To baseball coach Kallen Miyataki, UH-Hilo’s magic number is zero.
Mission accomplished.
Considering the Vulcans’ work in the classroom and the community, he said he won’t mind if UHH fails to secure a winning season – though the likelihood of success here is growing greater by the day – and he’s not going to spend much time thinking about it.
For seniors Kyle Yamada and Mana Manago, the magic number is definitely three.
“It’s in the back of everyone’s mind,” Yamada said. “I’ll go out and say it. Coach might not want to, but I’ll say it for him.”
A drama-filled and rain-delayed sweep of Holy Names on Saturday night boosted the Vuls, winners of 10 in a row, to 20-15. That leaves them just three wins short of securing the program’s first winning season since 1992 with 10 games remaining. UHH (16-10 PacWest) has a chance to chop that number down to one when its hosts the Hawks (13-23, 8-13) for another doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Wong Stadium on senior night.
“We definitely talk about it,” Manago said, “all the time. It’s the first thing that comes to mind, we haven’t had a winning season in a long time.”
In fact, Manago takes matters one step forward.
“Ending the streak,” he said, “but even more, the possibility of reaching regionals.”
Regionals?
Yes, regionals.
The Vuls are in third place in the PacWest with a chance to leapfrog second-place Point Loma (27-14, 15-8) when the teams play a four-game series in San Diego later in the month. UHH finishes the season at fourth-place Biola.
UHH didn’t crack the top 10 in the latest Division II West Region Poll, but the Vuls got a vote and were unofficially 13th.
Heavy lifting to be sure, but postseason possibilities are nice to think about for once.
“Ever since I’ve been here, we’ve never talked about it, it’s never been a topic of discussion,” Manago said. “Now it comes up, and it’s nice to talk about.”
The Vuls will say farewell to 13 seniors in all Monday, a list that also includes RJ Romo, Kamalu Neal, Dylan Sugimoto, Nick Asuncion, Marcus Calamese, Devan Elson, Coryn Iwamasa, Mikey Rita, Theron Shigematsu, Jordan Tagawa and Thomas Warren.
Miyataki appreciates them all, including Calamese — a hero Saturday night — and Asuncion, who has made himself a fixture on the dean’s list.
But Yamada and Manago stand out not only for their play and longevity.
“Character-wise, they’re players I’d use as models in recruiting,” Miyataki said.
Manago, a three-year contributor at second base, has come a long way, his coach, said, especially in the classroom.
“Coming out of high school (Saint Louis in Honolulu) I wasn’t going to play,” Manago said. “A few offers, but I didn’t want to go to the mainland, and this kind of popped up.”
His bat’s popped this season.
Manago’s average got so high that his dad couldn’t help but bring it to his attention.
“I said, ‘Really, dad, you just told me about it,”’ Manago said. “Absolute slump (followed). Terrible.”
On Monday, don’t expect Terrance Manago to mention his son’s .333 batting average while he’s present.
“This (winning streak) has given us a chance to show who we actually are and how we are supposed to play,” Manago said. “It’s a grind is an easy thing to say, but the grind is easier when you have teammates like this.”
Yamada has been a fixture in the starting lineup since his freshman season.
Miyataki penciled him into the top of lineup in left field back during the 2016 season-opening series against UH-Manoa.
The only thing that’s changed is Yamada has moved to center field. On Monday, Miyataki will pencil him in as “Mr. Durable” or “Mr. Dependable.”
“Still the same player that I watched his senior season in high school,” Miyataki said. “Brings that same fire and hasn’t changed a bit.”
Batting a team-high .341, Yamada, of Loomis, Calif., is on track to play 40 games for the fourth year in a row.
“A lot of lows and a few highs, but we’re starting to hit more highs now,” Yamada said. “Playing with these guys everyday, making the friendships that you do here, it makes up for all the lows that we’ve had.”
He’s set to graduate with a degree in accounting next month, reaching his goal of making it in four years.
Mission accomplished?
Not yet.
“Hopefully we can get a few more wins,” he said. “Whoever decides who gets into regionals, we want to make it a tough choice for them.”
