WAIPAHU, Hawaii — In a little more than 24 hours, Chaminade got the full range of the baseball experience that it had been missing for 43 years.
A rainout, a loss and a win greeted the Silverswords on Thursday and Friday as the program that had lain dormant since 1981 was officially re-launched.
After a labor-intensive lead-up to the season that included a “Meat and Greet” introductory dinner last week, coach Chad Konishi was almost grateful for what he called “monsoon”-like conditions that wiped out Thursday night’s would-be 2024 opener against Cal State East Bay.
With plenty of grounds work at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park, and the aid of the Hawaii Pacific baseball program that was also in action there this weekend, the Silverswords got their assigned field to playable status Friday morning.
It took two games for them to get their first win of the season – and first official victory since 1980.
The Silverswords dropped a noon contest against Cal State East Bay, 9-6, but turned around to defeat Cal State Los Angeles by the same score that night in the Oahu Baseball Classic.
“To fathom that a startup program like us, with 40 new players, that we would be able to (get a win),” coach Chad Konishi told Spectrum News on Friday night, “I couldn't be more happy and proud of the guys.
“I don't know how many wins we'll get this season, but we will compete.”
Chaminade was 20-6 and made it to the NAIA playoffs in 1980 under coach Leroy Goo, its only official season of competition. It remained as a club team in 1981 before it was shuttered completely due to financial concerns at the small Catholic school.
In the program's new life, it is an NCAA Division II outfit and member of the PacWest Conference, like the rest of the Silverswords’ sports teams.
Between Friday’s night game, a ceremonial first pitch was thrown out and recognition was given to attending members of the program from its brief past existence. They included then-assistant Kala Kaaihue, and players Joe Arakaki, Billy Duhay, Rankin Kaanoi, Carlton Keyes, Kyle Tengan, Peter Tuohy, Terry Derby and Ivan Loughmiller, the last of whom was represented by his wife, Leora.
“At the end, it's about them, who were the first voyagers to kind of start the program back in the day, and we're just now resuming that voyage of theirs,” said Konishi, a Punahou School alumnus and former 12-year University of Hawaii assistant under Mike Trapasso.
The Silverswords alumni are getting up there in years, which made the juxtaposition of the new 40-man roster so striking. There are a whopping 26 freshmen.
Konishi was concerned about his team’s focus for the long first day as he noticed a trend of flagging energy in the latter stages of the team’s four-hour preseason practices at Ala Wai Field.
The worries proved unfounded as, he said, the group’s energy picked up as the day went.
Against CSLA, Chaminade built an early 5-1 lead and saw it disappear, but Irvine Valley College transfer Casey Kudell hit doubles in the sixth and eighth innings to drive in three. For the day, Kudell had five hits and four RBIs, while freshmen Mac Zawistoski and Rhyn Chambers pitched the last four innings with just one run allowed between them.
“(If) they can stick together, they can stay here, I think our program has a chance to build around them,” Konishi said of his huge frosh class.
There is not just youth to be found with the ‘Swords, but local flavor, too; there are 10 Hawaii high school graduates on the roster. Kamehameha alumni Kia‘i Kawai and Aydan Lobetos split starting duties in left field on opening day. Kawai went 2-for-4 with a walk and stolen base and Lobetos was 1-for-2 with two walks, a swiped bag, two runs and two RBIs.
UH connections are many on Konishi’s staff; ex-Rainbows hitting coach Keith Komeiji and former All-WAC outfielder Matt Inouye are assistants.
In addition, Konishi said the bond between the three local D-II teams is strong.
“We are just happy to be able to present our kids and get a season in and put Chaminade on the map again, you know, and I think it's great that we have another baseball school here in Hawaii, because I think we're at baseball state,” he said.
The Silverswords complete their opening weekend with two games at CORP on Sunday – Cal State East Bay at 11 a.m., a makeup from Thursday’s lost game, and Cal State Los Angeles at 2 p.m.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.