LIHU‘E — When a program has been around for more than 81 years, there are bound to be changes. One of changes in the Kaua‘i Americans of Japanese Ancestry Baseball League for 2010 will be the elimination of the individual
LIHU‘E — When a program has been around for more than 81 years, there are bound to be changes.
One of changes in the Kaua‘i Americans of Japanese Ancestry Baseball League for 2010 will be the elimination of the individual awards, announced Tom Shigemoto, president of the Kaua‘i AJA League, during the opening ceremonies of the 81st season of AJA baseball, Sunday at Vidinha Stadium.
With the exception of a break during World War II, AJA baseball is one of the oldest baseball leagues on the island.
The Kaua‘i AJA League will host the state championships April 4-5.
“This is not just about baseball,” said Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. during his remarks at the ceremonies. “It’s about embracing a culture and setting examples for the younger players in the community to follow.”
Carvalho said the county is happy to support a program which sets examples for young people in the community and the county will continue to support the long-lived program.
Shigemoto said there is a need to perpetuate the league, noting the need for a scorekeeper to keep track of the three games scheduled each Sunday at Vidinha Stadium. Hanapepe Stadium will host its share of games once the soccer configuration is re-done to accommodate baseball.
“We enjoy doing this,” Shigemoto said, noting the league board has members in the same position for several years. “The only reason we do it is for the players and fans. We appreciate all of the players, coaches, families and fans.”
Shigemoto said without any one component, there would be no league so each one contributes to the league flourishing.
“I look at the number of players on the rosters, and in these economic times, I must say the league is flourishing,” the league president said. “We appreciate the immaculate fields the county provides us to play on — free of charge.”
Gerald Ako, the league secretary, announced Micah Furtado of the Kapa‘a AJA as a “triple crown winner,” being the recipient of three of the five individual awards presented.
Furtado was the league’s RBI (runs batted in) champion with 16 during the 2008-09 season. He also picked up the Batting champion with a .560 average and topped the Homeruns in the league with three.
Quinton Natividad of the 2009 AJA Champion Hanapepe Rivermen was named the Rookie of the Year and Michael Yaris, also of the Rivermen, was named the Most Valuable Player.
Teams in the 2009-10 league include Kapa‘a coached by John Mundon, the Makaweli Indians with Royce Ijima and Bradley Chiba sharing coaching duties. The Kalaheo Farmers has Peter Ishibashi in the thirdbase coaches’ box and Dean Ichimasa is coach for the Lihu‘e Builders. Bruce Hiraoka leads the Waimea Tsunami and Leroy Nonaka is coach for the 2009 AJA Champion Hanapepe Rivermen.
Following Shigemoto and Ako, the Kaua‘i AJA League board includes Mamo Kaneshiro as 1st vice president, Brian Yamase as 2nd vice president, Russell Maeda as treasurer and Earl Miyao serving as league manager.
Games are played each Sunday at the Vidinha Stadium baseball field.
