• Editor’s note: This is the first article of a three-part series previewing the KIF baseball season. LIHU‘E — The 2013 Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders are made up of nine freshman, four sophomores, five juniors and two seniors. To
• Editor’s note: This is the first article of a three-part series previewing the KIF baseball season.
LIHU‘E — The 2013 Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders are made up of nine freshman, four sophomores, five juniors and two seniors. To put it simply, Kaua‘i is young.
What the team lacks in experience and veteran leadership, the Red Raider coaching staff is hoping it makes up in talent and desire.
“We are young, so they are inexperienced at the high school level,” said Head Coach Ryden Domingsel. “The game is much faster, and they will be playing against some guys who are four years older. They are all very talented but have a lack of experience at this level.”
Domingsel recognizes the challenges a head coach will face when mentoring a young team, while at the same time trying to attain wins throughout the season.
“For a lot of the younger guys, this is the first time in their life they are not seeing much action,” Domingsel said. “Their time will come. All of them work hard, it’s just experience. Us, as a coaching staff, we are going to put the nine guys out there who we feel give us the best chance to be successful. It’s not that they don’t deserve to be out there, it’s just not their time yet.”
Kaua‘i will be put to an immediate test as it prepares to open its season on Saturday against the defending champion Waimea Menehune.
Each of the teams in the division will have strengths and weaknesses heading into the season, which should set the stage for hard fought games.
“I think it is going to be a battle all year,” Domingsel said. “Each team is capable of taking down the other. It will come down to who comes out and plays defense and pitches well. You never know what can happen in seven innings.”
The Red Raider coaching staff has not only recognized its strengths, but also its weaknesses, which is equally important.
“Kapa‘a has a great pitching staff. They have great depth there,” Domingsel said. “Waimea has a wicked offense, and our team is going to have to play team ball to win. I think our biggest strength is the passion that our guys play the game with.”
It is that sentiment Domingsel and his coaching staff reiterate to the players on a daily basis. Phrases such as “We have to do what is best for the team” or “Don’t be selfish while at the plate” could be heard from a number of the coaches at practice Wednesday.
Kaua‘i will soon find out if its young, talented and baseball hungry roster can compete for a championship.
- Keala Iwasaki
- Collin Pungan
- Dreyke Smith-Butac
- Nicholas Vallatini
- Kanoa Iwasaki
- Darren Leanio-Balagat
- Patrick Esteban
- Pono Bukoski
- Tyler Manibog
- Tyler Toyofuku
- Doug Miyasato
- Cal Koga
- Micah Layosa
- Shane Ogata
- John Dumlao
- Kahi Neves
- Brayden Abreau
- Jared Killeen
- Gunner Vallatini
- Kaiwi Nadarisay-Bejo
