Cheri Atkins already has booked her flight to see the Hawaii baseball team’s weekend series against UC San Diego at Les Murakami Stadium, the first time fans will be allowed to attend this season.
It’s unpredictable when her son Tai Atkins, a freshman left-hander and Kamehameha graduate, will appear because he’s a reliever and has made just five appearances.
Atkins (0-0, 5.06 ERA in 5 1/3 innings) last appeared in a game in a 9-2 loss against UC Riverside on April 11. He recorded one out and struck out one.
Cheri flys in today and last saw Tai in August. His sister Presley, a junior at Christian Liberty, also will fly over.
“I’m so excited. He’s so independent. He never asks me to come,” Cheri said. “This time he called and said UH is allowing fans. I said, ‘Right on kid. If you want me there, then I want to see you.’ All he asked for is his sister.”
Tai may or may not get in a game, but he’s still got a long career. Plus, it’s the family reunion he’s looking toward.
He also thought about the seniors — pitchers Logan Pouelen and Calvin Turchin, infielders Alex Baeza, Matt Campos and Dustin Demeter, outfielder Adam Fogel, and catcher Tyler Murray — who will get a proper sendoff.
“I’m very excited and so is she. She’s coming on short notice and having to make some sacrifices just to make this series,” Tai said. “A lot of parents are stoked to see our seniors play their last games at the Les and send them off in their journeys to come.
“The fans coming this weekend are going to help give that spark to bounce back from our last series (1-3 against CSU Bakersfield), so that’s exciting to be ready for.”
Kapela Mauai won’t fly over, but for a good reason. His son, freshman and Waiakea graduate Safea Villaruz-Mauai, is out for the home series.
“He hurt his arm (sliding into second base), so he’ll rest this week,” Kapela said. “If he were playing, I would go and watch.”
Safea is hitting .299 in 28 games with one homer and 14 RBIs and has a .776 OPS.
Sophomore slugger Jacob Igawa has been an impact bat despite the increase in competitive levels, starting at Division III Pacific, then Divison II UH-Hilo before transferring to UH-Manoa.
The former Waiakea catcher is hitting .321 in 26 games with three homers and 18 RBIs and has a .908 OPS.
His dad, Jay, is flying over but not his mom, Zaida Igawa.
“It’s awesome that he gets to watch me play,” said Jacob, an engineering major. “I know he’s excited and I am, too. My mom had to stay back to help with Waiakea High School’s graduation.”
Lenn and Lyndell Miyao will be flying over to see freshman infielder Stone Miyao. The Waiakea High graduate, is hitting .270 in 27 games with a homer and 12 RBIs and has a .624 OPS.
Sophomore catcher DallasJ Duarte, a Kamehameha graduate, had shoulder surgery. He batted .320 in 10 games and had an .812 OPS.