Rough Riders turn plate prowess into pizza

Roosevelt won a pizza party courtesy Pizza Hut Hawaii for topping the Pizza Hut Hit Tracker after amassing 24 doubles, eight triples and 24 home runs in league play. Brien Ing | SL

Roosevelt's performance at the dish this season was rewarded with a plate of pizza.

Playing under interim coach Kristen Fujii-Dias due to the hospitalization of long-time coach Clay Okamura, the Rough Riders finished with 11-1 in the regular season, placed second in the OIA Playoffs and in the process, won the Pizza Hut Hit Tracker after amassing 24 doubles, eight triples and 24 home runs in league play.

"We visited him (Okamura) in the hospital a couple of times and every time we saw him, he said he read about us online or on TV and I think just knowing that he was watching inspired us," said Roosevelt senior Maya Nakamura, who led the team in runs scored, doubles and triples.

"He's there working with us year-round, hitting and lifting," Nakamura added. "We also got a lot closer this year as a team because of what happened with coach Clay."

The winning Hit Tracker team in both softball and baseball each get a pizza party courtesy of Pizza Hut Hawaii.

To add to a list of accomplishments this season, senior Mari Foster was named Gatorade Hawaii Softball Player of the Year. The award recognizes academic achievements as well as exemplary performance on the field. Foster had 28 hits and drove in 34 RBIs and scored 23 runs on the season.

The second annual Baseball/Softball Clinic Benefit Fundraiser for Friends of Clay will be held Saturday, June 16 at the Saint Louis School baseball and football complex to help coach Okumura on his road to recovery. For more information about the clinic, contact Mark Nishiyama at [email protected].