The preseason is precious for Keaau, which faces a big experience gap compared to its big-school East Hawaii brethren.
The Cougars have no time to spare to the weather, so they’re hitting the road again — deep in the heart of Wildcat country in Kealakekua — to host their baseball invitational.
In West Hawaii, coach Herb Yasuhara said Keaau can pretty much pencil in three games during the next three days, and the results will go a long way toward how he pencils in his starting lineup once the Big Island Interscholastic Federation season opens March 15.
“Small numbers, and we’ve got kids that try out that have no experience in baseball,” Yasuhara said. “Maybe four or five guys with returning varsity experience, but the rest will come from junior varsity. We’ve basically got to start from ground zero.”
Yasuhara admits the Cougars will have to play a “perfect game” just to stay in contests against fellow Division I teams Hilo and Waiakea. However, all four D-I clubs advance to the playoffs, where Yasuhara said the new best-of-three semifinals setup — starting with a doubleheader — favors Keaau.
“They’ll need two pitchers, where in the past they beat us with just one,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Cougars have a reliable arm returning in right-hander sophomore Keian Kanetani and possibly a second in junior left-hander Justin Quesada. Kanetani was perhaps Keaau’s most dependable starter last year as a freshman, pitching Keaau to a rare victory against Hilo, compiling a sparkling 1.45 ERA.
“Keian has a good fastball and curveball and he can throw strikes,” Yasuhara said. “He’s battle-tested. For a sophomore, he swings the bat well. He’s definitely a line-dive, contact hitter.”
Quesada worked out of the bullpen, but could be poised to take on a larger role this year, which would allow Kanetani to spend more time at shortstop.
“Justin looks great in the bullpen without a batter,” Yasuhara said. “Put somebody looking at him with a mean face, maybe we get something else. We’ll see in Kona.”
Whoever is on the mound can rely on a dependable backstop in Rason Martines, a four-year contributor at catcher and the only senior. Martines hit cleanup last season and batted .294, and the coaching staff trusts his knowledge of the game enough to let him call the pitches.
“It’s kind of an honor,” said Martines, the captain. “They know I can call pitches and know the right things to call. The pitchers don’t shake me off.
“More pressure on me this year, but it makes it a challenge.”
Yasuhara likes his speed in the outfield. Quesada will see time at center field when he’s not pitching. Byron Cachola played right field last season and hit .303, but the junior might play first base this season.
The second baseman will likely be Anson Kauwe, whom Yasuhara calls a “baseball guy.”
Martines likes the freshman’s makeup.
“He knows the basics,” he said. “How to field, how to hit. He can pitch, too.”