Hardworking Hurricanes Meet OIA Playoffs Goal

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Kapolei’s Aaron Santiago swings for the hit. Photo by
Nathalie Walker, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Champions are crowned in May in prep baseball, but the month of December holds special significance for Kapolei: It was then, during the so-called off-season, that the Hurricanes made a quantum leap.

“Since December, 15 of our 17 kids made every workout,“he said. “They did a lot of conditioning and weight training. They got together and they said,‘Our goal is to make the playoffs and then take it one step further with a trip to states.‘They’ve been working hard toward that goal.

“We’ve really seen the kids grow,” added Ebanez, whose team was 4-6 in 2006. “We told them in the beginning that their togetherness would carry them through.”

The Hurricanes make their first appearance in the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs in four years on Wednesday. (Pairings for the tournament were to be decided over the weekend.)

“I think we’ll probably need multiple coin flips to determine seedings,“Ebanez joked of the balanced West.

With its 7-3 record in the West this spring, Kapolei has already set a new school record for wins in a season, having exceeded the previous mark of five in the aforementioned 2003 season.The Hurricanes, who had a junior-dominated team, lost 6-5 to Kalani in the first round that year.

“With so many juniors, they thought they’d be back the next year, but it’s never a given,“said Ebanez, noting that the 2004 Hurricanes missed the post-season. “I’ve told the kids to enjoy every minute of this. It’s going to be fun for us. A lot of people counted us out. These

kids deserve everything they get this year. It’s been a fun ride so far.”

Kapolei, whose losses have been to traditional powers Pearl City, Mililani and Aiea, won four of its last six games to close out the regular season. Without a game over the weekend, the Hurricanes were to benefit from a much-needed one-week layoff, in Ebanez’s view.

“We have some tired arms, so rest is something we really need right now.”

The top five finishers in the OIA Tournament will earn bids to the Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Tournament later in the

month,making the Hurricanes’first-round game a must-win this week. Regardless of the opponent, Ebanez will go with junior Oliver Taoy on the mound Wednesday. Fellow junior Kalani Omoto figures to pitch on Thursday, should the Hurricanes advance to the second round.

“You always have to win that first game, and he’s our No. 1 guy,” said Ebanez.“Once you get into the post-season, you play the best of the best. We’re fortunate to be one of them. Now we have to play championship baseball all the time.”

That defense has been Kapolei’s forte to date can only be a good omen for the post-season.

“If you have pitching, you’re halfway in the door,” he said. “We’ve had some guys who were injured, so pitching is a question mark right now.The defense has carried us.It’s been strong all year.We’ve made the plays when we were supposed to.”

Offensively,Kapolei’s productivity all begins with lead-off hitter Kalani Brackenridge. A transfer from Kauai High, he plays second base for Kapolei.

“As a lead-off hitter, he works the count, and when he gets on, he’s always a threat to run because he’s quick. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Kapolei also has received stellar seasons from Curtis Donald,Michael Kahalehoe and Aaron Santiago.All three are hitting over .450 this spring and should figure big this week for the team.

The Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Tournament is May 9-12 at Rainbow Stadium on the UH-Manoa campus.