KIF baseball season starts Saturday

LIHUE — The Red Raiders are about to begin their state title defense.

Kauai High School, winner of last year’s Division II baseball state championship, will play against Waimea High School to kick off the 2018 Kauai Interscholastic Federation varsity season.

The Red Raiders and Menehune are set for a doubleheader Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. The first game is scheduled for 4 p.m.

“This year, all three teams are going to be good. It’s not something that you can just take every game like you’re going to win,” said Kauai head coach Hank Ibia during practice Thursday at Vidinha Stadium. “Every game is a battle.

“Kapaa High School, I think they got some seniors that have been there four years. I think they’re going to be solid, too. Waimea, they’re youth is solid. I think their new coaching staff is going to bring another (element of) baseball in them. Overall, I think this year is going to be a good season. We just got to battle.”

Kauai was 10-3 in league play last season en route to winning its fourth straight KIF championship.

Ibia said there are several players returning from last year’s squad, though he added the team won just two games during the preseason.

“We’re still learning. Even though (we won) last year, we got to overcome that,” he said. “We had guys injured. That’s why in the preseason, we didn’t do too well. If we stay healthy, we’re going to be OK.”

If there’s added pressure of defending the state title, Ibia said, “Every year, there’s pressure.”

“Every year is a new season. Whatever happened last season, that thing’s over,” he said. “We need to concentrate on what we need to do this year. So, pressure, (it’s in) every game.”

For Waimea High School, this season marks the return of head coach Michael Rita.

Rita last coached the Menehune in 2013 and coached for five seasons. He’s a 1984 Waimea High graduate.

“In the preseason, I was trying to figure out our team. We have our philosophy. And it’s my first year back coaching, so it’s a change for the players and a change for me,” Rita said in a phone interview Thursday.

“It feels good. It feels good to be back at the high school again,” he added.

The Menehune varsity team was 2-10 last season under then-head coach Larry Ephan, getting one win against each Kauai and Kapaa.

“This year’s team is a young, talented team. We have to work hard. We’ll see how the season goes,” Rita said.

He added: “I’m not going to compare records or anything, but right now, the team looks forward to the first game. We’ll take it game-by-game.”

As for starting the season against last year’s Division II state champion, Rita said he’s eager to get things started.

“It feels great to go against Kauai High School. Coach Hank Ibia is a good friend of mine and a great coach. They’re defending state champions. So on our end, we’re looking forward to challenging a great team. We’ll see what the outcome on Saturday is.”