Kalani Takase | ScoringLive
April 15, 2014, 8:23pm
Male Athlete of the Week: Kelan Yoshioka, Kaiser baseball
The hottest baseball team in the Red East Conference of the Oahu Interscholastic Association is Kaiser and in the middle of it of the Cougars' recent success is senior catcher Kelan Yoshioka.
Yoshioka had back-to-back strong showings offensively last week, helping his team to a one-run win over Moanalua Wednesday and shutout of Kalani Saturday.
"Offensively he's been our spark plug," Kaiser coach Mark Rasmussen said. "When he's on (base), we usually score. We put him in the leadoff spot because he can get on base and he can run."
In the 4-3 win over Moanalua — which was played out at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu — Yoshioka batted 3 for 4 and had a key triple in the second inning to score the go-ahead run. He also scored a run in the first inning of the game.
Yoshioka followed that up with a 2-for-3 day in the 11-0 win over Kalani. He led off the game with a triple and drove in a run in his second at-bat and scored twice.
"He's a hard worker and a great kid and he's a 4.0 (GPA) student," Rasmussen said of Yoshioka. "He's been in the middle of it for us and he's come through with a lot of the clutch hits in tight games. He's kind of our spark."
Rasmussen was hoping Yoshioka would fill the role of ace pitcher this season as well, but a nagging arm/shoulder situation has kept that from happening.
"He would have been my No. 1 pitcher this year, but he has some arm problems so we've been having him catch," Rasmussen said. "If we need him, he can still close for us, but we've been trying to monitor his throwing. I think he's only thrown a couple innings this year."
The Cougars have won four straight games since going 2-4 in the first go-around of the Red East season (teams play a double round-robin schedule). Offensive production was never really the problem for Kaiser, which averages 7.2 runs scored per game, but rather pitching.
"Some of those games we lost, we just walked too many guys and we made too many costly mistakes," Rasmussen said. "We gave up a lot of walks and all those other little mistakes were adding up. We did score runs, but the walks killed us. During this stretch, I want to say that the most guys we've walked in a game was three, whereas in it was five, six or eight walks in the past."
Rasmussen's squad — which is comprised of 12 seniors and just eight underclassmen — is finally playing to the potential he thought it had.
"We thought we were going to be like this from the start, but I guess it took a while," Rasmussen said. "Maybe we as a team, thought it was just going to happen by just showing up and playing good. Maybe early on we weren't doing things at game speed in practice or maybe they thought they were doing it at game speed and we weren't, but it's nice to see them turn it around."
Rasmussen is hoping his team can keep the momentum going entering the OIA Red Tournament, which gets underway next week.
"I think our confidence is up now," Ramussen said. "The kids are believing, they're on a roll and nobody wants it to stop."
Yoshioka and the Cougars wrap up the regular season with a road game at Kalaheo Wednesday and a home game against Kailua Saturday.
Female Athlete of the Week: Makamae Kaleikini, Moanalua softball
If there is a word that best describes Makamae Kaleikini, it is probably fearless.
The Moanalua third baseman approaches the game of softball with no fear and according to her coach, it shows in the way she plays.
"She's the kind of kid you want on your team no matter what you're playing," Na Menehune coach Kristie Morikawa said. "Whether it's softball, dodgeball, chess, she will bust her butt for you and she'll probably do something very athletic and very smart and with her, it's always instinctive. It's almost a reaction where she doesn't have to think, she just does it."
Kaleikini did a whole lot of damage from her leadoff spot in Moanalua's two wins over Kailua and Kaimuki last week. The sophomore batted 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs, a stolen base and a run scored in a 10-0 rout of the Surfriders Thursday and crushed a pair of home runs with another stolen base in Saturday's 11-0 thrashing of Kaimuki.
"She's very athletic — she'd probably do well in any sport that she played — but I think what really helps her is her mindset: there's no fear," Morikawa said. "She just approaches it like, 'this is my job: I want to get on base and when I get on base, I want to run.' She doesn't think about it too much, she just goes out there and tries to have fun and for her, fun is getting on base and stealing a base."
As a freshman last year, Kaleikini held down the starting third baseman's job, but didn't always bat leadoff.
"We had both Makamae and a senior, who we would flip flop at the top of the order so she has some experience from last year," Morikawa said. "I told her this year that 'You only have to bat leadoff once and that every inning is a new leadoff batter, so I'm giving you the green light.' I think that changed her mindset on what it means to be a leadoff batter and that you don't have to be cautious all the time and since then we're seeing her hit a lot more."
Kaleikini's fearless attitude and willingness to work hard in practices helped her secure the job at the hot corner early on.
"When she first showed up last year, i thought maybe she'd be a good middle infielder — she's got good, quick feet — but when we started hitting balls at her, we noticed the closer she is to batter, the better she is," Morikawa said. "We practiced with Lahainaluna in the preseason and that coach hits the ball hard at the girls and after that practice, Makamae told our coaches to hit it to her like that and that kind of blew us away. I mean, at third base you're in the barrel of the gun, but I think she's just built for that position."
Morikawa said she often just how young Kaleikini is on a squad of 10 seniors.
"I almost think of her as a senior, but I'm glad she comes back to us for two more years," Morikawa said. "She's young, but the way she plays and her confidence she has is beyond her years."
Moanalua, which is ranked fourth in the ScoringLive/OC16 Softball Power Rankings, has clinched the Red East's top seed heading into next week's Oahu Interscholastic Association Tournament with an 11-0 record.
"People might look at the week and a half off as a negative, but in a lot of ways it's good for us," Morikawa said. "We can get some good rest and take care of some aches and pains, catch up on our school work, but we still do have things that we need to accomplish."
BASEBALL
Wayne Abear, Leilehua — Allowed two runs on two hits in 6 1/3 innings pitched in a 3-2 win over Aiea Saturday
Noah Ah Yat, Kailua — Drove in two runs and scored three others in an 11-3 win over Kalaheo Wednesday
Dominic Albalos, Radford — Batted 2 for 4 with a double, three RBIS and a run scored in a w15-8 win over Farrington Wednesday
Tyler Apuna, Saint Francis — Allowed two hits in four scoreless innings pitched in a 3-2 win over Pac-Five West Tuesday and allowed one run on six hits in five innings pitched in a 16-2 win over Damien Friday
Michael Austin, Kaiser — Batted 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored in an 11-0 win over Kalani Saturday
Jack Bell, Kalaheo — Tripled and drove in three runs in an 11-3 loss to Kailua Wednesday
Jalen Carvalho, Hilo — Allowed two runs on four hits in six innings pitched and batted 2 for 3 with an RBI in a 2-1 win over Waiakea Friday
Trevor Caspillo, Damien — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored in a 13-3 win over Pac-Five West Thursday
Bo Coolen, Punahou — Batted 3 for 4 with three RBIS in an 8-7 loss to Kamehameha Thursday
Caleb Duhay, Iolani — Batted 3 for 3 with a double in a 4-2 loss to Mid-Pacific Tuesday
Tristan Florentin, Damien — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and four runs scored in a 12-7 win over Maryknoll Tuesday
Dylan Flores, Damien — Allowed three runs on two hits in five innings pitched in a 13-3 win over Pac-Five West Thursday
Jacob Gribbin, Saint Louis — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs in a 4-3 win over Iolani Wednesday
Kahi Hirano, Maryknoll — Batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored in a 13-3 win over Saint Francis and tripled, doubled, walked twice, drove in three runs and scored twice in a 13-1 win over Pac-Five West Friday
Austin Inouye, Kaimuki — Batted 5 for 5 with two doubles and three runs scored in a 12-9 loss to Waialua Saturday
Trevor Inouye, Mililani — Allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings pitched in a 6-0 win over Leilehua Wednesday
Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr., Waianae — Allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk in four innings pitched and drove in four runs and scored twice in an 11-1 win over McKinley Wednesday
Zachary Kapihe, Campbell — Allowed three hits with five strikeouts and two walks in six scoreless innings in a 5-2 win over Waipahu Friday
Riki Kobayashi, Roosevelt — Batted 2 for 4 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored in an 11-4 win over Kalani Wednesday and batted 2 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs in an 11-1 win over Castle Saturday
Royce Komesu, Kailua — Allowed four hits in four scoreless innings pitched in an 11-3 win over Kalaheo Wednesday
Leeland Lauti, Damien — Drove in three runs and scored twice in a 12-7 win over Maryknoll Tuesday
Mila Lele, Waialua — Batted 3 for 3 with a home run, two RBIs and four runs scored in a 12-9 win over Kaimuki Saturday
Noah Lono-Soares, Nanakuli — Batted 3 for 3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in an 11-1 win over Kahuku Saturday
Kawika Lonoaea, Nanakuli — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in an 11-1 win over Kahuku Saturday
Ranan Mamiya, Saint Francis — Batted 3 for 5 with a triple, five RBIs, three stolen bases, two runs scored and a walk in a 16-2 win over Damien Friday
Kekai Mamuad-Rin, Radford — Batted 3 for 3 with a triple, two RBIs, four runs scored and two stolen bases in a 15-8 win over Farrington Wednesday
Kodi Medeiros, Waiakea — Allowed one run on five hits, struck out 14, walked one in seven innings pitched in a 2-1 win over Hilo Friday
Brendan Moy, McKinley — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, two RBIs, three runs scored and two stolen bases in a 9-7 loss to Radford Saturday
Cal Muramaru, Mid-Pacific — Tripled and drove in three runs in a 4-2 win over Iolani Tuesday
Cole Nakachi, Mililani — Allowed one run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings pitched in a 2-1 win over Kapolei Friday
Neal Nakasone, Maryknoll — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles and four RBIs in a 13-1 win over Pac-Five West Friday
Aaron Oda, Kaiser — Tripled, walked, drove in two runs and scored a run in a 4-3 win over Moanalua Wednesday and batted 3 for 3 with a triple and two runs scored in an 11-0 win over Kalani Saturday
Myles Okamura, Damien — Batted 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored in a 13-3 win over Pac-Five West Thursday
Jonah Paas, Leilehua — Batted 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 3-2 win over Aiea Saturday
Kaiwiloa Pemberton, McKinley — Batted 4 for 4 with two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored in a 9-7 loss to Radford Saturday
Jerzey Ramento-Acosta, Waianae — Allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked two in five innings pitched and batted 2 for 2 with a triple, double, three RBIs, three runs scored and a walk in a 12-0 win over Farrington Saturday
Jobe Ibana, Campbell — Batted 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored in a 7-2 win over Kapolei Wednesday
Zachary Recolan, Campbell — Batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored in a 7-2 win over Kapolei Wednesday
Noah Sakatani, Kaiser — Allowed one hit in five scoreless innings pitched in an 11-0 win over Kalani Saturday
Jordan Sataraka, Farrington — Batted 3 for 3 with a home run and three runs scored in a 15-8 loss to Radford Wednesday
Ryan Sato, Kalani — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and a run scored in an 11-4 loss to Roosevelt Wednesday
Kamalu Simeona, Kaiser — Allowed three runs on four hits in seven innings pitched in a 4-3 win over Moanalua Wednesday
Devan Stubblefield, Saint Louis — Batted 3 for 3 with a run scored in a 4-3 win over Iolani Wednesday
Dylan Sugimoto, Waipahu — Allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks in seven innings pitched in a 4-1 win over Pearl City Wednesday
Kody Tamashiro, Damien — Drove in three runs in a 12-7 win over Maryknoll Tuesday
Royce Torres, Saint Francis — Doubled and drove in three runs in a 13-3 loss to Maryknoll Thursday and hit a home run, drove in three runs and scored twice in a 16-2 win over Damien Friday
Dorrien Villanueva-Hermosura, Campbell — Allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks in six innings pitched in a 7-2 win over Kapolei Wednesday
Chase Wago, Mid-Pacific — Allowed two runs in a seven innings pitched in a 4-2 win over Iolani Tuesday
Jordan Yamamoto, Saint Louis — Allowed three runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks in seven innings pitched in a 4-3 win over Iolani Wednesday
Will Young, Kamehameha — Batted 2 for 3 and hit a bases-clearing, walk-off double in an 8-7 win over Punahou Thursday
GIRLS WATER POLO
Jakee Anderson, Kahuku — Scored five goals in a 21-4 win over Leilehua Wednesday
Brooke Bosque, Kapolei — Scored four goals in a 9-5 loss to Mililani Wednesday
Taylor Ganeko, Pearl City — Scored four goals in a 6-4 win over Kalani Wednesday
Kiana Harpstrite, Iolani — Scored four goals in a 13-0 win over Pac-Five Wednesday
Alana Higgins, Iolani II — Scored five goals in a 9-2 win over Pac-Five II Wednesday
Nikki Imanaka, Castle — Scored four goals in an 11-7 loss to Moanalua Wednesday
Kacey Kuchenbecker, Le Jardin — Scored four goals in an 11-4 win over Punahou II Friday
Emma Knott, Waialua — Scored five goals in a 19-1 win over Waipahu Wednesday
Chanel Long, Mililani — Scored four goals in a 9-5 win over Kapolei Wednesday
Naomi Peltier, Farrington — Scored four goals in a 14-9 loss to Moanalua Saturday
SOFTBALL
Kaili Agabin, Waianae — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored in a 9-8 win over McKinley Saturday
Seli Aholelei, Kaiser — Batted 4 for 4 with a triple, four RBIs and three runs scored in a 15-0 win over Kaimuki
Kelli Ann Akimseu, Mid-Pacific — Allowed six runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and two walks in seven innings pitched in an 8-6 win over Kamehameha Wednesday
Amber Alejandro, Waialua — Batted 3 for 4 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored in a 9-8 win over McKinley Saturday
J. Alo, Kahuku — Batted 3 for 4 with two home runs and a double in a 12-8 win over Castle Saturday
Taiana Creekmur, Saint Francis — Batted 2 for 4 with three RBIs in a 10-8 loss to Sacred Hearts Wednesday
Cydney Curran, Campbell — Batted 2 for 3 with an RBI, walk and a stolen base in a 5-2 win over Mililani Thursday
Elisa Favela, Campbell — Allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk in seven innings pitched in a 5-2 win over Mililani Thursday
Kristin Frost, Pearl City — Struck out four and gave up four hits in four scoreless innings pitched in an 11-4 win over Waipahu Thursday
Taylor Garcia-Perreira, Iolani — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored in a 13-10 win over Kamehameha Monday
Ariel Hendricks, Castle — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double and two RBIs in a 12-8 loss to Kahuku Saturday
Christine Hipa, Kamehameha — Batted 3 for 4 with a double in an 8-6 loss to Mid-Pacific Wednesday
Cassie Ho, Iolani — Batted 3 for 5 with a triple and five RBIs in a 21-3 win over Pac-Five Wednesday
Erica Inagaki, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored in a 9-2 win over Punahou Wednesday
Cranci Kamaka, Waianae — Allowed two hits, struck out two, walked none in seven innings pitched in a 1-0 win over Pearl City Saturday
Robi Kami, Pearl City — Batted 4 for 4 with a home run, double, four RBIs, walk and two runs scored in an 11-4 win over Waipahu Thursday
K. Kanoa, Kahuku — Batted 4 for 4 with two triples and two RBIs in a 12-8 win over Castle Saturday
Daria Kawaauhau, Nanakuli — Batted 3 for 4 with two home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored and allowed one hit in five innings pitched in a 22-0 win over Radford Thursday
Makana Kekaulike, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in an 11-4 win over Waipahu Thursday
Chyanne Koko, Nanakuli — Allowed two hits, struck out five and walked none in five innings pitched in a 14-0 win over Farrington Tuesday
Macy Koko, Sacred Hearts — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, walk and four RBIs in a 10-8 win over Saint Francis Wednesday
Jenna Kumabe, Mid-Pacific — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored in an 8-6 win over Kamehameha Wednesday
Shearyna Labasan, Maryknoll — Allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk in seven innings pitched in a 9-2 win over Punahou Wednesday
Vevesi Liilii, Iolani — Hit a home run and drove in three runs in a 13-10 win over Kamehameha Monday
Nicole Lopez, Mid-Pacific — Hit a three-run home run and scored twice in an 8-6 win over Kamehameha Wednesday
Karly Macadangdang, Mililani — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run, double, three RBIs and two runs scored in an 8-2 win over Leilehua Friday
Paige Matsuki, Castle — Batted 4 for 4 with a triple, double and RBI in a 12-8 loss to Kahuku Saturday
Ateisha Norton, Kamehameha — Hit a home run and drove in three runs in a 13-10 loss to Iolani Monday
Ashlyn Okamoto, Iolani — Batted 4 for 4 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored in a 21-3 win over Pac-Five Wednesday
Alexis Paulo-Meyers, Nanakuli — Batted 3 for 4 with a home run, triple, double and seven RBIs in a 14-0 win over Farrington Tuesday
Precious Paulo-Meyers, Nanakuli — Batted 2 for 4 with two home runs, five RBIs, a walk and three runs scored in a 22-0 win over Radford Thursday
Najae Reed, Moanalua — Batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored in a 10-0 win over Kailua Thursday
Kaitlin Santos, Saint Francis — Batted 3 for 4 with a walk and a run scored in a 10-8 loss to Sacred Hearts Wednesday
Lauren Taunu'u, Waianae — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, stolen base and a run scored in a 1-0 win over Pearl City Saturday
Jamie Toler, Sacred Hearts — Batted 3 for 3 with two walks, two RBIs and three runs scored in a 10-8 win over Saint Francis Wednesday
Macy Uyehara, Iolani — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in a 13-10 win over Kamehameha Monday and batted 3 for 4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in a 21-3 win over Pac-Five Wednesday
Leisha Yamauchi, Moanalua — Allowed one hit, struck out 12 and walked two in six innings pitched in an 11-0 win over Kaimuki Saturday
TENNIS
Jace Akagi-Okuma and Davin Lee, Mililani — Won the OIA West boys' doubles championship 6-1 and 6-1 over Aiea's Eldon Nakagawa and Ford Nakagawa Saturday
Haley Fujimori and Alysse Nakasato, Mililani — Won the OIA West girls' doubles championship 6-1 and 7-5 over Mililani's Kristen Mock and Kaycee Oyama Saturday
Hina Goldsmith, Roosevelt — Won the OIA East girls' singles championship 6-2 and 6-1 over Kaiser's Lisa Owen Saturday
Kana Goldsmith and Mari Onoye, Roosevelt — Won the OIA East girls' doubles championship 6-2 and 6-4 over Moanalua's Tiffany So and Katy Ehnstrom Saturday
Darrell Huang, Kalani — Won the OIA East boys' singles championship 6-3 and 6-4 over McKinley's Justin Eusebio Saturday
Sage Leaman, Mililani — Won the OIA West boys' singles championship 6-0 and 6-2 over Mililani's Mikah Sato Saturday
Calvin Lee and Soohan Bong, Kalani — Won the OIA East boys' doubles championship 3-6, 6-1 and 10-5 over Kalani's Cody Kobayashi and Thomas Choe Saturday
Alyssa Tobita, Mililani — Won the OIA West girls' singles championship 6-2 and 6-0 over Radford's Sylvia Brummit Saturday.
TRACK & FIELD
Raymond Alves, Kalani — Won the boys' 100-meter hurdles in a time of 15.36 seconds and won the 300-meter hurdles in 40.23 seconds.
Alyssa Bettendorf, Seabury Hall — Won the girls' long jump with a mark of 17 feet, two inches and won the 100-meter dash in a time of 12.83 seconds at the Honolulu Marathon Meet Friday
Diamond Briscoe, Pearl City — Won the girls' 400-meter dash in a time of 56.9 seconds and won the 200-meter dash in 25.49 at the Honolulu Marathon Meet Friday
Dakota Grossman, Seabury Hall — Won the girls' 1,500-meter run in a time of four minutes and 47.18 seconds and won the 800-meter run in 2:18.01 at the Honolulu Marathon Meet Friday
Kaeo Kruse, Kamehameha — Won the boys' 1,500-meter run in a time of four minutes, 10.26 seconds and won the 3,000-meter run in 9:01.79