Breaking News
Local Sports

Young Farmers team led by familiar faces

Rawlins, Nakayama in dugout as Molokai opens with win over St. Anthony

By Robert Collias 5 min read

KAHULUI -- The season began for the Molokai High School baseball team on Friday with a few familiar faces in the dugout at the Maui High School field.

First-year coach Keahi Rawlins, one of the heroes of the Farmers' 1999 and 2000 state championship teams when the sport was played at one level, smiled when asked how it feels to be back after a 13-3, five-inning win over St. Anthony on opening day in the Maui Interscholastic League Division II ranks.

"I got a job with the county, I'm raising my kids -- I have six altogether between me and my wife, we've been a little bit busy," said Rawlins, the former standout at the University of Hawaii who finished in Manoa in 2007 -- he is still the last scholarship baseball player for the Rainbow Warriors from the MIL. "It's good, the kids humbled me. They make sure I stay in line."

Legendary former Farmers coach Ken Nakayama was in the dugout as well, with his familiar paperwork in his hands as he watched intently.

"I actually spoke with him when I found out that I got (the job) to see if he would help me," Rawlins said. "He taught me how to play the game as a freshman in high school and now here he is my freshman year as a coach. I couldn't ask for a better guy."

On the field, the six-time defending MIL D-II champion Farmers are young -- they have just one senior in first baseman David Kaupu.

"Very young, the majority are freshmen," Rawlins said.

"Good freshmen corps. The junior corps, I have one returnee from last year -- Kaimana Nakayama, my catcher."

Kaimana Nakayama is the youngest son of Ken Nakayama and the younger brother of Apana Nakayama, the catcher who was the consensus state player of the year in 2000 before a stellar college career that ended at Brigham Young.

"Trying to lead by example, how past teams have led us when we were young," Kaimana Nakayama said. "So basically by putting in as much work as I can to be better than what I was yesterday."

Freshman Hezekiah Horner, who played third base and pitched on Friday, drove in six runs during a 3-for-3 day at the plate. His two-run single in the bottom of the fifth drove in the 12th and 13th runs that ended the game on the 10-run mercy rule.

The Farmers went 0-3 in the Baldwin preseason tournament two weeks ago, but were competitive in each outing. They were ready to roll in Friday's league opener.

"The feeling to come out and start league play was exciting for everyone," Kaimana Nakayama said. "We were very nervous and we just couldn't wait to get on the field. This team can go very far if we work hard and dedicate ourselves to this game."

After a scoreless first inning, the Farmers broke on top 2-0 in the second on a sacrifice fly by Horner and an RBI single by Saven Kaahanui. The Farmers added three runs in each of the third and fourth innings before ending the game with the five-run fifth.

St. Anthony coach Lionel Montalvo was encouraged by the play of his own young team.

"We were OK, I think our inexperience showed," Montalvo said. "The hesitation because of that inexperience hurt us, but that comes with maturity. We're still growing, it's good to get that first game of the season under our belt. I think we do have some positives that we can work on."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

St. Anthony 001 02-- 3 4 4

Molokai 023 35--13 15 3

Robert Gebkin and Hunter Otani; Iokepa Pelekane, Hezekiah Horner (5) and Kaimane Nakayama. W--Pelekane. L--Gebkin. 2B--Molokai: Pelekane.

Leading hitters--Molokai: Horner 3-3, run, 6 RBIs; Gavin Ainoa 2-3, run; Pelekane 3-3, 2 runs; Jordan Kupau 2-3, run; David Kaupu 2-3, run.

SEABURY HALL 17, HANA 3, 5 innings

Seabury Hall 406 07--17 11 1

Hana 110 01-- 3 2 3

Lucas DiMartino and Koenig Biegel; Mona Kaupe, Irie Pu-Akima (4) and Blade Hoopai. W--DiMartino. L--Kaupe. 2B--Seabury Hall: Jacob Luther 2, Quintin Tanaka. 3B--Seabury Hall: Luther, Devin Palazzotto-Cluney.

Leading hitters--Seabury Hall: Luther 4-5, 3 runs, 4 RBIs; Tanaka 2-4, 2 runs.

BALDWIN 12, LAHAINALUNA 0, 5 innings

Baldwin 263 10--12 10 0

Lahainaluna 000 00--0 2 7

Roy Meinen, Cody Constantino (5) and Cade Kalehuawehe; Kamahao Acpal, Kealaula Medeiros (4) and Kainalu Kaililaau, Koapaka Purdy (4). W--Meinen. L--Acpal. 2B--Baldwin: Kalehuawehe, Meinen, Reyn Okita.

Leading hitters--Baldwin: Dawson Tokishi 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

KS MAUI 9, KING KEKAULIKE 3

KS Maui 003 004 2--9 10 1

King Kekaulike 300 000 0--3 6 0

Keoni Painter and Ross Panlasigui; Gavin Grossman, T.J. Perkett (4), Kai Gumtang (5) and Mikey Beesing, Ayvin Vargas-Ixcotoyac (4). W--Painter. L--Grossman. 3B--Kamehameha Maui: Tristan Catan. HR--Kamehameha Maui: Konnor Palmeira.

Leading hitters--Kamehameha Maui: Tiger Caulford 2-4, run, RBI; Catan 2-4, run. King Kekaulike: Noah Sumibcay 2-3, RBI.

MIL Standings

DIVISION I

W L Pct. GB

Baldwin 2 0 1.000 --

Kamehameha Maui 2 0 1.000 --

Maui High 0 0 .000 1

King Kekaulike 0 2 .000 2

Lahainaluna 0 2 .000 2

DIVISION II

W L Pct. GB

Molokai 1 0 1.000 --

Seabury Hall 1 0 1.000 --

Lanai 0 0 .000 1⁄2

Hana 0 1 .000 1

St. Anthony 0 1 .000 1

Friday's Results

Seabury Hall 17, Hana 3, 5 innings

Molokai 13, St. Anthony 3, 5 innings

Baldwin 12, Lahainaluna 0, 5 innings

Kamehameha Maui 9, King Kekaulike 3

Today's Games

Seabury Hall vs. Hana at Eddie Tam Field, 10 a.m.

St. Anthony vs. Molokai at Maehara Stadium, 1:30 p.m.

Kamehameha Maui vs. King Kekaulike at Maehara Stadium, 3:30 p.m.

Baldwin vs. Lahainaluna at Maehara Stadium, 5:30 p.m.

Starting at /week.