Losing isn't something that Baldwin High ordinarily knows much about when it comes to baseball.

The Bears have won 10 Maui Interscholastic League titles in 15 years and qualified for the state championships 14 of those years, taking the 1995 title.

But whether they know it or not — and evidence suggests some parents clearly don't — the Bears sustained a big loss this month when their head coach of those 15 years, Kahai Shishido, resigned.

This departure wasn't for the usual cliche reasons, spending more time with the family or to explore other options, etc. Indeed, the sad part is that Shishido, a man of principle, was really left with no choice but to walk away from a job he loved because some parents put more of a premium on winning than developing character. They valued playing time over integrity.

In this case, the loss is not only Baldwin's but, in a wider sense, the whole of Hawai'i high school coaching because if it can happen in a program that successful, to a coach that respected, it has to make coaches everywhere think twice about what would happen in their situations.

And that's disturbing because Shishido should be held up as an example of a coach who does things the right way, even if it isn't always the easy or popular route. He should be an inspiration for others to follow, not an object lesson in what can happen when you do.

This past spring when Shishido's instinct told him there could be trouble brewing between a member of his team and another student, he questioned the players about it and warned them what could happen. He urged them to do the right thing and help their teammate walk away from trouble.

So when a player took part in a fight, egged on by teammates, including one who was said to have video taped the incident and put it online, Shishido dismissed the combatant and suspended a dozen who were identified as onlookers.

The two-game suspensions resulted in the previously unbeaten Bears losing their only games of the regular season by forfeit, but did not keep them out of the state tournament, where they finished sixth.

The point made by the dismissal and suspensions was unfortunately lost on a handful of parents who took it out on Shishido from the stands to the point where he eventually resigned. It is testament to Shishido's integrity that members of his coaching staff have so far declined to succeed him.

"It is a big loss (to state high school ranks) on and off the field," said Keith Amemiya, executive director of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association.

Indeed, it is hard enough to find good coaches at what, given their pay, are almost volunteer positions. To lose a top-drawer talent and man of principle such as Shishido just makes it even harder.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.