hings were moving in the right direction for Mark Rodrigues. Sure, the Kaua’i High School baseball standout still needed to hone his bat speed. No big deal, he had a whole Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation season to pick up the velocity.
hings were moving in the right direction for Mark Rodrigues. Sure, the Kaua’i High School baseball standout still needed to hone his bat speed. No big deal, he had a whole Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation season to pick up the velocity. Sure, the senior tossed 14 strike out in his KIF opener against Kapa’a on March 28. It still wasn’t, by his own admission, one of his best efforts on the mound. No matter, the season lay before him like an unrolled red carpet.
Now, that sweet carpet, whose destination might have been the state tournament, may be coming unraveled. If you haven’t heard, there’s a teacher’s strike in progress.
As of Monday, talks between the state and the union had yet to resume.
That lends itself wonderfully to the troubling opinions I’ve received from many — officials, teachers/coaches — when inquiring about a foreseeable end to the work stoppage. Almost none think the strike will be resolved in a timely manner. Some use a two week figure, some four, some — God forbid — six.
Clearly the teachers are firm in their ideals, and if they can hold out beyond the two-week pay cycle, probably will.
That’s especially detrimental to Rodrigues and other diamond studs. There are a couple of reasons. Here is the one that impacts the most players: Without a KIF baseball season, there will be no major league or college scouts on the island.
Rodrigues, without question, has proven to be a player worthy of these men’s time. At least two were at Kapa’a’s Ron Martin Baseball Tournament during the first week of March. By my estimation, there were perhaps three at Kaua’i’s home opener against Kapa’a, the afternoon on which Rodrigues whiffed 14 batters. It is the scout’s job to watch baseball, assess talent and make recommendations to the organization or college, perhaps even encourage a higher-ranking individual within the operation to come out and take a look.
Rodrigues, I’ve been told, had some solid pitching outings last year, but is looking sharper, both on the mound and at the plate, this season. His fastball is going 84 MPH when he really pops it, his curve ball is moving and he’s developing a wicked circle pitch that tails away from right-handed batters with frustrating efficiency.
And the scouts were coming out to see it. Which means, with no sarcasm intended, that this strike could adversely affect his career.
But there is more.
As far as the Garden Island goes, Rodrigues is a marquee name, worthy of scouts’ attention. But there are other talented players here, unknowns as of yet. A player like Rodrigues can be the fuse those individuals need to jump start interest in what they’ve got to offer. His left arm brings the scouts to the ballpark, but they don’t go into hibernation when he’s not throwing.
They watch baseball; they watch other players. By accident they may discover a kid from Waimea with blazing speed or an unknown from Kapa’a with a golden glove in the outfield. For the doors and ears to which they have access, it is never a bad thing to have scouts nearby.
Unfortunately, there is an even bigger fish threatening to break the line should the strike continue three or four weeks. The cancellation of state tournaments could do irreparable. harm to many KIF competitors. There is no bigger stage on which Hawai’i’s prep athletes might shine than at state events, where the best from Kaua’i are given a chance to stack themselves against the top athletes in the state.
Baseball, girls basketball, track & field, tennis and golf all crown champions with interested eyes in attendance. The scouts come out in droves for the baseball tourney, and don’t think careers have not been jump-started at the other venues as well. During the airing of the state boys basketball championship, KFVE panned its camera to University of Hawai’i head coach Riley Wallace on at least three occasions that I can recall.
So, as the hours of this strike turn to days and possibly weeks, many will suffer. Teachers will go without pay and students without instruction. But let us not forget the plight of the athlete, particularly the seniors. They have sacrificed much to arrive at this point in their careers, where they now sit idly and wait.
Sports editor Jason Gallic at 245-3681 or mailto:kauaisports@pulitzer.net
