Richard Funai spent only two years as Waialua’s head baseball coach before becoming athletic director, but in the first of those two years he made quite an impact.
On this date in 1958, Funai led his Bulldogs to an 8-5 victory over winless Castle to clinch the ROIA crown with a 9-1 record. Waialua’s victory broke Waipahu’s decade of dominance. Masa Yonamine won the title back for the Marauders the next year. Waialua hasn’t won an OIA title since.
All-Star selections for Waialua that year included catcher Melvin Nakatsu, pitcher Roy Kurizaki, third baseman Thomas Hirano and outfielder Gerald Sato on the first team and first baseman William Kakimoto, second baseman Garrick Koga, shortstop Harold Okimura and outfielder Glenn Miyataki on the second team.
COMMENTS