TGI Baseball Writer LIHUE – Mark Rodrigues, last season’s Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation Baseball Player of the Year and member of the 2001 Nissan Hawaii High School Hall of Honor, headed a talented group of former Kaua’i prep baseball players who
TGI Baseball Writer
LIHUE – Mark Rodrigues, last season’s Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation Baseball Player of the Year and member of the 2001 Nissan Hawaii High School Hall of Honor, headed a talented group of former Kaua’i prep baseball players who have finished outstanding seasons at the collegiate level.
The son of Julio and Caridad Rodrigues of Koloa recently completed his freshman year of college as a student-athlete at Los Medanos College (LMC) in Pittsburgh, California, and has returned home for the summer break. Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 29th round of last summers Major League baseball draft, Rodrigues was heralded in northern California newspapers as the best prospect to attend Los Medanos in a decade.
The former Red Raider compiled a 7-3 record in his initial season as a starter on the Mustang pitching staff and, with the help of an improved 89-mph fastball, finished with a 3.39 ERA in 74-1/3 innings. He gave up 38 runs (of which 28 were earned) on 78 hits and 24 walks in 13 appearances and struck out 66 batters.
I sat down with Mark a few days after his return to briefly chat about the decision for now to forgo the professional route, the importance of school, and his outlook on life after a year away from Kaua’i.
Manny – How does a skinny kid from Koloa end up playing baseball in an out-of-the-way locale like Pittsburgh, California?
Rodrigues – The Expos scout took care of the details. At first I thought I was going to Sacramento but Los Medanos ended up being a cool place.
Manny – What did you miss most about leaving the Garden Island?
Rodrigues – I missed seeing my family and friends and listening to my dads stories.
Manny – What types of adjustments did you have to make living in northern California?
Rodrigues – Well, I had to learn how to cook and also to get along with people I didn’t know.
Manny – I understand you were honored by LMC for athletic achievements reached during the recently completed baseball season. Could you elaborate on the award?
Rodrigues – I was named an all-conference player my freshman year.
Manny – In retrospect, how tough was it to turn down a possible scholarship offer to play volleyball for the now-national champion University of Hawaii Warriors as well as the opportunity to begin a professional baseball career, to continue your education in northern California?
Rodrigues – As much as I loved volleyball, I knew that baseball would be best for me because there aren’t many indoor professional volleyball leagues, just those outside on the beach, and because I’ve been playing baseball since I was six.
Manny – With the designated hitter in use at LMC, you don’t get the opportunity to bat anymore. Do you miss swinging the aluminum?
Rodrigues – Of course! The coach at LMC saw me swing a few times and said I have a great chance to DH next season when I’m not pitching.
Manny – What was the major difference between playing baseball locally and competing at the collegiate level?
Rodrigues – You can’t leave your fastball up in the strike zone- the players are bigger and much stronger.
Manny – What major influences have assisted you in your many tough choices as a baseball prospect?
Rodrigues – Well, people have said many things to me but the one I could count on most is simply not to give up but to try your best, and that’s true about anything you do in life.
Manny – With your freshman school year now under your belt, how have you changed as a person?
Rodrigues – I would say I’m more responsible because with my parents not around I’ve learned to do things on my own.
Manny – If you had any advice to give young aspiring student-athletes on the island, what would it be?
Rodrigues – If you feel that you have the talent, you might as well give it all you’ve got and see what you’re made of. Also, try and not miss any school.
Sean
Tamura,
the starting left fielder on the 2000 KIF champion Kapaa High School baseball team, was named as the University of Hawaii at Hilo 2002 Baseball Rookie of the Year. The Vulcan freshman outfielder compiled a .286 batting average with 22 hits (including 6 doubles) in 77 at bats while playing in 31 games. Tamura led the squad with 2 sac flies and finished with an outstanding .969 fielding percentage with only 2 errors in 65 defensive opportunities.
Micah Furtado, the 2000 KIF Player Of The Year from Kapaa High School, made recent headlines with an all star performance in the 27th Ohana Hotels Rainbow Easter Baseball Tournament as the starting second baseman for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) #6-ranked Lewis-Clark State Warriors (Lewistown, Idaho). Furtado contributed heavily to the Warriors final record of 36 wins 15 losses and led the team in the following categories: 49 games played, 41 games started, 211 plate appearances, .404 batting average, 67 hits, 67 runs scored, 4 triples, 16 hit by pitches, 5 sac bunts, .515 on base percentage, and 8 stolen bases. He also excelled defensively with a .947 fielding percentage in 171 chances.
Jason Koga, a 1999 KIF All Star from Kauai High School, is currently a sophomore at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. Jason recently completed the season as a third baseman on the Wildcats junior varsity squad (11 wins 6 losses) where, according to Linfield Sports Information Director Kelly Bird, he started ten games and batted .317 in addition to collecting 5 RBIs.
Neto Quiroz, a 1998 KIF All Star from Kauai High School, was previously drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 38th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to complete his sophomore year with the Saddleback Gauchos and teammate Kaleo Lopez. Quiroz pitched in 16 regular season games (14 in relief) this season with a 1-0 record and a save to his credit. The fire-balling lefty finished with a 5.79 ERA in 23-1/3 innings and gave up 20 runs (15 earned) on 27 hits and 15 walks while striking out 23.
Kaliko Oligo,
a 1999 KIF All Star from Waimea High School, was recently voted the University of Hawaii at Hilo 2002 Baseball Most Valuable Player. Oligo, a Kekaha native, was the teams center fielder and leadoff batter, and compiled a team-high .335 batting average, .406 on-base percentage, 59 hits, 2 triples, and 4 stolen bases. Oligo ended the season with a .964 fielding percentage in 137 chances as the Vulcans finished at 10-38-1.
Kaleo Lopez, a 2000 KIF All Star from Kapaa High School, recently ended his sophomore year at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California. Lopez opened the season on the hill for the Gauchos where the left-hander pitched his way to an 8 win 3 loss record which included one shutout. The Orange Empire Conference member Gauchos closed a highly successful thirty-win season with a tough loss to #1 seeded Riverside Community College in the Southern California Regional Tournament final to finish at 35-13. The former Warrior compiled a 3.72 ERA in 68 innings over the regular season, and allowed 34 runs (27 earned) on 48 hits and 28 walks while recording 63 strikeouts.
Clifton Arakaki,
the 1999 KIF Player Of The Year from Kauai High School, recently ended his season as an infielder for the Mesa State Mavericks (39-23 overall) in Grand Junction, Colorado where he played in 25 games (started 9) and batted .286 (10 hits in 35 at bats), with a double and home run, 6 walks, 5 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .390. He tied for the team lead in fielding percentage (1.000) and handled 48 chances without an error. Arakakis 30 defensive assists ranked fourth on the squad as the Mavericks eliminated Grand Canyon University from the Division II western regional before eventually falling to Southern Colorado.
Kauai baseball fans will be eagerly scanning the upcoming 2002 Major League draft (to be held on June 4th and 5th) to see if any of these former graduates of local baseball diamonds get an opportunity to further their playing careers at a professional level.
