LIHUE — Having Texas Ranger relief pitcher Kirby Yates show up on Friday was an unexpected thrill for Contractors Association of Kauai members T-Jay Shigemoto, Dustin Moises and Demetrio Tolentino.
Yates, a Kauai High School graduate, took advantage of the Major League Baseball off season to personally congratulate KHS principal Marlene Leary on the acquisition of his autographed baseball jersey that was accompanied by his autographed baseball cards and other baseball paraphernalia. The framed items are earmarked for placement in the new KHS gymnasium.
Tolentino, the Jas. Glover’s Oahu and Kauai construction manager, and Shigemoto, the senior account executive with Hawaii Gas who recently earned his Master in Business Administration degree, formed a hui to purchase the Yates equipment during a recent CAK fundraising auction.
According to the CAK, the two former scholar athletes from KHS wanted to donate the equipment to the school as an incentive and inspiration to upcoming scholar athletes that hard work, dedication, talent and a bit of luck can make dreams come true on the next level of being a professional athlete.
Tolentino and Shigemoto are members of the Contractors Association of Kauai Board of Directors.
Tolentino, a former resident of Puhi, played football for the Red Raiders. After graduating in 1993, Tolentino attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he majored in engineering. A current licensed engineer, Tolentino is employed by Jas. W. Glover.
Shigemoto, a current Lihue resident, played baseball, football and soccer for the Red Raiders. Following his graduation with the Class of 1999, Shigemoto moved to the University of Hawaii-Hilo where he graduated with a degree in economics. He obtained his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii Schidler School of Business.
Moises helped enable the Yates equipment to appear at the CAK Auction.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
