Sabers Find Right Chemistry
By Jack Danilewicz
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While the Campbell baseball team’s execution during a 3-0 start in OIA Red West play positioned it nicely for a good season, its underlying cohesiveness as a team has been the most pleasing aspect so far, according to head coach Rory Pico.
“We struggled early in the preseason - progress was slow,” said Pico, now in his sixth year. “A lot had to do with our team chemistry. These guys hadn’t played that much together, so it took some time for guys to fill roles. Within a week of our first (regular-season) game, we started to come around. Maybe the excitement of the season starting helped.”
The Sabers are coming off a solid 2009 season, when they made the Division I state tournament and battled four-time champ Punahou to a stand-still for much of a 2-0 first-round defeat. On the heels of their post-season run in the spring, Campbell went on to a second-place finish in the American Legion League play in June and early July. Nearly half of that team included players who had completed their prep eligibility, so Pico welcomed a very different team on the first official 2010 practice on Feb. 1.
“We have some seniors, but the rest are young - guys just up from JV,” he noted.“Four have started our first three games, and all are at key positions.”
Aiding the cause, however, is a solid corps of veterans, highlighted by senior pitcher Kale Kaalekahi, who already has signed with University of Hawaii for 2011. A 6-foot-2 right-hander, he had his now-customary outing last Wednesday in a 6-2 win over Mililani, when he struck out six and walked just one to pick up the win. He retired the last seven batters in a row in that game.
“On the mound, he’s real confident,” Pico said.“He has good command of three pitches (fast ball, change-up and slider), and he pretty much can throw any of the three at any time in the count. That makes him tough.
“Also, he doesn’t get fazed when we make mistakes behind him. He just keeps on doing his thing.”
Also back are left fielder Michael Mamea, designated hitter Avery Marquez, both seniors both; and junior catcher Po’o Kaalekahi and junior shortstop Robert Kahana. Mamea led the Sabers at the plate last year with a batting average of .440 and is ahead of that pace three games into this season.
“He adds energy,” Pico said. “Skill-wise, he brings some pop to our lineup.”
Po’o Kaalekahi played first base last year but has settled in nicely behind the plate in 2010.
“He’s a competitive guy,” Pico said.“He’s my leader and field general. He’s calling 99 percent of our pitches right now. He’s an all-around ‘team’ guy.”
Kahana is the No. 2 man behind Kale Kaalekahi in the pitching rotation, while Marquez adds power to the lineup, as evidenced by his 400-foot drive versus Mililani that was scored as a triple.
“Robert’s a good athlete with a pretty good arm, and he hits the ball hard - he’ll be at the one or two spot (in the batting hierarchy) all year long. Avery’s been hitting the ball well lately.”
Seasoned starters aside, Campbell’s long-term fate may be tied to its ability to bring around its underclassmen.
“I like our work ethic,“Pico said. “We’ve played pretty decent baseball, although we’re still making some mistakes. They see their progress, and they’re starting to play together more.”
The Sabers meet Kapolei next, with games at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at home and 1 p.m. Saturday on the road. The Hurricanes also have been tough to date, splitting a pair of one-run games with Mililani to go with an opening-day defeat to defending OIA champion Pearl City.
“Kapolei almost always has a lot of great athletes,” Pico said. “They’ve been playing good baseball, so hopefully we’ll do what we have to do and give ourselves a chance at the end.”
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