League Rewards Surfriders’ ‘Great Year’ In Baseball
Kailua High’s Dustin Imanaka has been named OIA East Player of the Year in baseball, the league announced recently.
A junior infielder, Imanaka batted .392 with six RBI and seven stolen bases to lead the team. Kailua finished its season 12-5 overall under head coach Corey Ishigo, including a 10-2 mark in East games.
The Surfriders were the No. 1 seed at the OIA Division I tournament, eventually finishing third behind Campbell and Mililani.
From there, they went on to the state DI tournament, but losses to Waiakea and Pearl City ended their bid for a title.
Imanaka was joined on East’s First Team by teammates Dalton Kalama, Noah Auld and Matt Hanano. All juniors, the trio is one reason Kailua had such a great year at the plate. Kalama batted .380 with a team-leading 15 RBI. Auld hit .324 with 13 RBI, and Hanano batted .321 with 14 RBI. Kailua’s four First Team picks were the most of any team in the East. OIA All-Star teams are selected in a vote of league coaches at season’s end.
Kailua second baseman Brendan Odo and outfielder Keiki Kanahele- Santos also made the Second Team.
It is the second straight year that Odo was selected for the Second Team, following his stellar campaign of 2014 as a sophomore. Kailua also had eight players earn Honorable Mentions: Stone Parker, Kalei Kealoha-Machado, Joseph Byers, Joey Cantillo, Cody Takabuki, Isaiah Kaeo-Cash, Noah Ah Yat and Kila Thomas.
Castle saw two players chosen for the First Team in third baseman Alakai Kim and designated hitter Chase Kalama.
The Knights went 7-6 overall this spring, and finished their season strong by winning four of the last five games.
Castle pitcher Stephen Lee and outfielder Inoa Robello made the Second Team, while teammates Maui Gaison, Ezekiel Keama, Logan Madrona, Nicholas Gibbons, John Harvest and Nicholas Yee received Honorable Mentions.
Kalaheo pitcher Kaleb Gilmore and outfielder Thomas Capllonch were both chosen to the First Team in Division II. The Mustangs went 8-2 in their regular season and came within a win of making the state DII tournament. A loss to Kapolei in the semifinals ended their bid.
Second baseman Tennison Cantrell and outfielder Jack Bell both made the DII Second Team from Kalaheo, while Brandon Burton, Kaliu Lapera, Kekai Smith, Abel Kanahele and Chase Focht all earned Honorable Mentions.
