Trying something new and different recently, Hilo High seniors Ocean Gabonia and Ryan Cabreira were essentially on loan from the baseball team during their first go-around at 1-meter diving.
It was an eye-opening experience, especially for Cabreira, who just returned from the state championships.
“It was just for fun,” Gabonia said.
That’s not to say the games are over, but there were always more pressing matters ahead.
When the clock struck zero Wednesday night at the BIIF boys basketball championships at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, it officially became baseball season across the way at Wong Stadium.
“All business now,” Cabreira said. “It’s go-time.”
The Stanley Costales Preseason Baseball Tournament, which begins Thursday, wasn’t around yet during Baba Lancaster’s days as a Viking, but the first-year coach, a 1987 Hilo graduate, does have a tradition he’d like to rekindle from his playing days.
In 1985, three sophomores known as the “B Boys” – Blaine Medeiros, Lancaster and Bruce Ferreira – helped the Vikings claim their only state championship under coach Eugene Capellas.
“Our goal is to get to the next level and win the state tournament (one day),” Lancaster said. “Bring it back to Hilo High.
“Everybody is competing real hard for starting positions. From what I’ve seen so far, I’m very impressed. I like what I see.”
The Vikings – the recent BIIF Division I champs in odd years (2013, ‘15, ‘17) and runners-up behind Waiakea in even ones (2014, ‘16, ‘18) – return a solid core that includes Gabonia, Cabreira, Maui Ahuna and Dayson Moses, but they must replace seven starters from a team that went 10-6, including a loss to Leilehua in a state play-in game.
A longtime youth baseball coach, Lancaster was already familiar with most of his players, but now he gets his biggest chance to put his imprint on the game at the next level, and he’s coming out of the gates focusing on fundamentals.
“We’re trying to stress defense, whoever makes the least errors will win the game,” Lancaster said.
When asked about their coach’s fielding-first philosophy, Gabonia and Cabreira echoed the same sentiment: make plays.
In other sports, that can mean a player making a big play, but Hilo has the routine ones in mind. The Viks were undone by nine errors in their three postseason losses, two to Waiakea, in 2018.
“It was one of the big issues,” said Gabonia, the team’s ace. “A lot of it was errors.”
“It’s more of a family thing this season,” he said of the team as a whole.
Cabreira, a catcher, saw everything unfold in front of him last season.
“(Errors) definitely cost us a couple of games,” he said.
“I need to keep everything in check and make sure everybody goes to class and make grades,” Cabreira said, “because we need everybody.”
Even on Lancaster’s best youth baseball teams, which featured an all-star at every spot in the lineup, he often liked to play small-ball, and he’s not going to quit what got him here.
“If you swing for the fences and you’re playing for me, you’ll be sitting right next to me,” he said. “Baseball is shooting the gaps.”
“Manufacture runs, hit-and-run, put the ball in play. Everybody needs to learn how to bunt. If you can’t bunt, I’ll find somebody else.”
The middle of the order figures to include Ahuna at shortstop, Gabonia, an infielder when he’s not pitching, Moses in the outfield and Cabreira behind the plate. Hilo will build from there with players such as senior infielder/pitcher Sabu Kahee, junior catcher Paul Antony, sophomore infielder/pitcher Kelden Ogawa and Micah Freeman, a senior who Lancaster said worked hard to earn his varsity spot.
Other arms include juniors Jayger Ganigan, Logan Wilson and Titus Sato.
“Solid,” Cabreira said of the team’s pitching. “We have a lot.”
Lancaster stressed that every position is up for grabs at the Costales tournament, but make no mistake: the next wave of Vikings has arrived in the form of freshman Kaynan Kaku, Xaige Lancaster and Kaimana Kuamoo, a left-hander. Those three players filled large roles on the Hilo Little League team that Baba Lancaster coached to within two games of reaching the World Series in 2017.
“I’m pretty sure they’re going to have a big impact,” the coach said. “They’ve played in a lot of big tournaments, they can handle the pressure.
“I have a good bunch of eighth-graders coming in next year, too.”
He’s also amassed a small army of coaches that includes three former pro players like himself: former Vikings Ridge Hoopii-Haslam and Cortney Arruda, as well as Waiakea alum Chad Canda. Mixed martial artist Timothy Meeks runs conditioning and Ferreira and Randy Riley also are on the staff. Riley’s battle with cancer was one of the inspirations for the 2017 Little League team, but Riley said his cancer is in remission.
“I’m just honored and blessed to be coaching in my own ohana,” Lancaster said. “I just hope I can make a difference.”
This being BIIF Division I baseball, the Vikings will compare themselves against Waiakea, and the rivals’ first of two regular season meetings is opening day, Feb, 26, at Wong.
Separately, Gabonia and Cabreira were both asked to size up the competition. Maybe it’s a diving thing, but they once again echoed the same thought: I think we’re going to be on the up and up with them.
Honoring Sid
During the Costales tournament, Sidney Nozaki will be honored as the sportsman of the year for his commitment to Hilo High athletics and to youth sports in general.
After 37 years of teaching, Nozaki retired in 2015 but continues to assist the school’s CTE curriculum in the Special Needs Program and volunteers when needed.
Stanley Costales Preseason Baseball Tournament
Thursday
Kealakehe vs. Hilo, 1 p.m.
Waiakea vs. Kamehameha-HI, 4 p.m.
Kauai vs. Hilo, 7 p.m.
Friday
Kamehameha vs. Kauai, 1 p.m.
Kealakehe vs. Waiakea, 4 p.m.
Opening ceremonies, 6:45 p.m.
Farrington vs. Hilo, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Hilo II vs. Farrington, 9 a.m.
Kauai vs Waiakea, noon
Farrington vs. Kamehameha, 3 p.m.
