WAIPAHU, Hawaii – In a little bit greater than 24 hours, Chaminade received the complete vary of baseball expertise it had been lacking for 43 years.
A rainout, a loss and a win greeted the Silverswords on Thursday and Friday as this system that had been dormant since 1981 was formally relaunched.
After a busy preseason that included an introductory “Meat and Greet” dinner final week, coach Chad Konishi was nearly grateful for what he referred to as “monsoon”-like situations that ruined Thursday night time’s recreation in 2024. vs. Cal State East Bay.
With a variety of work at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park and the assistance of the Hawaii Pacific baseball program, which was additionally in motion there this weekend, the Silverswords introduced of their assigned discipline Friday morning.
It took them two video games to get their first win of the season – and their first official win since 1980.
The Silverswords dropped a noon contest towards Cal State East Bay, 9-6, however got here again to defeat Cal State Los Angeles by the identical rating that night time within the Oahu Baseball Traditional.
“To know startup program like us with 40 new gamers may (get a win),” coach Chad Konishi advised Spectrum Information Friday night time, “I could not be happier and prouder of the fellows .
“I do not know what number of wins we’ll get this season, however we’ll compete.”
Chaminade employed former College of Hawaii assistant Chad Konishi to be its head baseball coach to relaunch this system. (Spectrum Information/Brian McInnis)
Chaminade was 20-6 and reached the NAIA playoffs in 1980 below coach Leroy Goo, his solely official season of competitors. It remained as a membership workforce in 1981 earlier than being shut down solely attributable to monetary considerations on the small Catholic college.
In this system’s new life, it’s an NCAA Division II outfit and a member of the PacWest Convention, like the remainder of the Silverswords’ sports activities groups.
Between Friday night time’s recreation, a ceremonial first pitch was thrown and recognition was given to collaborating members of this system for its transient previous existence. They included then-assistant Kala Kaaihue and gamers Joe Arakaki, Billy Duhay, Rankin Kaanoi, Carlton Keyes, Kyle Tengan, Peter Tuohy, Terry Derby and Ivan Loughmiller, the latter of whom was represented by his spouse, Leora.
“On the finish of the day, it is about them, who had been the primary vacationers who form of began this system again within the day, and we’re simply now resuming their journey,” stated Konishi, a Punahou Faculty graduate and former 12-year-old. Assistant on the College of Hawaii below Mike Trapasso.
Silverswords alumni get there in years, which is what made the juxtaposition of the brand new 40-man roster so placing. There are 26 nice freshmen.
Konishi was involved about his workforce’s focus for the primary lengthy day, as he observed a bent to lose power within the latter levels of the workforce’s four-hour preseason observe at Ala Wai Area.
The concerns proved unfounded as, he stated, the group’s power grew because the day wore on.
Towards CSLA, Chaminade constructed an early 5-1 lead and noticed it slip away, however Irvine Valley Faculty switch Casey Kudell hit doubles within the sixth and eighth innings to guide by three. For the day, Kudell had 5 hits and 4 RBI, whereas freshmen Mac Zawistoski and Rhyn Chambers pitched the ultimate 4 innings with only one run allowed between them.
“If they will keep collectively, they will keep right here, I feel our program has an opportunity to construct round them,” Konishi stated of his big magnificence class.
The Silverswords greeted one another in entrance of the dugout between innings. (Spectrum Information/Brian McInnis)
There’s not solely youth to be discovered with ‘Swords’, but additionally native flavour; there are 10 Hawaii highschool graduates on the checklist. Kamehameha graduates Kia’i Kawai and Aydan Lobetos shared the beginning duties in left discipline on Opening Day. Kawai went 2-for-Four with a stroll and a stolen base, and Lobetos was 1-for-2 with two walks, a sack, two runs and two RBI.
UH connections are many on Konishi’s workers; Former Rainbows hitting coach Keith Komeiji and former All-WAC outfielder Matt Inouye are assistants.
Moreover, Konishi stated the bond between the three native D-II groups is powerful.
“We’re simply comfortable to have the ability to showcase our youngsters and put a season collectively and put Chaminade on the map once more, you already know, and I feel it is nice that we now have one other baseball college right here in Hawaii as a result of I feel we’re at baseball state,” he stated.
The Silverswords wrap up their opening weekend with two video games at CORP on Sunday – Cal State East Bay at 11 a.m., a bounce-back from Thursday’s loss, and Cal State Los Angeles at 2 p.m.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports activities scene for Spectrum Information Hawaii. He may be reached at brian.mcinnis@constitution.com.