Baseball
Red rolls over Green, 19-11, to win Sugar Mill Classic


 



WAIPAHU - Playing in the shadows of pro prospects and Division I-bound players, ASSETS graduate Jordan Kumasaka might have turned in the best two-way performance at the 13th Sugar Mill Senior Classic at Hans L'Orange Park.

The lanky left-hander representing Pac-Five struck out all three batters he faced and batted 2 for 3 with an RBI to help the Red rally from an early 5-0 deficit to a 19-11 win on a sunny Memorial Day.

The game featured seniors or recent high-school graduates from around the state. Teammates during the prep season played against each other in a number of instances in a non-traditional format in which there were 15-batter lineups that allowed all participants to bat. Pitchers had a predetermined number of innings and a set order of appearance in the game.

Kumasaka, who batted 15th in the Red order, was the second pitcher of the day for his team. After the Green sent nine batters up in a five-run second off starter Kalei Conrades, Kumasaka struck out Roosevelt's Randon Mamuad, Moanalua's Regan Lum and Saint Louis' Kaeo Aliviado in a 15-pitch inning. He also contributed an RBI single in the Red's 10-run seventh.

"It felt pretty good, coming off not playing since the season ended almost like three weeks (ago)," said Kumasaka who said he hadn't worked out since his season ended. "I was kind of nervous because I hadn't played in a while."

He might not be a star in the galaxy that showed up Monday, but Kumasaka managed to shine under the bright blue skies. He said he has been invited to walk-on at Hawai'i-Hilo.

The only other pitchers with three strikeouts on the day were the Red's starter Carlos Rodriguez of Iolani and reliever Tre Haliburton-Goeas. But each had two innings of work.

For being in the right place in the pitching order at the right time, Moanalua's Todd Takabuki was credited with the win for one scoreless inning. He happened to benefit from the Red's rally. Another Moanalua pitcher, Kamalu Kamoku, was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) in one inning.

The only other pitchers to retire the side in order were Kailua's Ryan McMonigle for the Red and Campbell's Robert Kahana for the Green.

Although he didn't fare well on the mound, Saint Louis' Contrades led the way with a 3-for-4 day. Waimea's Kamana Perreira-Alquiza led with three RBI and Mid-Pacific's Justin Protacio had two steals.

Pearl City's Isaac Shim and Moanalua's Lum were the only Green batters with two hits each. Lum had three RBI.

Ten players in the game have signed with Division I programs: Aliviado, Kailua's Alan Baldwin and Moanalua's Jordan DePonte with Hawai'i; Campbell's Kahana and MPI's Protacio with Kansas; Contrades with San Jose State; Rodriguez with Oregon State; Iolani's Jensen Park and Punahou's Ryan Yamane with Northern Colorado; and MPI's Dane Fujinaka with Sacramento State (was present, but did not play).

Kamehameha's Kewby Meyer, a pitcher and first baseman, said he was invited to walk on at Nevada.

Some players might be picked in the the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft June 6 to 8. Punahou's Michael Suiter, who has signed with Santa Clara, was invited to the Sugar Mill but was attending pre-draft workouts with teams, classic organizer Casey Onaga said.

Campbell catcher Po'okela Ka'alekahi attended a workout with the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday in Compton, Calif. He was among four high school players of the 32 players at the workout, he said. His brother, Kale, a pitcher, was drafted in the 15th round and signed by the Seattle Mariners last year.


Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].




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