Baseball

He’s not just an infielder, not just a pitcher, not just a ball player. JT Navyac isn’t even just a utility guy. He is now an ace on the mound, a multiple-tool athlete, the kind that every baseball manager — he will play at Cal State Fullerton next season — needs on a successful roster. After a four-hit shutout win over Punahou last week, Navyac returned to his customary spot at shortstop as the Crusaders defeated Maryknoll on Saturday to […]

There was day one of the 2020 baseball season. Defending state champion Punahou was ready for another tough, unpredictable ride in the ILH. Less than a week into the regular season, it came to an end — possibly — on Saturday afternoon on the diamond of Patsy Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. For days, the future of the spring sports season had become unsettled as the coronavirus, COVID-19, became a pandemic. Punahou and Kamehameha played spectacular baseball at times on […]

Saturday afternoon at the ballpark, probably for the last time this spring, fans got to see Mililani junior catcher Hunter Faildo and Campbell senior center fielder Ty Stephens provide good examples of why we play the games. After all, now that the games aren’t going to be here and the world is in crisis mode due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, this is a great time to pause in wonder at the beauty sports can give. Both players made plays […]

Months on the road were a godsend for JT Navyac. The Saint Louis shortstop/pitcher didn’t come home for the entire stretch, playing in California. He also spent the offseason grinding away in the weight room. He returned to the Crusaders 15 pounds heavier, now playing at 175 pounds. He also added some pop to his fastball. The right-hander whiffed eight and walked none as No. 4 Saint Louis defeated No. 1 Punahou 1-0 on Tuesday in the ILH season opener […]

The Punahou Buffanblu will begin their 2020 season where they left off last year. The defending ILH and state champions received nine of 10 first-place votes to earn the No. 1 ranking in the first Honolulu Star-Advertiser Baseball Top 10 of the new season. The Buffanblu will open the regular season Tuesday against No. 4 Saint Louis at Central Oahu Regional Park after going 5-0 in the preseason with wins over Mililani, Pearl City and Hilo. Punahou returns seven starters […]

Micah Yonamine had a pretty good idea it would either be the Philadelphia Phillies or the Arizona Diamondbacks if he heard his name called today in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. That made the emotional roller coaster for prospects listening to each name called a little easier, but when it was time for either of the two teams to make their picks, it got stressful real quick. “Every time (those picks) came up I made sure I was […]