Kamehameha pitcher Tai Atkins’ final stats didn’t look dominant, but his pure stuff (late-action moving fastball, big-bending curveball, deceptive changeup) was all day long against Konawaena, which just couldn’t get clean swings against the hard-throwing freshman left-hander.
The lanky 5-foot-10 Atkins fired six strong innings as the Warriors defeated the Wildcats 6-2 to sweep the BIIF Division II championship series on Saturday at Wong Stadium, where Kamehameha’s strength of pitching provided a definitive advantage. Brandyn Lee-Lehano fired an eight-hitter in a 10-1 win in Game 1.
“For a ninth grader, he has overpowering stuff and has good poise and demeanor on the mound,” Kamehameha coach Andy Correa said. “He has three pitches, fastball, curveball and changeup, and can pretty much throw all of them for strikes.”
Atkins did a solid for everyone: He was the pilot behind the team’s fifth straight BIIF Division II title, cemented fellow pitcher Lee-Lehano’s legacy as a senior championship ace and made quick work of Konawaena.
The last part allowed Kamehameha’s seniors and juniors to head out early to get ready for the school’s prom. That was a reason the BIIF championship game was moved up two hours. The finale lasted exactly two hours.
In six innings, Atkins allowed two runs on five hits and two walks and whiffed three. Through five innings, Atkins subdued the Wildcats and held them scoreless. Daylen Calicdan, one of four starting seniors, closed shop with the final frame. The other starting seniors are designated hitter Lee-Lehano, third baseman Makana Aiona, and center fielder Baron Victorino.
“I felt like today was the best pitching performance I had all year,” Atkins said. “My curveball was really working, and my change of speeds was big. I feel honored to do this (pitch in the BIIF championship). Not every freshman gets to play. I try to work as hard as I can.”
Atkins resembles Hilo junior right-hander Joey Jarneski, who also pitches from the third-base rubber and throws nothing straight. Both are short striders. They take a small step to the side and power their pitches almost as if they’re pitching from the stretch.
Like Jarneski, Atkins has overwhelming arm speed — the key to fastball velocity — even though he doesn’t take a step backward with his landing foot to build momentum. (To see the best short strider Google Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta.)
Konawaena scratched Atkins for two runs in the bottom of the sixth with three seeing-eye singles and a walk. Logan Canda, the No. 2 batter, singled up the middle, and Tyler Kitaoka walked. After Tevin Canda hit a 9-iron chip shot to left for a single to load the bases, Vohn Yamaguchi dumped a bloop two-run single to right field.
Logan Canda was the only one to pair hits for Kona, which left just four on base.
Atkins doesn’t go to a personal pitching coach. Instead he credits Kamehameha assistant Scott Tomita for helping his development. Atkins can also hit Google to see how Arrieta keeps his balance and maintains the same mechanics as a simple, short strider.
Meanwhile, Kona starter Tristan DeAguiar was rolling along and holding Kamehameha’s offense under a heavy blanket through four innings. The Warriors lead 1-0 lead after four frames.
But the Warriors eventually found their timing and put up a five-spot in the top of the fifth, and that was pretty much that.
DeAguiar went 4 2/3 innings in the loss. He allowed six runs (three unearned) on five hits and three walks and struck out three. Kolu Alani pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Calicdan and Jai Cabatbat each paired hits and Aiona had two RBIs for Kamehameha, which left nine runners on base.
The Warriors’ defense also came to play. Calicdan had two impressive scoops and sideway throws for putouts, and right fielder Kyran Kai made a standout running catch in the sixth.
Kamehameha (16-1) and Konawaena (11-7) both have berths to the HHSAA Division II state tournament, which will be held May 5-7 at Wong Stadium.
The Warriors tagged DeAguiar for an unearned run in the third inning when Calicdan singled and scored from first base when Cabatbat reached on an infield throwing error.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Wildcats set themselves up nicely when leadoff hitter Phillip Grace and No. 2 batter Logan Canda had consecutive singles, breaking up Atkins’ no-hit bid.
But Tyler Kitaoka couldn’t get a bunt down on two attempts and then struck out. Atkins got cleanup hitter Tevin Canda to hit into a double play to extinguish that threat.
In the fifth, DeAguiar’s pinpoint control deserted him, and the Warriors relied on patience to draw walks and hammered balls down the middle of the plate for five runs on three hits. It didn’t help that DeAguiar had an error that provided an extra out.
With one out DallasJ Duarte walked and later scored, and Lee-Lehano walked and that base on balls also came around to score. In between that sandwich of free passes, Aiona clobbered a two-run single. A wild pitch scored another run, and two others came in off DeAguiar’s error.
“Coach Scott has kept me under control in the strike zone, and he taught me how to throw my two-seamer,” said Atkins, who helped the Warriors to their fifth consecutive BIIF title and has three more years of promising growth.
Kamehameha 001 050 0 — 6 7 0
Konawaena 000 002 0 — 2 5 3
