Pitcher Vierra Is Tops In The East

Del.icio.us

In the clutch, Kailua’s Kili Vierra was without peer during the recently completed prep baseball season.

“He had one of the best years I’ve seen a kid have,” Kalani coach Shannon Hirai.

Vierra, a senior pitcher and infielder, was recently named the Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division Player of the Year for his efforts this spring. He helped lead the Surfriders to an 11-4 overall mark as well as a runner-up finish in the OIA’s post-season and a state tournament appearance.

Vierra was perhaps never better than when it counted most. In the semifinals of the OIA Tournament, he helped preserve a one-run win over Mililani by pitching a scoreless seventh inning in relief. Only the day before, he had pitched seven innings in Kailua’s quarterfinal encounter. At the plate, he was just as solid. In a much-anticipated battle of then-unbeatens on May 4, he belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the Surfriders to a 4-2 win over Moanalua.Vierra also drove the Surfriders across the finish line in their OIA quarterfinal against Castle (thus ensuring Kailua a berth in the state tournament) when his two-run double gave Kailua the lead for good in that contest.Vierra’s resume also includes a five-hit shutout against Kalani, one of the East’s top teams.

“He’s a combination (of things),” admitted Hirai.“He has pretty good velocity and good control. Against us, he did a great job of hitting his spots, and their catcher caught a good game.”

Vierra was joined on the East’s First Team by Surfrider teammate Kale Sumner, a third baseman. Outfielder/pitcher Preston Nakata was a Second Team selection for the Surfriders. Kailua coach Corey Ishigo, who has five OIA titles and a state championship on his resume, was named the East’s Coach of the Year.

Catcher Lyle Kitagawa and utility player Pulama Silva were named to the First Team from Castle High School. Silva was one of the East’s top pitchers this season.

“He’ll be one of the best next year,” Hirai said of Silva, a junior. “In the playoffs, he came in and shut us down completely.”

Hirai, whose Falcons played Castle last summer for the American Legion League title,labeled Kitagawa “a good defensive catcher.”

“I think he has one of the strongest arms in the state behind the plate.”

The Knights also placed first baseman Codey Cabael and third baseman Coby Agres on the East’s Second Team.

Six Knights - Brandon Goss, Kainoa Tom, Trevor Okumura, Kris Kahanu, Kaliko CayetanoTamashiro and Joshua Serrano - were also named to the Honorable Mention team.

Receiving Honorable Mention from Kailua were Raynor Yokoi, Marcus Matthews, Jared Iha, Zach Akamine, Kainoa Uemoto, Rob Demarsh and Keenan Tanaka.

Kalaheo had three team members - Cody von Appen, Donovan Correa and Kyle Okumura - receive Honorable Mention, while Steve Van Ness and Kaika Sasaoka were named to the team from Kahuku.