KAUMAKANI — Ruff Ryderz Baseball’s Kainalu Lazaro and Kobe Perez Aguilar are the two newest Simpson University Red Hawks baseball players after penning contract agreements with Simpson baseball coach Dan Tating.
“They were going to Kaua‘i Community College,” said Jennifer Pimsaguan, a Ruff Ryderz Baseball supporter. “Now, they’re playing for an NAIA school, a four-year college!”
The meeting between the Waimea High School graduates and Tatin was arranged through Sam Nakata, a Kaua‘i High School graduate and, more recently, graduating from Simpson University after playing first base for the Red Hawks through his college career.
“I realize the value of higher education,” Nakata said. “To be able to play ball at the next level and get your education is a once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity). I have a year of eligibility left, and to see these Kaua‘i boys become Red Hawks is beyond words. I never had this opportunity when I was playing first base at Kaua‘i High School. I had to find the breaks on my own so I know the feeling of coming from a small island. I just try to represent and make a name for Simpson University here on Kaua‘i.”
Simpson University is a four-year institution of higher learning, and a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics located in Redding, California. When Lazaro and Perez Aguilar don the Red Hawks uniforms, they will have familiar Kaua‘i names surrounding them.
“We have Max Ham, he graduated from Kaua‘i High School,” said Nakata, who finished the season with All-Cal Pac Defense and All-Academic honors. “Shane Ogata, he’s another Red Raider graduate, just signed via a college in Oregon, and Pasedena, California. He just made honorable mention All-Cal Pac. And, we just signed Kade Kupihea from Kapa‘a High School. There’re also five other players from around the state returning to the team.”
Nakata said his familiarity with the players grew while he umpired games following school.
“These two guys were either freshmen or not playing at all while I was playing,” Nakata said. “And coach Tating? He always comes to Hawai‘i every year. It’s either Honolulu or the Big Island. He’s never been to Kaua‘i. This was his first trip, and I told him it would be worth his while.”
Additionally, due to COVID-19, there was no Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation baseball season, which meant there was no exposure for these boys.
Ruff Ryderz Baseball is creating exposure through the Baseball Prospect Hawai‘i camp that will take place on Aug. 7 and 8 at the Waimea Athletic Field.
The camp is open to youth 13 through 18 years old, and will focus on hitting, catching, fielding and pitching. Registration is $40 per player and available by emailing ruffryderzbaseballkauai@gmail.com, or by texting 808-651-5250.
Participating in leading the camp are Ron Tugwell, a former Philadelphia Phillies scout; Carson Carroll, a former Minnesota Twins player; Jason Olms, Virginia state coach of the year; Mark Wrighte, podcaster for “The Real Recruiting Story;” Rob Hahne, Washington Post Coach of the Year and, possibly Jim Schlossenagle, head coach of Texas Christian University.
“They’re donating their time,” Pimsaguan said. “This is amazing what they’re doing for the youth.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
