The Konawaena baseball team is under new management heading into the 2015 season as a familiar face from the past returns to take over the Wildcat program.
Adam Tabieros, a 2002 graduate of Konawaena, moved to the mainland shortly after graduation to go to college and play baseball. He first attended Diablo Valley College before transferring to California State East Bay, where he earned a degree in Kinesiology.
“I went to school to become a physical education teacher and wanted to be a coach,” Tabieros said. “While I was working as a personal trainer, a couple of the nurses I was helping got me a job at John Muir Hospital, working in the trauma center.”
It was here that Tabieros discovered his dream job after seeing the firefighters coming into the center.
He set out to make his dream come true and that is when the Big island called him back home. Tabieros moved back to the island for his firefighting recruit training, but he never gave up on coaching.
“On the mainland, I was coaching little league while working at the trauma center, and I started working as a JV and varsity assistant coach at Las Lomas High School.”
After the move, Tabieros was approached by a couple of community members who asked him if he was interested in coaching at Konawaena.
“I thought I was just going to help out, but I was named the head coach,” Tabieros said. “This has always been a dream of mine. I love coaching and working with the boys. I have very lucky to have two great jobs.”
Tabieros is taking over a team with a solid core of returning starters including Shelton Grace, Logan Canda, Kelsy Katayama, Skye Suzuki and Koa Basque.
Grace is the captain of the squad. He is the No. 1 starter on the hill and will play shortstop when not pitching. He will hit out of the No. 3 hole.
“Shelton is a fierce, confident competitor, and a good leader,” Tabieros said. “Everyone feeds off him.”
Canda is a multitool player, who is the team’s No. 2 pitcher and will start at short and third. He will bat behind Grace.
“Logan works very hard and is a very upbeat, positive teammate,” Tabieros said. “He is a smart thrower on the mound and brings a lot of pop to the lineup.”
Katayama and Basque will make up two-thirds of the outfield. Katayama will start in right and Basque will be in left.
“Kelsy covers a lot of ground and is very coachable,” Tabieros said. “Koa is a very good kid and has all the tools to become really great. He works hard and is very humble.”
Suzuki will start at either second or third, and has already made a name for himself in the preseason with a walk-off hit against Kealakehe.
“He is very smart and has good hands in the batters box,” Tabieros said. “He can hit for average and power.”
Also returning to the team in 2015 are Phillip Grace and Vohn Yamaguchi.Grace can play multiple positions including catcher, shortstop, second base, and outfield. Yamaguchiwill start in center.
“Phillip is a guy that has all the tools. He has a quick bat, is fast on the base path, and plays relaxed but also with an edge,” Tabieros said. “Vohn can cover a lot of ground in the outfield and has a great work ethic.”
Behind the plate is Tyler Kitaoka.
“Tyler is a guy that is very fundamental,” Tabieros said. “He has an above average arm and can take charge of a game.”
The Wildcats also have four freshmen that will make an immediate impact this season. These new faces are Kolu Alani, Andrew Udac, Stevie Texiera and AJ Allred.
Alani is the team’s No. 3 pitcher and can also play third. Udac will see time at second and Texiera, who hit a home run during the preseason tournament, provides pop at the plate and can also pitch. Allred provides a decent bat and arm in the outfield.
Anthony Ward gets the call at first base.
“Anthony provides pop with the bat and likes to hit both ways,” Tabieros said. “He has a very good glove and is a good kid.”
Trey Basque also made the squad and is looking to learn and get better after being away from the game for a while, according to Tabieros.
With his unit ready to start the season on Saturday, Tabieros has one goal in place, he wants to make the state tournament.
“I expect them to play to the best of their ability and work hard in practice just like it is a game situation,” Tabieros said. “If we can play like we are supposed to, then we will be a force to be reckoned with.”