Numbers and statistics seem to matter more in baseball, and to that end it’d be understandable if UH-Hilo didn’t want to talk about the one that’s become notoriously associated with the program.
The subject, however, doesn’t appear to be taboo this season.
Coach Kallen Miyataki greets the topic of the Vulcans’ streak of 26 consecutive seasons with disinterest, not disdain.
“What is it?” he asked. ‘“If they graduate, which they have, we’re averaging anywhere from eight to 12 grads every year, I guess we’re winning.
“Our (grade point average) is getting better, we’re supporting the community, we’re hopefully doing things the right way. My intention is to always win (on the field), but if you ask me we’re winning already.”
And more could be on the horizon.
Miyataki doesn’t pay much attention to the streak, but closer John Kea does to some degree.
“Hopefully, we’ll break .500 this year,” he said, “but it takes a whole team to do it.”
Yes, Kea went there, but not without good reason. The sophomore right-hander sees a natural progression. UHH increased its win total by 13 in 2018, going 21-27 — its best season in eight years included series splits against two regional playoff teams, California Baptist and Point Loma.
“We always had the talent, but guys had to work hard,” said Kea, who is happy to have seen a rise in player commitment and accountability since he arrived from Oahu. “I believe this program is definitely going up.”
More on the bats and gloves in Friday’s edition – the Vuls open the season that day against Hawaii Pacific in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Wong Stadium– but it’s the pitching side of the ledger that accounted for two-thirds of the Vulcans’ preseason all-Pacific West Conference selections, staff ace Dylan Spain and Kea, the ace of the bullpen.
The trio – senior outfielder/first baseman RJ Romo is the other – represent a quantum leap for UHH, which hadn’t seen a player earn preseason accolades since 2012 and hadn’t had three since 2010, back when the PacWest had five teams, not nine like this season.
“Everybody sees that you made it,” Kea said, “but it doesn’t stop there, and it doesn’t mean you’re the best”
“Without these guys,” he said, pointing to his teammates playing an intrasquad scrimmage, “that wouldn’t be possible.”
Spain was a 6-foot-6, 175-pounder last season who went 4-7 in 14 starts, dominating quality competition at times and accumulating a 3.54 ERA with 58 strikeouts and 22 walks in 76 1/3 innings.
Adding weight was an offseason goal, and Miyataki said the junior is up to 190 pounds, giving him a little more juice on his fastball.
The sixth-year coach expects Spain to draw the attention of scouts for his first draft-eligible season, though he hopes his right-hander will try to dazzle hitters and note-takers with his command, not his added velocity.
“He’s finding that with velocity, everyone can hit,” Miyataki said, “he has to learn how to pitch. In order to move to the upper ranks, it’s about pitching, not about throwing hard.”
A pair of sophomore inning-eaters are back looking to build off debut campaigns, Travis Alcorn, a classic crafty left-hander, and the multidimensional Travis Burleson, a harder throwing right-hander.
Alcorn (3-3, 4.90 ERA in 2018), who will likely get the start in Friday’s first game with Spain going at night, will try to limit his walks after issuing 27 in 60 2/3 innings with 40 strikeouts.
“I think we’re bringing back a pretty solid (pitching) foundation,” Romo said. “I think (they’ve) all elevated their games.”
Miyataki is always tempted to try the versatile Burleson (4-7, 3.96 ERA) elsewhere – he can catch or play corner infield – but he made his mark on the mound early last season with seven shutout innings against Saint Martin’s and six more against Cal Baptist, racking up 57 strikeouts in 63 2/3 inning with just 16 bases on balls.
Burleson reeled off seven starts last season in which he went at least five innings and gave up no more than two runs.
“He’s coming around,” Miyataki said. “Atlanta said they clocked him in the summer at 93 (miles per hour), but I don’t think he’s going to throw 93 (yet).
“He was overthrowing (in a scrimmage), but we settled him down. He started pitching and we looked at him and he started laughing and said, ‘I got it.”’
Right-hander Christian Sadler is the front-runner for the fourth spot in the rotation. The junior transfer formerly played at Contra Costa (Calif.) college, going 3-5 with 4.09 ERA (66 innings, 33 Ks, 21 BBs) in 2018.
To bridge the gap to get the ball to Kea, the options include 6-4 junior Kekai Mahiko (18 2/3 innings, 3.37 ERA) and true freshman Jacob Morales, as well as a pair of local products.
Miyataki said Jordan Tagawa, the 2014 Hilo grad and Menlo College alum already has a degree, one of the biggest surprises of the preseason camp.
“He’s very unorthodoxed,” Miyataki said.
He also has faith in junior Brandyn Lee-Lehano, who has seven career starts since graduating from Kamehameha in 2016 and can be imposing on the mound with a 6-5 frame and 92 mph fastball.
“If he can control himself, he’ll be fine,” Miyataki said.
Kea flourished in his first year as a pitcher, establishing a Vulcans record with nine saves during his redshirt freshman season, and finishing 3-2 with a 3.28 ERA.
Kea was an outfielder at Saint Louis School in Honolulu, but during his redshirt season he heeded the call when his coach was looking to try out new arms.
“I came back for my redshirt freshman season,” he said, “and coach was like, ‘Hey you’re going to pitch. You’re on the mound.”’
The hope is more factors will fall into place this season.