Minnesota Crookston will be a much different opponent for the UH-Hilo baseball team than the last one, San Diego Christian, which has had two winning seasons in the last 15 years.
The Golden Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, where Minnesota State was voted first in the 15-team league.
However, the Vulcans are riding a wave of confidence after taking four of five games against the Hawks.
UHH (4-1) hosts Minnesota Crookston (2-1) in a six-game series starting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Wong Stadium.
Kobie Russell has been the smash hit with three homers, including two grand slams, in 19 at-bats. He’s hitting .211 with 10 RBIs with a .922 OPS, which combines on-base and slugging percentages.
“I’m very happy about that. It’s lone overdue,” UHH coach Kallen Miyataki said. “He feels a lot more comfortable now. Hopefully it carries on. He seems very confident and sure of himself. That’s a big plus.”
The Golden Eagles have likely checked on UHH’s stats, so it’s likely Russell will see a diet of offspeed pitches and no meatballs down the middle of the plate.
While Russell, a junior left-handed hitting first baseman, has been a grand surprise, there’s one player who’s no surprise, and that’s junior shortstop Casey Yamauchi, who leads the team with a .444 batting average, 1.006 OPS, five runs and steals (3 of 3).
“He’s a hell of a player. What can I say? Casey is Casey,” Miyataki said. “I’m very pleased that a Hilo boy has done so well. I hope somebody gives him a shot. He’s undersized, but he’s a tremendous player.”
The 2018 Waiakea graduate is listed at 5 feet 9 and 160 pounds, similar in size to Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who’s 5-6 and 165 pounds and built like a little pitbull. Yamauchi is much leaner.
Senior center fielder Brett Komatsu has deepened the lineup. The 2016 Hilo graduate is hitting .438, 1.000 OPS with 2 of 2 on steals.
Two of his seven hits have been produced because of his speed, a bunt single and an infield hit.
“He’s put in a lot of time and effort. He’s a lot more mature and enjoying himself,” Miyataki said. “He came into his own last year. He’s sure of himself. I told him it’s yours for the taking. He stepped up, and the rest is history.
“Like I tell all the kids, ‘Enjoy it. Have a passion for the game. Don’t press. Have fun doing it.’ You can only control the controllable, which is yourself.”
Freshman right-hander James Yamasaki, a 6-foot, 195-pound Saint Francis graduate and Shoreline (Wash.) College transfer, was impressive in his start. He started and fired four scoreless innings with one hit allowed, no walks, and five strikeouts. He got a no-decision in a game John Kea recorded one out for the 5-4 win on Saturday.
“Yamasaki did a hell of a job, and (Conor) Meehan, too,” Miyataki said. “For a short stint, (Kyle) Alcorn changed speeds a lot.”
Alcorn pitched three shutout innings, and Meehan threw three innings of scoreless relief for UHH’s 4-0 on Sunday.
Miyataki sticks to the philosophy of throwing strikes and letting the defense work. At Wong Stadium, it’s tough hitting the ball out, let alone blasting three homers in five games.
“Make them hit it. Attack and be confident. We don’t want to lose walking or hitting batter,” Miyataki said. “We don’t want to beat ourselves.
“This next series is going to test us, put us in difficult situations that I feel will be important in the PacWest. We’re excited and hope for the best.”
