On a recent day at Kamehameha’s baseball practice, the players moved to different drill stations like clockwork, a disciplined approach that each senior class passes down to the next wave of ballplayers.
On a recent day at Kamehameha’s baseball practice, the players moved to different drill stations like clockwork, a disciplined approach that each senior class passes down to the next wave of ballplayers.
The Warriors are the five-time defending BIIF Division II champions. The program, under coach Andy Correa, reached its pinnacle last season with the HHSAA state championship, a 5-4 win in eight innings over Kapolei at Wong Stadium.
Correa is quick to point out that the state title was built on the backs of previous Warrior teams, which finished second three times in 2010, ’13 and ’14.
Kamehameha begins its quest for another double scoop of title glory with its BIIF season opener against Honokaa at 3 p.m. Tuesday at its home field.
“We can’t rely on what happened last year. That team is done,” Correa said. “We have to execute better on offense and not rely on one or two hitters. We have to play better defense because our pitching is young.”
In other BIIF games, it’s Waiakea at Keaau, and Pahoa at Kohala, also 3 p.m. starts.
Kamehameha first baseman Kobie Kinzie remembers the 2015 season well because it was the Great Job opening: seven starting seniors graduated the previous year.
The Warriors who won starting spots became the backbone of last year’s state title team: Kinzie, shortstop Jai Cabatbat, third baseman Makana Aiona, catcher DallasJ Duarte, and left fielder Kegan Miura. Second baseman/closer Daylen Calicdan was a four-year starter.
The only starting seniors left are Kinzie, Cabatbat, and Miura. Duarte, who started as a freshman, is a junior and will also see time in the infield.
When Kinzie takes a stroll down memory lane, he thinks about a pair of 2014 Kamehameha graduates: pitcher/outfielder Chay Toson, who’s at Olympic (Wash.) College, and catcher Makoa Rosario, who’s at Central Arizona College.
“I just remember Chay and Makoa for their work ethic,” said Kinzie, a member of Kaha Wong’s Big Island Wood Bat Academy, who’s considering college offers.
Besides the work ethic baton passing, Kamehameha’s other great tradition is its senior ace history. For the last five years, a senior pitcher has stepped up to lead as staff ace; last season it was Brandyn Lee-Lehano.
Kinzie, Cabatbat, and Miura will stick to hitting. Sophomore left-hander Tai Atkins is the most accomplished pitcher, evaporating Saint Francis 9-1 in the state semifinals with 13 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Next to Atkins, junior right-hander Justyce Ishii is the most experienced. Correa likes the potential of sophomore Braeden Coloma.
Other pitching options are freshmen Zakaia Michaels and Kalani Marquez, and junior Kyran Kai, also a returning starter in right field.
At second base, Kai, Duarte, and junior Kalai Klask-Hoopii will share time to fill Calicdan’s big shoes.
Sophomore Dustin Asuncion and freshman Ridge Ishii are leading contenders for the third base job.
Sophomore Bula Ahuna will be the designated hitter, and senior Sonny Penrose, junior Kekona Naipo-Arsiga, and Marquez will battle for time in the outfield and at DH.
Time to lead
Cabatbat, Kinzie, and Miura all started as sophomores, won a state crown as juniors, and are now tasked as senior leaders.
All three plan to major in business in college. Cabatbat signed with Hawaii Pacific. Miura is looking at colleges on the West coast.
“The three of us are close. We can always count on each other,” Cabatbat said. “Kegan is a funny guy. He’s always got a funny line with his comments. Kobie is the type of guy to get your mind right.
“The team has a lot of potential and good talent. We have to work together and get the job done.”
Cabatbat, Kinzie, and Penrose were on the BIIF champion Kamehameha bowling team. Cabatbat and Penrose also competed at states.
Miura gets his competitive edge from his uncle Shaye Miura, a UH-Hilo assistant coach and former Waiakea standout.
“It’s always a competition between us in anything,” Miura said. “I give him a lot of credit because he’s not only motivated me but also he’s one guy I can go to as a hitting coach and as an uncle.
“We’ve got a young team, and that’s nice. The team is eager. We just have to get everyone working hard. You need to have fun coming to practice every day. Kobie can be stern, and it’s a good balance we have on the team.”
Kinzie joked that a CKM business company probably won’t work because the trio would give each other headaches.
Time flies
In a blink of an eye, Kinzie turned into a senior, and he knows the clock is ticking on his time with his two pals, Cabatbat and Miura.
“We all hang out,” Kinzie said. “They all see me as stern, but I just like to get stuff done. Kegan is definitely a clown, and Jai is in the middle. We came in as freshmen, and in our sophomore year there were seven spots open, and we stepped up.
“We’re seniors now. Looking back to my freshman year, Chay and Makoa set a good example for us. Those guys made a big impact on us.”
Leave it to Miura, the guy with the quick wit, to mention the serious business of maintaining Kamehameha’s blueprint: a work ethic set by seniors.
“It was nice that we grew up together at Kamehameha and worked together,” Miura said. “The four years went by so fast. We’re doing the same thing we did when we were freshmen because we saw the hard work the seniors did before us.
“We want to keep the program the same way that coach Andy has built.”