For the last four seasons, Kamehameha has won the BIIF Division II championship with a different senior ace. ADVERTISING For the last four seasons, Kamehameha has won the BIIF Division II championship with a different senior ace. Last season, it
For the last four seasons, Kamehameha has won the BIIF Division II championship with a different senior ace.
Last season, it was Malu Peralta, who’s at Eastern Arizona, followed by Chay Toson (Olympic College) in 2014, Kupono Decker (College San Mateo) in ’13, and Kaimana Moike in ’12.
Reese Mondina, the No. 2 pitcher last year, transferred to Waiakea. The sophomore left-hander’s departure kept the door open for another senior ace.
The likely candidates are right-handers Daylen Calicdan, also the second baseman, and 6-foot-3 Brandyn Lee-Lehano, who’s the hardest thrower on the team and the BIIF bowling runner-up.
Maybe a couple of youngsters, like sophomore Justyce Ishii or freshmen Tai Atkins or Bula Ahuna, step up and break tradition or one of the position players pull double duty.
“Brandyn has size and potential,” coach Andy Correa said. “Daylen throws strikes and mixes his pitches. Kai keeps the ball down and throws strikes.
“Our pitching is OK. We’ve got a lot of guys who can throw.”
First baseman Kolbie Kinzie and shortstop Jai Cabatbat, both juniors, catcher DallasJ Duarte and fellow sophomore Kahi Tolentino could also see time on the mound.
Another strong tradition has been an annual centerpiece hitter.
The last three BIIF D-II players of the year have been from Kamehameha: Kobi Candaroma in 2015, dual-threat Toson in ’14 and Bronson Pulgados in ’13. (In 2012, there was an East-West format.)
The Warriors have experienced hitters up and down the lineup, going around the infield with Duarte, Kinzie, Calicdan, Cabatbat and senior third baseman Makana Aiona.
In the outfield, junior Kegan Miura and senior Baron Victorino are returning starters. Kaylen Cabatu-Gapusan, a senior, saw spot action last year while Lee-Lehano took swings at designated hitter.
There aren’t any green hitters that need seasoning, and only Aiona, Victorino, Cabatu-Gapusan and Lee-Lehano are seniors.
It’s a nice luxury with veteran hitters and youth on their side.
Duarte, a 5-foot-8 package of athleticism, landed on the All-BIIF first team, along with Kinzie and old guys Aiona and Calicdan last season.
Cabatbat, Miura, Victorino and Lee-Lehano received All-BIIF honorable mention. (There was no second team.)
Last season, the Warriors stormed through the BIIF postseason’s best-of-three game series, sweeping Hawaii Prep in the semifinals and Konawaena in the championship.
The Ka Makani graduated their top players in All-BIIF first team picks DJ Sekiya and Cyrus Inglis, and Koa Ellis while the BIIF runner-up Wildcats lost Shelton Grace and Kelsey Katayama.
Make room at Kamehameha’s trophy case at the school, and the team should be a juggernaut, right?
“I don’t know,” Correa said. “Throughout the preseason, we haven’t hit with men on base.”
Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing.
A Hall of Famer said that, and it wasn’t Yogi Berra. That was attributed to southpaw Warren Spahn.
Kamehameha’s campaign for a fifth consecutive BIIF title starts in Pahala in a season-opener.
There’s a long way to go to find a new ace, but there’s no better time to start hitting for Correa’s veteran Warriors.
