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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, June 3, 2010

Chung, Suiter ignited title runs



By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Punahou's Michael Suiter, left, and Saint Louis' Chris Chung head the 2010 All-State Baseball Team.

DEBORAH BOOKER | Honolulu Advertiser

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One player helped his team win its first Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball championship since 1989.

The other player helped his team win its record-setting seventh consecutive state title.

Both were invaluable to their team's success, so Saint Louis' Chris Chung and Punahou's Michael Suiter appropriately shared 2010 Advertiser State Player of the Year honors after a recent vote of coaches, scouts and members of the media.

Chung, a hard-throwing senior right-hander, was the Crusaders' undisputed ace and pitched in almost every pivotal game. He went 6-0 in the regular and postseason with two saves, a 3.30 earned run average, and 44 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings.

Suiter, a junior center fielder, batted leadoff and hit .516, with a staggering .598 on-base percentage, 12 stolen bases and 33 runs scored. He also showed range and a reliable glove.

The ILH, which advanced three teams into the state semifinals, also dominated the All-State first-team selections with Punahou, Saint Louis and Mid-Pacific each landing four players.

Besides Suiter, the Buffanblu were represented by left fielder Kainoa Crowell, catcher Kaiana Eldredge and utility player Alaka'i Aglipay.

Crowell, a senior who batted third, hit .366 with two home runs, 19 RBIs and 23 runs scored. In the state championship game, he had a home run, double and four RBIs in the first inning alone to spark Punahou to a stunning 13-2 victory over Baldwin.

Eldredge, a senior transfer from Utah, hit second in Punahou's lineup and batted .368, with one home run, 15 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

Aglipay pitched, was a designated hitter and played infield in a senior season that saw him take a leadership role. He batted .362, with three triples and 21 RBIs, and also went 4-2 as a pitcher, including two wins in the state tournament.

Aglipay pitched a four-hitter in the Buffanblu's 4-1 state semifinal win over MPI.

Besides Chung, the Crusaders were represented by second baseman Jordan Fukumoto, center fielder Kaeo Aliviado and designated hitter Moses Samia.

Fukumoto, a senior who batted leadoff, hit .526 in ILH play with 13 RBIs and eight stolen bases. His on-base percentage was .592, and he solidified a much-improved Saint Louis defense that was a key factor in the Crusaders' title run.

Aliviado, a senior center fielder, was "pound-for-pound one of the best players in the state," according to Saint Louis coach George Gusman. Aliviado batted .426 in league play, with three home runs, 18 RBIs and eight stolen bases.

He also showed speed and range in center field.

Samia, a senior, was one of the state's most feared sluggers the past three seasons. He batted .431, with four home runs and a whopping 27 RBIs.

In three state tournament games, Samia went 6 for 8.

Mid-Pacific's All-State quartet is first baseman Ryan Muraoka, shortstop Justin Protacio, catcher Dane Fujinaka and pitcher Lawrence Chew.

Muraoka, a senior, batted .377, with four home runs, eight doubles and 28 RBIs. In a 10-inning, 8-5 state tournament victory over Hilo, he went 3 for 6 with a go-ahead three-run homer and six RBIs.

Protacio, a junior, batted .422 in league play from the leadoff spot with 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. His on-base percentage was .548.

Fujinaka, a junior, batted .321, with three home runs and 18 RBIs while showing defensive improvement in his second year as a starter.

Chew, a gritty junior left-hander, was the Owls' workhorse ace throughout the season. Working quickly and efficiently, he went 5-1 with one save, a 3.87 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings.

In the state tournament opener vs. Maui High, Chew pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts to help MPI win, 5-0.

State runner-up Baldwin landed two players on the All-State first team: first baseman Brock Shishido and pitcher Brysen Dafun.

Shishido, a senior, helped anchor the Bears' infield and went 3 for 4 with three RBIs in their state quarterfinal victory over Campbell. He and Muraoka drew an almost equal amount of votes.

Dafun, a junior right-hander, was Baldwin's ace and the Maui Interscholastic League Division I Player of the Year. He pitched a four-hitter in the Bears' state quarterfinal win over Campbell.

Hilo third baseman Ridge Ho'opi'i-Haslam and Pearl City utility player Chace Numata round out the first team.

Ho'opi'i-Haslam, a junior, was named Big Island Interscholastic Federation Eastern Division Player of the Year after helping the Vikings win the league championship. He batted leadoff and also pitched.

Numata, a senior shortstop and closer, was a smooth fielder with a canon arm. He used his 90-plus mph fastball to earn two saves in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association semifinals and title game, helping the Chargers win their fourth straight league championship.

Punahou's Eric Kadooka and Baldwin's Jon Viela shared Coach of the Year honors.

Kadooka led the Buffanblu to an unprecedented seventh straight title after they finished third in the ILH.

Viela guided the Bears to their first state championship game since 1995, delighting a home-island crowd in Wailuku.

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com

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