Wayne Yamauchi gets credit for putting together a resurgent 15-and-under team that’s named after his father, and Tony De Sa is a smashing success as a first-time coach in the RBI program.
Wayne Yamauchi gets credit for putting together a resurgent 15-and-under team that’s named after his father, and Tony De Sa is a smashing success as a first-time coach in the RBI program.
Not to diminish their hard work, but it was made much easier when Ryan Ragual decided to join the Hawaii Juniors team. No summer is complete without youth baseball heroics courtesy of Ragual.
He delivered a virtuoso performance Sunday in Santa Ana, Calif., hitting his third home run is as many days to back his complete game on the mound as Nobu Yamauchi of Hilo routed Arizona 10-1 to claim its first West Regional since 2002.
“It’s pretty neat what happens when a team plays together,” De Sa said.
Especially one that Ragual plays on.
“He was the man,” De Sa said. “You know, on Sunday, it was all Ryan. He just shut Arizona down and gave us the momentum.”
Ragual, who struck out seven in fashioning a five-hitter with no walks and drove in four runs, is set to begin his junior year at Hilo High, but that start will be delayed as Hawaii travels to the RBI World Series in early August in Cincinnati.
It’s the fourth consecutive year that the mainland has been his playground. Last season, Ragual played a big role as a Big Island team won the title at USA Premier Baseball’s Firecracker Classic, and in 2014 he was a member of Hilo’s PONY world championship team for ages 13-14. In 2013, Ragual helped power the Hilo Bronco All-Stars to a state PONY title.
“It’s not a surprise to me,” said De Sa, who also coaches Ragual at Hilo High. “We didn’t want to use him too much (before Sunday). We made good defensive plays behind him and played well from the beginning.”
If it wasn’t over already, it was when Puukani De Sa hit a two-run double in the top of the seventh, scoring Waiakea’s Casey Yamauchi and Konawaena’s Steven Texeira to put Hawaii ahead 7-0. Ragual tacked on a run-scoring single to score schoolmate Donald Saltiban.
Texeira (2 for 3) scored three runs. Hawaii led 2-0 after five innings, but Texeira led off the sixth with a double, Saltiban reached on an error and both scored when Ragual smashed a home run to left field.
De Sa said the outfield dimensions at Valley High were much more generous than those at Wong Stadium. Still, he was told Ragual’s home run on Friday was the first to clear the fence on a field that is used by ninth- and 10th-graders.
Saltiban hit two home runs in five games.
The Hawaii Seniors (ages 16-18) almost played for a championship as well, but after finishing 2-1-1 they lost a tiebreaker Saturday to Los Angeles, which outscored Nobu Yamauchi 25-23.
Still, coach James Hirayama was happy to see both programs enjoy success this season.
“I think it shows the (RBI) program is growing and how strong baseball is in our community,” Hirayama said. “Not only on the Big Island but in all of the state.
“We try to give players a college-like experience here that teaches life lessons, and I think the parents like it.”
The Seniors have never won regionals, but Hirayama said 14 of his 16 players are eligible to return.
“I told the kids that this tournament shows that every little thing matters,” he said. “You may not believe it, but when you open the door for an old lady, that counts.
“Baseball is a microcosm of life. If you score one more run or make on less error, it counts.”
• Also on the Juniors are Kypp Miyashiro, Brett Fujii, Chris Gibbs, Logan Respicio, Sabu Kahee, Briden Silva, Jacob Igawa, Cody Hirata and Keola Ili.