This is one event that didn’t get cancelled due to the inclement weather that blanketed Kaua‘i yesterday. The 3rd Annual West O‘ahu Baseball Camp opened under soggy conditions at the Kaua‘i High School gym instead of at Vidinha Stadium where
This is one event that didn’t get cancelled due to the inclement weather that blanketed Kaua‘i yesterday.
The 3rd Annual West O‘ahu Baseball Camp opened under soggy conditions at the Kaua‘i High School gym instead of at Vidinha Stadium where it was originally scheduled.
“We had a Plan B,” said Jim Koishigawa of the West O‘ahu program, host of the clinic that brought in Major League Baseball players to work with Kaua‘i’s young athletes in honing their individual baseball skills. “If it was going to rain, then the plan was to find and indoor facility to host the clinic.”
Wes Masumura, the Kaua‘i coordinator for the clinic that drew some 20 high school aged players, was not that optimistic.
“We almost didn’t have this clinic,” he said. “Thanks to Ross Shimabukuro, the Kaua‘i High School athletic director, for opening up the gym so the kids wouldn’t miss out.”
It was not that simple as Masumura said there were no indoor facility that was convenient since Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School was using its area for a two-day craft fair, the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a was being used for its three-day basketball tournament and he did not get any response from inquiries at Island School.
He also added the clinics might have to be abbreviated due to the gym being needed for basketball practice.
Earlier in the morning, Shimabukuro said the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cancelled the soccer games scheduled at Vidinha Stadium.
“This game won’t be made up unless it has a bearing later in the season,” Shimabukuro said. “For now, it’s cancelled.”
Anahola Joel Pahukula, the KQNG announcer for KIF games, said he also got word that the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Bowl games was also cancelled due to the New Kapa‘a Town Park stadium being waterlogged.
Paul Pancho, the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Association president, said in a phone message, the bowl games will try again this morning, weather permitting.
Todd Koishigawa of the West O‘ahu program, said if the weather improves, the clinic will move back to Vidinha Stadium where players can work on hitting and fielding. If the weather persists, the clinic will finish up at Kaua‘i High School.
Masumura said working indoors didn’t affect the quality of information available for the youngsters because they could work on various fundamental skills including athletic training regimens, footwork and hand-eye coordination drills, strengthening exercises and mechanics of throwing which were modified so the athletes used tennis balls instead of baseballs due to the indoor arena.
Shane Victorino, the World Series Philadelphia Phillies player from Maui, was unfortunately unable to attend the clinic this year, Koishigawa said.
Kaua‘i player Tyler Yates of the Pittsburg Pirates and Kapa‘a High School graduates Micah Furtado were among the MLB stars who didn’t lose a step in working with the young players.
Other players working at the clinic included O‘ahu players Kila Ka‘aihue of the Kansas City Royals, Kala Ka‘aihue of the Atlanta Braves, Drew Macias, an outfielder for the San Diego Padres, Justin Germano, a pitcher for the Padres, Kaimi Mead of the Cleveland Indians, Colt Morton of the Padres, Nate Schierholtz of the San Francisco Giants, Jeff Bailey of the Boston Red Sox, and Cesar Ramos of the Padres.
The clinic wraps up starting at 9 a.m., today, for the high school-aged athletes. Younger athletes get their opportunity starting at 12:30 p.m.
