HILO – If first-year Waiakea baseball coach Eric Kurosawa had his way, this story previewing the Warriors would consist of only three paragraphs.
“Just happy with the boys,” Kurosawa said. “Goods kids. Very respectable.”
Done.
Sorry, coach, the story must go on. The first three batters in Waiakea’s lineup Saturday at the Stanley Costales Memorial Baseball Tournament were worthy of multiple paragraphs all by themselves.
Senior Stone Miyao has signed to play at the University of Hawaii, junior Kalai Rosario appears to be on a Division I college trajectory as well and junior Safea Villaruz-Mauai, who has already committed to UH.
“Very well-seasoned,” Kurosawa said. “Just very fortunate to be coaching good players like this.”
A longtime hitting instructor and youth baseball coach in the area, Kurosawa wouldn’t mind in the slightest if Waiakea were underplayed heading into the BIIF season – “We haven’t done anything yet,” he said.
But he also knows the Warriors aren’t going to sneak up on anyone, especially after consecutive runner-up finishes at the HHSAA Division I tournament under former coach Rory Inouye.
“We’re trying to find our core 12-15 guys that want to play,” Kurosawa said. “Trying to find those regulars who can always contribute. We’re finding a very unselfish bunch of kids.”
Senior Cody Hirata, who fired a one-hit masterpiece in the 2018 state semifinals against Kailua, will get the ball in his share of big games this year as the Warriors seek to repeat in the BIIF for the first time since the school did so in 2012, while moving on without left-hander David Nakamura, the reigning D-I Player of the Year
On Saturday, Waiakea used senior Khaden Victorino and Hirata on the mound to beat Kauai 5-1 at Wong Stadium. Villaruz-Mauai collected three hits and Miyao stroked a two-run single.
Hirata scuffled some in the sixth inning before mowing down the Red Raiders in the seventh.
“Look at the way he came on there with three pitches,” Kurosawa said. “He was walking and hitting guys and he just came up with three pitches and we’re out of an inning.”
The Warriors also must replace the all-BIIF double play duo of Casey Yamauchi and Trayden Tamiya.
While fielding was an issue for rival Hilo last season, Waiakea was sure-handed. Miyao (.397 average, .468, 20 RBIs in 2018) returns to shortstop after playing third base in 2018 to shore up the middle infield alongside what could be a platoon at second between Noah Ohara, Teagan Tamiya and Devin Midel.
“I’ve been playing short my whole life,” Miyao said. “That’s where I want to play.”
Villaruz-Mauai can man first base or designated hitter, and Kurosawa likes the way senior Devon Hirata has looked at third.
“I think were fine (defensively) compared to last year,” Miyao said. “It’s good. The guys playing now knew the had to move into spots, so we practiced last year together.”
Victorino (.310, .453, 9) was an all-BIIF utility selection last season. In addition to Cody Hirata and Victorino, other arms to fill what Kurosawa would like to see become a solid eight-man pitching staff include seniors Ty Honda and Rysen Ross, a left-hander, as well as Midel, a senior do-it-all who was the team’s closer at times last season, and Cody Min, a junior who also can catch.
Rosario (.538, .635, 22), a blossoming slugger, is the cornerstone of the outfield in center, and the candidates to flank him include Midel and juniors Haloa Lee and Kobe Kagimoto and senior Chris Hatakenaka-Gibbs.
Miyao played his first two years of high school ball at Hilo before transferring to Waiakea, so he’s been on each of the past two BIIF championship teams.
Asked to compare the rivals, Miyao said of Hilo, “They’re good. It’s going to be like very other year at BIIFs, big games.
“I’m ready to play Hilo in the first game of the season (Feb. 26).”
For those who follow youth baseball here, Miyao’s name has been at the forefront for a while.
He was on an ages 9-10 PONY team that lost a state title game in 2011 before helping to lead powerful 11-12 teams that won consecutive state titles in 2013 and 14.
“All my friends and teammates, they always make it fun for me,” Miyao said. “I practice everyday. I never get over (baseball).”
Though Kurosawa likes to remain understated, that’s definitely an attitude he can endorse.
