KAPA’A — Maliana Lord was hesitant about getting on the field because she was the only girl. But, through the coaxing of her grandfather, Maliana joined other youngsters from 7 to 12 years old who turned out for the free
KAPA’A — Maliana Lord was hesitant about getting on the field because she was the only girl.
But, through the coaxing of her grandfather, Maliana joined other youngsters from 7 to 12 years old who turned out for the free Speed & Quickness baseball clinic hosted by Dan Ahuna, and University of Hawai’i coaches and former baseball players.
“He’s the biggest one out there,” Galen Shigeta, a coach for the Kawaihau Little League program noted of his son, Tanner who stood head and shoulders above the field of aspiring players. “But, he’s only 12.”
“It’s a good thing I took vacation, today,” Shigeta said. “Now, I’ve got to check on my other son at home.”
Other parents sat in the shelter of the visiting dugout as they watched the youngsters warm up under the supervision of Ahuna who led the Speed & Quickness exercises.
“Some of them have never done (exercises) like this before,” Ahuna noted during the transition to the skills portion.
Ahuna hinted that a program utilizing some of the Speed & Quickness techniques has been worked out so it will be available at all the public high schools.
He said a more formal announcement will be made shortly.
Working with UH coaches Carl Furutani, Les Nakama, and Tom Gushiken, the group was led by fomer player Paul Ah Yat who lost little time establishing relationships with the aspiring players.
Joining the group was Kapa’a High School head baseball coach Destry Carvalho, who also is a leader at the Kawaihau Little League level, and fit in perfectly in establishing a role model for the youngsters.
As Lord’s grandfather watched from behind the chain link fence, he nodded, noting, “Gotta take advantage of things like this. We never had this kind of opportunity when we were young.”
The clinic continues today, Tuesday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. for youngsters 7-12 years old.
A coaches’ clinic will be held from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. followed by the session for youngsters 13 years and older from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m.
Youngsters planning to attend the free seminars are required to wear athletic shoes, and bring their baseball equipment.
The clinic is sponsored by the County of Kaua’i through the anti-drug office headed by Roy Nishida.
