LIHUE — Dominant was the only word that could describe the Kapaa High School Warriors’ pitching in 2013. The Kapaa staff was led by Turtle Kuhaulua and Nick Tabura, and both were named to the Kauai Interscholastic Federation Baseball All-Star
LIHUE — Dominant was the only word that could describe the Kapaa High School Warriors’ pitching in 2013.
The Kapaa staff was led by Turtle Kuhaulua and Nick Tabura, and both were named to the Kauai Interscholastic Federation Baseball All-Star Team recently.
Tabura earned himself the pitchers spot, while Kuhaulua was named Player of the Year.
Both will play as seniors next season, creating speculation that the Warriors will repeat as KIF champions.
Kapaa also had Keola Lutz and A.J. Cummings selected as all-stars. Lutz, only a sophomore, led the KIF in hitting. Cummings played a huge role for the Warriors in 2013 — he was the spark at the top of Kapaa’s lineup and patrolled center field.
Warrior head coach Bryan Aiwohi was also named Coach of the Year. Aiwohi got his team to battle back after going 3-3 in the first half to win the second half and beat the Waimea High School Menehune for the KIF title.
Aiwohi and his staff had the Warriors playing a scrappy brand of ball that relied on its stellar pitching and its ability to scrape a run across the plate by any means necessary.
The combination earned the second-year head coach the nod for the selection.
The Menehune started out of the gate hot, going 6-0 in the first half. Waimea saw its season slowly fizzle over the course of the second half, but still had four players named to the all-star team.
• Brock Ephan, catcher
• B.J. Freitas, infield
• Mikey Rita, infield
• Wyatt Taniguchi, outfield
Freitas and Taniguchi were seniors in 2013, but Rita and Ephan were both juniors and will be back next season.
While the Red Raiders looked dismal during the first half — evident by its 0-6 record — Kauai bounced back in the second half to show that it could compete at the level of the other teams.
For 2013 it received three all-star selections.
• Micah Layosa, infield
• Dreyke Smith-Butac, outfield
• Shane Ogata, utility
Smith-Butac was the Red Raiders’ only player that will not be back next season. Layosa was one of many freshman on its roster, while Ogata was a sophomore.
With so many young all-stars coming back, the battle for the KIF title will be heated in 2014.
• Rick Killeen, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or sports@thegardenisland.com.
