Pac-Five’s Ahu and Nakagawa earn top All-State baseball honors
· Yahoo Sports
In a season of firsts for Pac-Five Wolfpack baseball, the taste of a bittersweet, state runner-up ending hasn’t washed away completely.
Visit mchezo.co.za for more information.
The firsts, though, are monumental. Coaches and media in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Baseball All-State selections voted Alika Ahu as Position Player of the Year and Colten Amai Nakagawa as Pitcher of the Year.
Playing in its first Division I state tournament, reaching the championship game, the Wolfpack program has not one, but two top honorees.
“I feel extremely grateful and honored to be voted POY. I wouldn’t have done it without the support and belief of my coaches, teammates, friends and family,” said Ahu, son of former UH and Waiakea player Jaime Ahu.
Mililani’s thrilling 1-0 win over Pac-Five for the state crown became an instant classic.
“Alika is a special athlete. His athleticism on the field gives him a lot of options at the next level,” Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said. “He is a competitor. I enjoyed watching him play the game.”
Ahu and Amai Nakagawa are currently busy playing in the West Coast League. Ahu is with the Wenatchee Applesox (Wash.). Amai Nakagawa is hurling for the Marion Berries (Salem, Ore.). In an era of consolidation at bigger programs, neither wavered. Ahu became an All-State basketball player for University Lab School as a junior, while Amai Nakagawa started at quarterback for the Wolfpack.
“I needed Pac-Five and ULS to become the person I am today and I am so grateful that I got to be a part of these amazing programs,” Ahu said. “They gave me opportunities to become a leader and grow as a person and athlete. What brings me the most joy about my high school career was getting to play with my brother (Austen) and friends. We had so much fun and I’m blessed to have gotten to play with my brother and friends that I consider my brothers.”
Ahu, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior, was resilient during a stellar four-year career. A consistent, reliable fielder at shortstop. An occasional starter on the mound and go-to closer in the clutch. Ahu’s 92 mph fastball came in handy at the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Championships. In the opening round, he entered a tight game with Kaiser and got the final two outs for a save in a wild 8-7 win.
In the semifinals, he started and delivered six shutout innings against BIIF champion Waiakea, allowing just two hits. Ahu racked up eight strikeouts with one walk for the victory. Sugai picked his spots with the Stanford signee. Ahu pitched 131⁄3 innings for the full season and did not allow a run. He allowed just five hits with 17 strikeouts and two walks issued, finishing 2-0 with four saves.
Ahu hit .405 for the season with 17 RBIs and 23 runs scored. He walked 12 times for a .479 on-base percentage and tallied a .655 slugging average for a 1.134 OPS.
Ahu did not take a single game off. There was no break between the end of hoops season and the start of baseball preseason for Ahu. The ‘Pack came so close to claiming a state crown.
“Of course, it still stings a bit, but it was a great game. I definitely took in the success that our team achieved this year,” Ahu said. “They’ll be back, though, I’m sure.”
Amai Nakagawa was superb from day one of senior year. He fanned 86 batters in 58 innings, allowing just 40 hits and 17 walks. He allowed just six runs and closed the season with a 7-1 mark and a 0.72 ERA.
“It’s an amazing feeling for sure,” Amai Nakagawa said. “I am very blessed to have amazing people around me that have helped me get to this point in my life and my baseball career. The journey wasn’t always easy. There were a lot of ups and downs, but having a positive mindset everyday is something my coaches preached to us and something that helped me when I didn’t feel my best some days.
“The loss in the state final still stings. It was a tough loss, but it was a really good game. It could’ve gone either way. Even though we lost I am proud of how far we came as a team. I am proud of all my teammates for the amount of hard work they put in and how they pushed each other to be the best every day. I couldn’t ask for a better senior season.”
Amai Nakagawa ended preseason with a five-inning, one-hit performance against eventual state champion Mililani. He struck out nine with no walks.
In ILH play, Amai Nakagawa threw 341⁄3 innings, posting 48 strikeouts and 11 walks while permitting 25 hits. He was 4-0 with a 1.02 ERA in league play.
In the state tourney, he got the win against Kaiser, pitching 42⁄3 innings, allowing one run on four hits with eight K’s and three walks.
In the final against Mililani, he went six innings and allowed one unearned run on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Mililani’s 1-0 win was the only loss of the year for Amai Nakagawa.
In addition, he played right field and hit .292 with 16 RBIs.
His next chapter begins at the University of Hawaii.
“Colten is a good get for UH,” Hirayama said. “He has excellent command and throws multiple pitches for strikes. I am looking forward to seeing his progress at the collegiate level.”
Coach of the Year honors went to Hirayama.
“I am blessed to be honored with this award. There are so many deserving coaches who could have easily been selected this year,” Hirayama said.
The longtime guru managed a roster of 30 players expertly.
“The growth of the team from day one was amazing. We had a lot of underclassmen and everyone came together to play for a common goal. There were no egos. Everyone played for each other,” Hirayama said.
The Trojans were 6-0 in postseason action, including a 13-3 TKO win over Pearl City for the OIA title.
by
All-State Baseball
Top Honors
* Position Player of the Year: Alika Ahu (Pac-Five)
* Pitcher of the Year: Colten Amai Nakagawa (Pac-Five)
* Coach of the Year: Mark Hirayama (Mililani)
First Team
Pos.
Player (School, Yr.)
Statistics / Details
P
Colten Amai Nakagawa (Pac-Five, Sr.)
7-1, 0.72 ERA, 86 SO, 17 BB in 56 IP, 0.66 ERA (states)
P
Ezra Ugale (Mililani, Jr.)
6-1, 1.62 ERA, 48 SO, shutout win in state final; .342 BA
P
Zayne Ho‘okala (Mililani, Sr.)
5-2, 0.50 ERA, 59 SO, 14 BB in 42 IP; state semifinal win
C
Kai Watanabe (Baldwin, So.)
.500 BA, 10 2Bs, 24 runs, 1.314 OPS, .500 BA in states
1B
Jonah Parker (Mililani, Jr.)
.386, .940 OPS, 14 RBIs; .778 BA (7-for-9) in states.
2B
Brayden Shizuru (Mid-Pacific, Sr.)
.411 BA, 20 RBIs, 23 runs, 9 SB, 1.083 OPS
3B
Luke Tuasivi (Roosevelt, Sr.)
.509 BA, 20 RBIs, 29 runs, .662 OBP, 1.492 OPS, 9 SB
SS
Alika Ahu (Pac-Five, Sr.)
.405 BA, 17 RBIs, 23 runs, 1.134 OPS, 2-0, 4 saves, 0.00 ERA
OF
Koa Marzo (Mililani, Sr.)
.319 BA, .472 OBP, 11 SB, 17 RBIs, 20 runs, .921 OPS
OF
Judah Ota (‘Iolani, Sr.)
.317 BA, 13 RBIs, 18 runs, .967 OPS
OF
Ka‘alekahi Kuhaulua (Kailua, Jr.)
.897 OPS, 16 runs, 12 RBIs; 4-1, 0.79 ERA, 58 SO, 26 2/3 IP
U
Kahanu Martinez (Saint Louis, Sr.)
.342 BA, 1.176 OPS, 16 runs, 21 BB, 11 SB
Second Team
Pos.
Player (School, Yr.)
P
Kaikea Patoc-Young (Kamehameha, Jr.)
P
Kekahupono Kong (Kamehameha, Jr.)
P
Logen Doran (Waiakea, Jr.)
C
AJ Wida (Punahou, So.)
1B
Bronson Boucher (Kamehameha, Sr.)
2B
Knox Marzo (Mililani, Fr.)
3B
Kolaiah-Dhusti Villa (Baldwin, Sr.)
SS
Noah Sham (Kaiser, Sr.)
OF
Jerome Kalanui (Maui, Jr.)
OF
Chase Thompson (‘Iolani, Jr.)
OF
Josyah Napoleon-Umeda (Honokaa, Sr.)
U
Kupono Barkdull (Kamehameha, Jr.)
Third Team
Pos.
Player (School, Yr.)
P
Jayden Perry-Waikiki (Baldwin, Jr.)
P
Talon Pa‘ahao (Pearl City, So.)
P
Zion Cornog (Pac-Five, Jr.)
C
Kalama Carreira (Kailua, Sr.)
1B
Tyson Santiago (Hilo, So.)
2B
Jesse Inouye (Waiakea, Sr.)
3B
Ryeder Takahashi (Kamehameha, Jr.)
SS
Coen Sardinha (Kamehameha, Jr.)
OF
Kaden Anderson (Baldwin, Sr.)
OF
Iokepa Martines (Kamehameha-Hawaii, Sr.)
OF
Jerrell Alston (Waiakea, Sr.)
U
Ian Wicklund (Pearl City, Jr.)
Honorable Mention
* Pitchers: Kaikoa Nobriga (Kamehameha-Hawaii), Jayden Salazar (Honokaa), Colby Taniguchi (Kaiser), Hurley Soong (Waiakea), Jonah Brub (Saint Louis), Kanoa Arakawa (Kamehameha-Maui), Luke Takakuwa-Holtey (Mid-Pacific)
* Catchers: Hayzen Inouye (Kaiser), Tycen Baruela (Waiakea), Taye Marxen (Mililani)
* First Basemen: Ezekiel Asato (Mid-Pacific), Dayton Hanson (Kamehameha-Hawaii)
* Second Basemen: Tytan Takahashi (Pearl City), Iona Uyehara (Kamehameha), Jaylen Ikehara (Roosevelt), Mana Shigehara-Pang (Kamehameha), Pacey Hatanaka (Kalani)
* Third Basemen: Zian Wery (Waiakea), Kysen Honda (Waiakea), Ian Murasaki (Mililani), Tanner Kagimoto (Kaiser)
* Shortstops: Brock Ayudan (Kamehameha-Hawaii)
* Outfielders: Reese Higuchi (Mid-Pacific), Kekona Begonia (Damien), Caleb Hamasaki (Kaiser), Case Cannon (Kaiser), Aycen Fernandez (Saint Louis), Eli Iopa (Mid-Pacific), Jaxson Bryce Cadiz (Pac-Five)
* Utility: Marley Sebastian (Baldwin)
Hawaii Prep World
For high school sports record books, visit .