WAILUKU - Na Koa Ikaika Maui baseball team has hit the field.
The Valley Isle's new team in the independent Golden Baseball League stepped on to the turf at Maehara Stadium on Sunday morning less than 12 hours after the state tournament wrapped up there.
And the team did so with four players who grew up in Maui County. Baldwin High School graduate Gered Mochizuki, Maui High's Joe Kala and St. Anthony's J.J. Pacheco had all been previously announced as part of the 34 players competing for 22 spots, but they arrived along with former Molokai star Ikaika Lester on Sunday.
Lester, who started on the mound as a freshman and sophomore in both of the Farmers' state championship game wins in 1999 and 2000, recently finished his degree at Lewis-Clark State in Lewiston, Idaho, where he played on two NAIA World Series championship teams.
Sunday, he was on the field where he won the second of those state titles, standing a solid 6-foot-1 and weighing 225 pounds. A week and a half ago, he got an invitation to spring training for Na Koa and he came home on Friday.
''I am really excited about the chance to play back here in front of family and friends,'' Lester said. ''It is pretty interesting and fun to be back here with the Maui guys. Usually I was playing against those guys here.
''It brings back memories, a lot of memories, being able to play where I played in high school, and we won a state championship here.''
Lester went to Lewis-Clark State as a pitcher, but arm problems turned him into a first baseman in his sophomore season. He also played some third base and right field after he returned to the Warriors after one season at Skagit Valley Community College.
In a league that will not have a designated hitter and where rosters are limited to 22, Lester's versatility could help him make Na Koa's squad. Manager Cory Snyder said that his roster will be 11 pitchers and 11 position players, and Lester said he could possibly help all over the place.
''I haven't pitched for a while, but I have been thinking about it,'' Lester said. ''My arm has been in good shape for a while, I haven't had any arm problems. I want to see what I can do with the bat first and see if I can make this team.''
Making the team is the focus for all of the Maui County foursome at this point and nothing is guaranteed.
Kala is one of five catchers here and only two will make the final cut. Pacheco is in a dogfight to make the team, but has infield utility capabilities that could help his cause. Mochizuki, who played in the New York Mets organization last year before being released two weeks into spring training this season, appears to have the best shot at making this team, most likely as a second baseman.
''I am very excited - I get to play in front of my family and friends,'' Mochizuki said. ''It is a kind of big deal for Hawaii kids to play in Hawaii, especially professional baseball. All the Hawaii guys on the team, they are very excited and we are getting along very well.''
The Maui trio has played baseball with and against each other since they were youngsters. Mochizuki graduated from Baldwin in 2003, went to Yavapai (Ariz.) Community College and finished his college career at Central Missouri in 2007. He then played two years in the independent Frontier League in the Midwest before signing with the Mets in 2009.
Kala graduated from Maui High in 2003, went to Saddleback (Calif.) Junior College and has been working in the GBL's Arizona Winter League most recently. Before that he played independent ball in Canada and Kentucky.
Pacheco graduated from St. Anthony in 2004, went to Chabot College in Heyward, Calif., and finished at Abilene Christian University in Texas in 2008.
''We do go way back, ever since Mustang against Joe Kala and J.J.,'' Mochizuki said. ''It is kind of different because, like I said, whenever I am playing pro ball I am usually the only Hawaii guy on the team. Now we got guys I grew up with, so I am very excited. I can't wait.''
Mochizuki said the focus for all of the Na Koa players is to get to affiliated baseball.
''That is all our dreams, is to get back into affiliated,'' he said. ''You just have to put up the numbers and play the game the right way. My type of player, I just have to get on base, have good at-bats, put the ball in play and try to be on base for the big boys to drive me in.''
Kala is in his third spring training with a GBL team. He was chosen by Na Koa out of the GBL's winter league last month.
''Yeah, five catchers, that is a lot,'' he said. ''I have been training, going to the winter league, and for the past two months I have just been training real hard.''
He said this is the opportunity of his baseball career so far.
''This would be great, this would be my first year, and I hope everything goes well,'' said the 6-0, 225-pound 24-year-old.
It is even better with Mochi-zuki and Pacheco around.
''We all played together since small-kid time,'' Kala said. ''We grew up with each other, playing ball with each other, all-stars and when we got to high school, played against each other. So, it should be fun getting back and playing on the same team. They are both good players.''
Last season, Pacheco played in Mexico and California.
''This is good, I thank God for giving me this opportunity,'' Pacheco said. ''The doors are opening up and He is helping me in all kinds of ways.''
Pacheco has dislocated his shoulder twice in the last few years and is coming back from surgery.
''I have just been rehabbing and trying to stay in the game because I cannot stay away from the game,'' he said.
Snyder said that just getting to the field was a relief. The team will be working out from approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day and breaking into intersquad games each day. The first cuts could come as early as Friday and the final roster should be in place in a week. Na Koa's first game will be at Victoria, British Columbia, on May 21, the start of a two-week road trip. The first home game is June 8 against Tijuana.
''It was good to get on the field because it has been a long time coming,'' he said during Sunday lunch break. ''So it was kind of nice to get on the field and start swinging, seeing what kind of talent that we recruited. To be honest it was kind of nice to see a few guys get frustrated because they are not probably where they should be and that means they are pushing themselves. I think all in all, it was a good morning.''
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
* Na Koa Ikaika Maui baseball: Joe Kala was misidentified as having had two dislocated shoulders and surgery in a story Monday on Page B4. The player who had the shoulder problems and surgery is J.J. Pacheco.
The Maui News apologizes for the error.
