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Jio, Torres-Umi recognized

The Maui News 2017 MIL Baseball All-Stars

Molokai High School’s Kairos Torres-Umi helped the Farmers win their fifth straight Maui Interscholastic League D-II title. RICK SCHONELY photo

Micah Jio and Kairos Torres-Umi will never forget their senior baseball seasons in the Maui Interscholastic League.

Jio led Maui High School to its first state title in 35 years at the Division I level, and Torres-Umi guided Molokai to its fifth straight Division II MIL pennant.

They are the choices of the league’s coaches as The Maui News MIL Players of the Year.

“It feels unreal, really, that we won states first thing, just a shout out to my team and coaches really, for pushing me every day and making me better,” said Jio, who is headed to the Oregon Institute of Technology in July, where he plans to continue his baseball career. “The coaches talked to me first thing this year about being a leader and how I had to step up big, to just do my job.”

Jio, an outfielder, is joined on the D-I first team by teammates Kyle Oshiro (pitcher), Bryant Nakagawa (catcher), Kao Mindoro (second base), Jyrah Lalim (shortstop) and Waylon Golis-Bacos (designated hitter/utility). MIL champion Baldwin landed Ekolu Watanabe (pitcher), Nainoa Keahi (first base), Chayce Akaka (third base), Bubba Hoopii-Tuionetoa (outfield), Damien Awai (outfield) and Nigel Mayfield (DH/utility) on the first team.

Maui High’s Micah Jio was a key contributor on the Sabers’ D-I state championship team. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

After losing two of their four regular-season series to earn the third seed in the MIL tournament, Jio called a wild eight-inning, 8-7 semifinal win over Kamehameha Maui a turning point for the Sabers.

Jio had two key pitching appearances in the game, started a triple play with a stellar catch in center field and knocked in three runs in his final two at-bats.

“That game just made us have more confidence in ourselves,” Jio said. “I remember a lot about that game — that was the defining moment for our team, I think, because if we lost we wouldn’t even have a chance to go to states.”

Maui High’s Chase Corniel and Molokai’s Ilika Kaahanui are the league’s coaches of the year.

Torres-Umi will continue his career at Eastern Arizona Junior College in the fall. Torres-Umi pointed to All-Star second baseman Kekaiakea Maliu as being key for the Farmers as well.

Baseball All-Stars

“It feels great, but honestly I thought we were going to have a split pick, with two players winning the award, me and Kekaiakea,” Torres-Umi said. “He’s a good player, too, but I’m happy that I was picked and grateful. … I’m going to miss it a lot.”

Torres-Umi, a third baseman and pitcher, and Maliu are joined on the MIL D-II first team by teammates Nainoa Kaahanui (pitcher), Kekaiomalu Adachi (shortstop), Shraedon Naeole-Starkey (outfield), Jayden Dudoit-Tabilangan (outfield) and Aaron Rapanot (DH/utility). The D-II first team is rounded out by Seabury Hall’s Ben Belew (pitcher), Drew Belew (catcher), Destin Altman (outfield); St. Anthony’s Jake Gage (first base); and Lanai’s Naighel Calderon (DH/utility).

Torres-Umi follows in the footsteps of former teammate Levi Horner-Villa, Torres-Umi’s cousin and last season’s MIL D-II Player of the Year who is now on the team at Linfield College in Oregon.

“We grew up together playing baseball, pushing each other and always challenging each other,” Torres-Umi said. “His dad was always throwing balls to us until we were tired.”

Torres-Umi, the 10th of 12 siblings, was never better on the mound than the day his father, Bill Umi, died in San Diego after a battle with stomach cancer — Torres-Umi pitched a three-inning perfect game against St. Anthony on March 3.

“When my dad passed it was hard, I honestly wasn’t going to continue,” Kairos Torres-Umi said. “My dad told me if anything was to happen to him he wanted me to continue playing baseball. I play every game for him to my best. I know he’s in a better place right now watching me — I miss him a lot.”

Kairos Torres-Umi got the news his father had died early in the morning.

“I called my coach and told him about it and told him I wanted to pitch, I wanted to pitch that day,” Torres-Umi said. “My mind was just clear, no pressure, I never threw better than that day.”

• Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

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