The Kamehameha Schools Maui Warriors baseball team lost 2-6 against the Maui High Sabers at Iron Maehara Stadium on March 27, 2013.
“We did okay,” Head Coach Brandon Kanamu said. “The boys fought ‘til the end.”
Pitcher Travis “TJ” Kanamu led the offense with solid pitching throughout all six innings on the mound.
Both teams went two innings without scoring a point. Kanamu kept the Sabers to only three at bats in each of the first two innings.
Kanamu, a junior, has played baseball since he was four years old, and was a pitcher at the age of eight. He played for the Wailuku Yankees before joining the Warriors varsity baseball team in his freshman year. He has been the Warriors’ pitcher since his sophomore year.
“I love the game,” he said. “It is my getaway from problems I have. I always loved the team atmosphere and getting to know new people.”
“He is very positive and is always working hard,” Coach Brandon Kanamu said. “He loves the game, and he loves his team.”
Though the Warriors came out strong, they started losing ground in the third inning, allowing one run by Saber Jaylan Suda.
Chase Alexander on second and Rylie Velez on third made several errors in the fourth and fifth innings, including what turned out to be a bad judgement call to throw from second base for an out at home. The throw was off target, and the Saber was safe at home. At the same time, another Saber was able to steal second base, which had been left uncovered.
“We need to support our pitcher better,” Coach Kanamu said.
Chazz Ishikawa and Sammy Sutton scored for the Sabers in the fourth inning, while Jacob Tiu, Micah Isagawa, and Jordan Yagi-Kawaha scored in the fifth inning.
In the last inning of the game, the Warriors made it onto the scoreboard with runs by Velez and junior Chase Newton.
“Our biggest problem is not being able to pick ourselves up when we are down,” Coach Kanamu said. “We bury our heads like a turtle.”
The Warriors have two more chances to win as they play the Sabers again tomorrow and Friday, March 28-29, 2013, at Iron Maehara Stadium. Thursday’s game is at 6:00 p.m. and Friday’s will be played at 3:30 p.m.
