Baba Lancaster, who has guided his Little League teams to the doorstep of the World Series, has been hired as the next Hilo High baseball coach.
Lancaster is a 1987 Hilo graduate, who played under legendary coach Eugene “Buzzy” Capellas, and has strong ties to youth baseball.
His Hilo All-Stars lost in the state tournament that Honolulu captured and later claimed the World Series.
“I want to try and make a difference with these kids,” he said. “It’s a dream come true for me. It’s pretty much the ultimate job I wanted. I’m honored to have been selected to be the Hilo High baseball coach. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be coaching my alumni.
“I’ve been coaching kids since the youth level getting them to the next level. Now, I get to coach them at the next level.”
The Vikings finished 10-6 as the BIIF Division I runner-up and lost to Leilehua for a spot to the HHSAA tournament.
In the postseason against Waiakea and Leilehua, Hilo committed nine errors in three games, a gaping hole in the wall for Lancaster to fix.
“It’ll take a lot of reps,” he said. “We’re going to play the best player at each position.”
Hilo will have a new-look roster with the loss of seven starters, including outfielder Micah Bello, pitcher/sluggers Ryan Ragual, Donald Saltiban Jr., and Nainoa Kane-Yates, who moved to Kauai.
Lancaster emphasized that he’ll carry the same philosophy that galvanized his Little Leaguers over to the Vikings.
“The discipline has to be steady,” he said. “I’ve been watching the teams, and Rory (Inouye) brought discipline to Waiakea. Those players listened to what he had to say.
“For me, I don’t like boneheaded stuff. If a kid is flying his hat or bat, I don’t tolerate that stuff. If I see that happening, you’re sitting down.”
Lancaster has coached the Wong brothers (Kolten and Kean) and has long observed their steady composure and discipline on and off the field.
Back in 2006, he was on coach Kaha Wong’s staff for the Hilo All-Stars, which included Kean and Kiani Wong, that captured the Cal Ripken World Series.
“I’ve been coaching youth sports so long that I know one thing scouts look for is attitude whether it’s college or the pros,” Lancaster said. “If your attitude sucks, they’re not going to look at you. That’s what I instill in my kids and will bring to Hilo. My goal is to get them into college or pro ball.”
It’s the first time in a long time that two coaches from the league’s top programs stepped down at the same time. (Hilo and Waiakea have combined to pocket the last 12 BIIF titles.)
Hilo’s Tony De Sa and Waiakea’s Inouye are still teachers at their schools but have moved off the diamond.
Waiakea has yet to name its baseball coach and like Hilo has lost several top players, including pitcher David Nakamura and infielders Trayden Tamiya, Casey Yamauchi and catcher Jacob Igawa.
The Warriors return young talent in Hawaii commit Stone Miyao, young sluggers Kala‘i Rosario and Safea Villaruz-Mauai and pitcher Cody Hirata.
Kane-Yates is a promising talent and big loss. His uncle Tyler Yates pitched in the majors, and his other uncle Kirby Yates is with the San Diego Padres.
Hilo is far from cupboard bare. Shortstop Maui Ahuna returns after a summer spent with the USA Baseball 16U national team development program.
The Vikings return catchers Ryan Cabreira and Paul Anthony, outfielder Dayson Urbanozo-Moses, and pitcher Ocean Gabonia.
Kekoa Ogawa, who saw spot action on the mound as a freshman, is one current Viking who played for Lancaster.
But in his book, that counts for nothing.
“He played for me, and my core may be freshmen. I applied before they went to school,” Lancaster said. “I told them they have to earn their starts. They understand that even if they’re my kids that they’ve got to work extra hard now. I’m going to put the best nine on the field, bottom line. It doesn’t matter if you played for me or your dad is on the coaching staff.
“I want to bring that winning spirit back to the school, but it’s not only that. Every coach wants winning seasons, but I want to get the kids to the next level, college or the pros. Coaching is all about life lessons. They learn the game of baseball and hopefully lessons in life.”
Lancaster’s latest Majors project (ages 11-12) was a developmental achievement, built around Makenna Wakakuwa and son Legend Lancaster.
The two youngsters stepped up after the bulk of the team moved on because of age expiration. That 2017 ballclub made a summer run at the World Series, before losing in the West Regional.
Those young Vikings will be the next wave of upcoming players, but as Lancaster repeatedly noted they’ll have to earn their spots.
