Buffanblu back in ILH baseball driver’s seat
May 2nd, 2008 by WesAs predicted by many, what a wild and heated ILH baseball season this has been. And really, quite a fitting end with four-time defending state champ Punahou vs. upstart Saint Louis in a one-game, winner-take-all playoff tomorrow.
Talk about high drama.
Just three or four weeks ago, Punahou appeared to be a team in disarray, fighting for position just to make sure they got one of the ILH’s three state tournament berths. Actually, they never did secure that berth until Tuesday, when Saint Louis finally eliminated pesky Kamehameha. Now, the Buffanblu are just seven innings away from their third league championship in four years.
Amazing.
While theories and rumors abound about why Punahou struggled through an 8-5-1 regular season, maybe not enough credit was going to the improved ILH competition. Saint Louis, Mid-Pacific and ‘Iolani each had several returning starters, and obviously Kamehameha got better as the season went along.
“The other teams are better (than before), they’re solid, and we had a hard time competing with them,” Buffanblu coach Eric Kadooka said. “But these guys (Punahou) have been here before, and now they’re confident, they’re executing and guys have stepped pitching-wise. I think overall the team feeds off playing well.”
Starting pitcher Reece Kiriu, who won Thursday vs. Saint Louis and also last week vs, Mid-Pac, said the team has discussed issues among themselves and found new focus.
“We’ve put in a little extra effort, coming in (to practice) earlier and staying later …,” Kiriu said. “We discussed what we need to work on, and we’re kind of getting the monkey off our back.”
Securing the state tournament berth was huge, and so was winning the ILH tournament title on their first crack.
Now, it’s come down to one game for all the league marbles.
Should be a barn-burner.
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 am
The talent is better all around. I knew this year would have lots of good players. I’ve followed the success of the Little League and Pony teams that went to the mainland and this group of kids did well in their respective age groups. Some of them will still be playing in the next couple of years. A few of the players who played in the 12 and under age group that went to the Little League and Pony series a few years back and are only Juniors or Sophmores in the ILH. Their teammates in the OIA are seniors.
May 4th, 2008 at 8:05 am
In regards to your top ten in the state, Waipahu got 5 votes? Are you kidding me? Who did waipahu play? They got more votes than Aiea and Roosevelt? I remember last year, they had some girls playing on the team and couldn’t win a game. What are you guys smoking over there?
May 4th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Congrats Punahou. I wondered how the four time state champions with all their guys back could lose five games in the regular season. I believe they simply did not care. When we went to three ILH teams getting into states it was easy to figure out that the regular season was an extended preseason for them. They used the extra games to get some work in for kids who otherwise would not get much playing time. The games that matter are here and so is Punahou.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Wes:
It was a barn burner! What a game. Both teams played well.
Have a great week and have fun at the state tourney.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:43 am
my hats off to both St. Louis and Punahou
May 5th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Amazing resurgence. Had Punahou relegated to a may-qualify (for state tournament) status. Now they’re the top seed.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Heh. State b-ball boys champion? Punahou. State b-ball girls champion? Punahou. And they’ve probably won some other stuff for other sports that I don’t have in mind right now. Clearly, the UCLA of the islands when it comes to sports competition. Long tradition of wins.
But, you gotta wonder if part of the drive is because they got one of their alums running for the U.S. presidential office (do I even NEED to mention his name)? Man . . . what bragging rights Punahou will have if Obama gets elected?
May 6th, 2008 at 5:23 am
I come from the days when Pops, Dave and Pal Eldredge were running the show on the Punahou campus. The program was competitive but didn’t collect the trophies like the recent teams. Punahou baseball back in the day was about family, character building and learning sound fundamentals and playing hard … and extended to summer youth programs outside the school program as well. Any kid playing for the Eldredges came out lava rock solid in character with a love of baseball ingrained. The Eldredge Way carries on today in some form or another in programs across the islands, and the coming week celebrates the best of Hawaii’s youth in a sport that is truly played at a level second to none in the other 49 states. Whoever wins will deserve to be called Ekahi for good reason, so good luck to all …
May 6th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Not so much talk about bad coaching now, right?! Funny how that happens when you win games. Punahou won the ILH without their ace throwing any innings. Congrats to them and good luck in states.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:16 am
localball–Waipahu hasn’t lost yet this year. What they were like last year doesn’t count in this year’s rankings.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:31 am
congrats to Punahou, looking forward to the tourney, you know for sure there will be some close games.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Kailua is in a great spot for states. Beat Punahou and Ishigo has another state ring! He has the horses to go all the way. Scotty is probably the most feared hitter on the island! Take um deep!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:32 am
ILH champions????? Im just on of those disgruntal people that cant understand how a team with 5 losses and a tie, become ILH champs. Maybe we should cancel the regular season games and just play one tourney for the whole season. Dont get me wrong, Puns stepped up for the tourney and credit is due.
It should be a good state tourney with 3 hard hitting ILH teams and some strong showings from Pearl City, Kailua and Aiea.
Go and support your team!
May 7th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Well, Kailua lost…………..
What is the problem with a regular season and post season tournament. They are both treated equal. The regular season champ is rewarded, gets a spot in the states and a top seed into the ILH tournament. When it was all said and done, PUN beat STL 3 out of 5 games. So if STL was the best team, most talented team, as their coach professed, how come they lost to PUN 3 times? How can a team that lost to another team 3 times (in a row when it counted the most) claim to be champs?
If you want to control your own destiny, just win……………