need to do, we’ll be OK.”
The Sabers, who entered the weekend with a 2-2 record in OIA Red West play, need to finish sixth or higher in the conference to advance to the postseason. The top five finishers in the OIA Tournament earn the league’s berths for the Division I State Baseball Tournament in May.
While 2-2 entering the weekend, the Sabers could very well have won all four encounters, having held leads against both Mililani and Aiea before dropping those games by scores of 11-10 and 10-8. Campbell’s wins came against Leilehua (8-2) and Kapolei (8-7). Under the OIA’s new format, which separated its schools between Division I and Division II this past off-season, the Sabers will play each West opponent twice.
“So far, the West has been really close,” Pico said. “Everyone has been beating up on each other. Hopefully, we can be in the mix all the way.”
A common characteristic of playoff-caliber teams has always been solid pitching and, on that note, Pico has been pleased with his team’s progress so far.
“If you have good pitching, you’ll be in every game. We have a lot of guys we can go with. That was the area of our game we needed to improve. Last year, the biggest thing was walks and (conceding) big innings.”
The Sabers have called on sophomores Allyn Oliva-Respicio and Charles Kaalekahi as well as junior Keanu Kapana to carry their staff pitching early on.
“To me, Allyn is a ‘go-to guy,’” Pico said. “When he’s not starting, he’ll be our closer. He’s deceivingly quick, and he has good breaking stuff. The biggest thing is that he’s a competitor. He’s a bulldog.
“Keanu throws a lot of strikes, and he’s in command of all of his pitches,” Pico added. “Charles is young, but he’s another one with good command of his pitches, and he throws with enough velocity to keep the batters honest.”
Pico also is high on seniors Christian Marquez, Kia Kapana and Kevin Newcomb as well as juniors Dane Benz and Nick Tiglao. Although used in relief so far, any one of the group could figure in the starting rotation by season’s end.
Defensively, they returned an experienced group this spring, with their entire infield - first baseman Sebastian Locquiao, second baseman Ivan Verbeckmoes, shortstop Everett Pico and third baseman Kia Kapana - back intact from a year ago. Catcher Cameron Howser also is back for his third season as a starter.
“We’re real comfortable with him,” Pico said. “We let him call the entire game.”
Offensively, the Sabers have been productive, tallying no fewer than eight runs in every game. Ironically, their season high of 10 runs came in a one-run loss to Mililani.
“We’re pleased that we’ve been putting up runs every game,” Pico said. “We’ve had different people step up each game. Last season, we were inexperienced at the varsity level, but going through that season and playing a full summer together has helped us. We’re having a lot better at-bats. It’s all about confidence - believing they have what it takes to battle (at the plate).”
Campbell was to play defending OIA champion Pearl City last Saturday before a game with Waianae Tuesday, which was to mark the end of the first round of West play. The Sabers return to action April 1, when they host Leilehua at 3:30 p.m.
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