When Elson Mori graduated from Konawaena in 1974, he didn’t know it but he signed a lifetime contract with softball. ADVERTISING When Elson Mori graduated from Konawaena in 1974, he didn’t know it but he signed a lifetime contract with
When Elson Mori graduated from Konawaena in 1974, he didn’t know it but he signed a lifetime contract with softball.
He started playing in softball leagues that year, and finally retired in 2010, a span of 37 years. That’s a period of longevity that even Cal Ripken Jr. can appreciate.
“I’m too old. The ball is coming back at me too fast,” Mori said. “But I’m still there on Tuesday and Thursdays for the coed softball leagues. I’ve still got softball on my mind.”
In fact, Mori has been working at the King Kamehameha Hotel for 40 years and he and his wife Lillian have been married for 38 years.
Playing ball is one thing but doing the unsung chores is like cooking apple pie for everyone instead of eating it.
Nobody really applauds umpires or scorekeepers or even coaches. But those have been roles Mori has filled from the start and he’s still going strong.
In August at the 40th annual Hawaii State Senior Softball Tournament, Mori and his family (Lillian and children Tisha Ann, Elson Jr. and Lee-El) were recognized for keeping score for more than 20 years for the county’s softball seniors.
Mori, along with Luella Aina, Chris Leonard, and Don Memmer will be inducted into the Big Island Sports Hall of Fame at 10 a.m. Sunday at Prince Kuhio Plaza.
“It’s very amazing. It’s heart-warming and something I never thought I would get in,” said a humbled Mori.
He and David Chaikin started the Hui Kahi Softball Club in 1983. They’ve been pals and teammates for 35 years. Chaikin has seen Mori do much more than just make apple pie.
“It didn’t matter if Elson had a game or not, he was at the park. Not only was he at the park, he was always working,” Chaikin said. “Be it scorekeeping, mentoring other pitchers, or helping umpire, he was always willing to give his time to whoever needed it. When nobody would step up to run the Kona leagues, Elson stepped up.
“He has probably run more leagues in Kona in the last 35 years than everyone else put together. During that same period, he has umpired more games than anyone and kept score more than anyone.”
It’s a good thing Chaikin would highlight his friend’s accomplishments. That’s not Mori’s style. He’s classic humble pie.
“He is a very quiet guy until an argument about softball rules breaks out,” Chaikin said. “When he starts arguing, nobody can understand what he’s saying. It’s part pigeon and half Elsonese. Aside from that, he is the most giving person there is, always there to help out and do what nobody else wants to do and without complaint.”
Mori helped start the PONY League tournament each Memorial Day in Kona, the island’s largest. He ran it for seven years, and also coached more than a decade in PONY.
Like Chaikin pointed out, the thankless stuff was something Mori, who BTW worked and raised a family, piled on top of his full plate. He didn’t have a choice. It was written in his lifetime contract.
But for good measure, he roped in his family. Lillian and the kids, soon as they could hold a pencil, all learned how to keep score.
“I love softball. I was born to be a softball player. Lillian was a big help when I started playing,” he said. “I started umpiring softball in high school (for BIIF games) after the kids were born. I started my granddaughter Kesha Ann when she was 10 or 11 years old. She started keeping score for the Kupuna league.”
Mori beats Kesha Ann, Tisha Ann’s daughter, by a mile. She’s now a junior at Kealakehe. He started scorekeeping in the third grade when his late dad Hiroyuki Mori was playing softball.
Grand old time
In 1976, Mori started a KTA Softball Club team with Carl Shiraishi, James Motoyama, Garret Kusunoki, Phillip Fujihara, Tak Akana, Peter Lindsey and the late Willie Pactang.
Then in 1980, he formed the Soda Holics with Billy Palea, Alvin Sato and Mike Cabral. Half the guys drank soda and the other half consumed beer, or the proportion may have been more tilted.
Mori made it a point to mention a few buddies. If he left someone out, he wanted to apologize in print.
Even in his moment of honor, Mori would take the time to think long and hard about his good pals and applaud them first.
Then Hui Kahi came along and became the first team in Kona to capture the Triple Crown: winning consecutively the fast pitch, slow pitch, and mountain ball league titles.
“Hui Kahi, led by pitcher and coach Elson Mori, developed into the premiere softball club by which all others were judged,” Chaikin said. “As a pitcher, Elson had a blazing fastball, a sweet riseball, and slowest curveball imaginable, which was next to impossible to hit. He was the No. 1 pitcher for many, many years.
“As a batter, he was a pitcher’s worst nightmare. He would make pitchers get two strikes on him, then foul one off to the right, and foul one off to the left, then hit it right where he wanted to.”
Baseball roots
Mori was on the Konawaena baseball BIIF championship team in 1972 as pitcher and infielder.
He pitched in the opening game against Punahou at the HHSAA state tournament. The Wildcats lost. But at least Mori had a memorable moment.
He faced Mosi Tatupu, who played in the NFL for 15 years. Like Mori, Tatupu graduated in 1974. In that one confrontation, Mori walked Tatupu.
His favorite team used to be the Los Angeles Dodgers, especially the 1981 World Series edition that featured first baseman Steve Garvey, second baseman Davey Lopes, third baseman Ron Cey and shortstop Bill Russell.
“I used to love baseball so much. It was so good,” Mori said. “Before they had the Dodgers Blue newsletter. It was two days late, but it was good, and I kept up with them.”
The Dodgers last won the World Series in 1988 when they relied on Orel Hershiser, who claimed the NL Cy Young that year, another guy with a good curveball.
“They can’t beat St. Louis in the playoffs, and this year I thought they would win,” Mori said. “But the Mets beat them.”
The Dodgers had an MLB-high $227,329,905 million payroll. They keep throwing money at an elusive World Series title and come home early each year.
That dog chasing tail cycle has to end sometime, right? Nothing lasts forever, like the Dodgers’ fruitless pursuit, right?
Well, some invaluable things do last forever.
Go to a ballpark and Elson Mori will be there. It’s written in his lifetime contract.
Banquet
A banquet will be held at 11:30 a.m. following the unveiling of the new wall. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ellsworth Fontes at 895-6467 or Tony Misiaszek at 333-6936.
Wayne Subica is creating a book with the background of each inductee. He needs help in obtaining more information, and requests that Hall of Fame members or their families contact him at wsubica@gmail.com or 443-7679.
