LIHU‘E — Ryden “Roach” Domingsel will be at the helm of the Kaua‘i High School baseball team when the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation opens its baseball season in March. Domingsel, no stranger to baseball, started as a player and served as
LIHU‘E — Ryden “Roach” Domingsel will be at the helm of the Kaua‘i High School baseball team when the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation opens its baseball season in March.
Domingsel, no stranger to baseball, started as a player and served as an assistant coach under head coach Hank for five years before being hired as the Red Raiders head coach following Coach Hank’s retirement announcement.
“Coach Hank did a lot for Kaua‘i High School,” said Aaron Uyeda, an assistant coach under Coach Hank and with the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation. “He can’t just disappear into the sunset.”
Hank served as head coach for Kaua‘i High School for 12 years, earning nine KIF titles and two state titles, Uyeda said.
“It’s time for a new voice,” Coach Hank said. “When the KIF announced the formation of junior varsity baseball, I thought to myself, ‘Why would I, and the school, have to deal with year-to-year decisions?’ It’s time for someone who can set the program going in the right direction. This is my time to step aside now.”
Coach Hank said despite his winning record, he feels Kaua‘i coach Ken Mizuo has enjoyed a long winning streak as well, perhaps earning more titles than himself.
He said he served as assistant coach under Mizuo for three years and Joe Hayano a year before getting hired as a coach.
“I’m not sure how long Ken Mizuo was coach at Kaua‘i High, but I know he has a lot of wins, probably more than myself,” Coach Hank said.
His retirement announcement to Ross Shimabukuro, the Kaua‘i High School athletic director, brought Coach Hank to the end of a long 30-year association with baseball, including one year coaching at Waiakea High School on the Big Island, and a year coaching at Kapa‘a, his former alma mater.
“Right now, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Hank said. “I know I’m going to totally spend time with my family.”
He credits Dwight Fujii, former Kapa‘a High School baseball coach and athletic director, and currently a player-coach with the Kaua‘i Senior Softball league, with “starting me in the knowledge part of the game.”
At that time, Hank was a freshman at Kapa‘a High School and among his mentors was John Cox, a former player with Kaua‘i High School.
“It’s been a long, long time,” Hank said. “When I first started coaching, I found something in the game I could relate to, and over the years, I have gotten a lot of respect — more than I could ever ask for. It has been very gratifying.”
Hank said he owes a lot to his supporters, including his wife Doreen, his family, especially his mother Pauline, his corps of assistant coaches, players, their families, all of the community sponsors, fans and the whole island.
Individually, Hank said he owes gratitude to Ken Mizuo, Charlene Quinones, the former Kaua‘i High School athletic director, Tom Cox, and Mrs. Linda Tanoe-Smith, the former Kaua‘i High School principal, who hired him as the coach.
“Champions are built with assistant coaches, players and the community,” Hank said, while chatting with a corps of his assistant coaches in the Vidinha Stadium parking lot. “Among those are Roger Taniguchi Construction and Lance Fu who were with us when we worked with the county to re-do this field into a championship field — a place where players can develop into champions.”
Among those who met with Hank, Tim Ibia, Brad Chiba, Keoki Adviento and Domingsel move on into the new era of baseball. Others who have contributed to the nine KIF titles and two Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state championships include Uyeda, John Gebauer, Ray Ellis, Wayne Wakumoto, Alan Balocan, Lance Higashi, Lyle Brackenridge, Stephen Perreira, Eric Leanio, Schyler Arakaki, Brad Maruyama, Kaleo Saiki and Mark Merrick.
Looking ahead into the upcoming season, Domingsel said he is excited while facing the challenge.
His staff will include Ibia, Chiba, Adviento, Tyler Yates, Tyrus Matsumoto and Jay Koga.
“The JV program is something new the KIF is starting this year,” Domingsel said. “The JV games are exhibition for developmental players. We’ll be working through at least four games through the season on Thursdays.”
Domingsel said the Red Raiders will be on the field when Waimea High School hosts its annual invitational tournament in February.
Following the tournament, Kaiser High School is scheduled to play on Kaua‘i, meeting up with Waimea on a Saturday in February and Kaua‘i on a Sunday.
This will be followed by the Red Raiders traveling to Maui to participate in the Baldwin High School tournament before the first pitch unfolds in the KIF schedule March 9 when Kaua‘i hosts Waimea in a double-header at Vidinha Stadium starting at 10 a.m.
“I feel good about this,” Coach Hank said. “I’m comfortable with it.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
