UH-Hilo coach Kallen Miyataki figured Hawaii would be licking its chops to face the challenge of Jordan Kurokawa’s fastball. ADVERTISING UH-Hilo coach Kallen Miyataki figured Hawaii would be licking its chops to face the challenge of Jordan Kurokawa’s fastball. As
UH-Hilo coach Kallen Miyataki figured Hawaii would be licking its chops to face the challenge of Jordan Kurokawa’s fastball.
As it turned out, the Rainbow Warriors were left licking their wounds.
It’s not an overstatement to stay Kurokawa delivered the game of his life in front of 938 fans Saturday night at Wong Stadium. The right-hander pitched a two-hitter to lead Vulcans to a 1-0 season-opening victory.
“I’m ecstatic,” Kurokawa said. “This is definitely the highlight of my career.”
The senior grew up on Oahu and had hoped to play for Hawaii while playing his high school ball at Maryknoll.
“Of course, (Hawaii) was the program I followed,” Kurokawa said. “I think they took one look at me and thought I had some issues.”
He had none Saturday night, striking out seven, working around two walks and relying on his fastball as his go-to pitch. Matt LoCoco and Alan Baldwin had the only hits, each a single, for Division I UH.
“I tired a little in the sixth and seventh, but one I smelled the end I was ready,” Kurokawa said.
It was a banner day for UH-Hilo athletics, with the Vulcans’ teams in baseball, men’s and women basketball, softball and men’s and women’s tennis all winning on the same day for the first time in, well, forever.
Keaau graduate Jonathan Segovia drove in the only run of the game with a two-out single in the seventh off Brendan Hornung (0-1). Edison Sakata led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a flyout.
Hornung, a junior college transfer lost his UH debut, throwing 6 2/3 innings with three strikeouts. He allowed eight hits and issues two walks.
Leadoff hitter Kyle Yamada has three hits for the Vulcans, who will go for the two-game sweep at 1 p.m. Sunday at Wong.
Kurokawa threw 109 pitches and retired the side in the ninth, striking out Marcus Doi to end it as the Vuls trimmed the Rainbow Warriors’ lead in the series to 108-21 and 46-8 in Hilo.
“It’s our biggest rival,” Kurokawa said, “but I just wanted to go out with a clear mind and help my team win.
“My defense looks clutch this year.”
Softball sweeps
Billi Derleth pitched a four-hit shutout against Western Oregon and the Vulcans received two fine pitching performances in winning twice at the Dixie State Softball Tournament in St. George, Utah.
Victoria Garcia cranked a two-run home run to back Derleth in a in a 3-0 victory against Western New Mexico (3-10).
Derleth, a freshman, struck out seven and walked two.
Earlier in the day, Danielle Wilson didn’t allow a run in four innings as UH-Hilo (6-5) defeated Western Oregon (2-4) 9-2.
“Our pitchers did a really good job of picking each other up and hitting their spots,” Vulcans coach Peejay Brun said.
Cristina Menjivar delivered an RBI double and a two-run single, Brandi Wilson was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and Brittany Huff hit a two run double.
On Sunday, UH-Hilo finishes tournament play against Montana State and Western Washington, two teams it lost to Friday.
“We’ll see if we’ve made the adjustments,” Brun said.
Tennis wins as well
Kainoa Rosa won his singles match in straight sets and teamed with Stefan Coney for a doubles win, and Gregory Zukeran, Ryuta Ogawa, Daniel Tada and Ryan Torio also won matches as UH-Hilo beat Sonoma State for the second time this season, 6-3 in Waipahu, Oahu.
The Lady Vulcans tripped Chaminade again, 7-2, getting singles victories from Kinsey Volkart, Chelsea Sato, Anne Carsey, Shanise Kaaikala, Megan Fujitake. The tandems of Volkart/Kaaikala and Fujitake Carsey won in doubles.
