No Bachi Pearl City’s Bowling Team!
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usIt’s not the destination that matters, but rather the journey, according to an old sports adage.
As the favorite to win a second straight state bowling tournament later this month,the Pearl City team can relate. On paper, nothing less than a repeat would seem acceptable, but coach Jimmy Hayashi says his team has remained loose this fall despite the high expectations.
“They’ve had fun and enjoyed the season,“he said.“We don’t really talk about it (the state tournament). I don’t want to say anything now - just let them bowl. We just try to go day to day as we play our competitions. If they’re having an off day,I tell them not to worry too much. We just have to try our best.”
The Chargers breezed through much of their season, but Hayashi expected the competition to improve considerably late last week when Pearl City was to compete with Kapolei for the first time. On Thursday at Schofield, the Chargers will take part in their final regular-season match along with Mililani and other West schools.
Next week, they set their sites on the overall OIA title at K-Bay Lanes at Kaneohe Marine base, when the top two teams from the West and the East will compete. The Chargers had already clinched the top slot out of the West because of the newly installed pin-fall format,which tracks total number of pins throughout the season.
Ironically, Pearl City was edged out by Mililani for the 2008 OIA title despite going on to win the state championship versus an even-more impressive field two weeks later. Hayashi blamed Pearl City’s loss in the OIA finals last year on spares the Chargers failed to pick up, and he made that an area of emphasis for 2009.
“Picking up spares will be the key to winning the OIA. We found our weak spot last year,and we spent this year working on it. We’ve been having them practice picking up spares every day in practice, and we’ll do it all the way.”
With Thursday’s OIA finals at K-Bay Lanes, Hayashi’s team also is focused on bowling more conservatively to adapt to the wooden surface.
“We want a less aggressive ball that they can keep control of better,“he said.“The oil will be sucked dry on a wooden alley after three games.”
While several underclassmen have had solid seasons for the Chargers, they are very much a seasoned team. Senior captain Robert Nakanishi leads the way with a 210 average.
“He’s a good bowler who brings energy. He also keeps the team calm and relaxed. He’s a very disciplined bowler.”
Junior Evan Hayashi is right on Nakanishi’s heels with a 205 average, and he helps to set the tone at practice.“He wants to bowl every day - he loves it,” the coach said of his son.“His strength is how he’s able to adjust his game. He practices a lot.”
The Chargers also have received steady performances from sophomores Kevin Oshiro and Micah Lee and freshman Derek Suefuji.
“Kevin really doesn’t get upset. If he has trouble, he’ll approach me about making adjustments. Micah doesn’t get upset if things are going badly. He’s a fun-loving guy who keeps the team enjoying the game. Derek doesn’t say much. He just does what he has to do.”
Hayashi expects as many as seven Chargers to qualify Thursday for the state championships, set for the end of October.
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