On this day in 1999, Paki Lum drilled a 3-run home run in the first inning as Kamehameha trounced Mid-Pacific 15-7.
Lum had three hits, two of them home runs, as the Warriors nuzzled up against Iolani in a tight ILH race with Saint Louis right with them.
It was just a bump in the road for the Raiders, who went on to win the ILH title with the Owls taking second and making it all the way to the state final before losing to Molokai.
That season was loaded with talent, led by Waipahu’s Jerome Williams. Other prep stars drafted that year include Shane Victorino, Jandin Thornton-Murray, Chad Santos and Rex Rundgren with Kahi Kaanoi, Reid Santos, Rodney Choy Foo and Shannon Telles taken the following year. Other all-state seniors in the loop that year included Mid-Pacific catcher Jacob Flick and first baseman Bryan Lee, Iolani’s Kainoa Obrey, Erik Yamammoto and Douglas Jackson. Brandon League of Saint Louis was just a sophomore that year.
Lum wasn’t drafted but might have been the top position player of the group. He committed to USC the year before and was firm about it, walking onto the campus along with celebrated pitcher Mark Prior and making it all the way to the College World Series as a freshman bullpen catcher. He later transferred to UH.
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