WAIPAHU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – Chaminade University waited 43 years to see baseball on campus again so what was one more day of waiting.
With rain washing out Thursday evening's highly anticipated opener for the Chaminade baseball team at the O'ahu Baseball Classic, the Silverswords' debut was well worth it.
On Friday, Chaminade played its first baseball game since 1981, dropping a 9-6 decision to Cal State East Bay at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park Baseball Complex. The 'Swords came back with a score reversal in the final game of the night, a win against Cal State Los Angeles.
Casey Kudell (Irvine, Calif./Irvine Valley College/Irvine HS) had five hits and drove in four on the day for Chaminade (1-1) with
Derek Augenstein (Vista, Calif./Palomar College/Rancho Buena Vista HS) got three total hits and scored three times.
Prior to the start of the second game, there was a ceremonial first pitch to welcome back baseball to the school. The current Silverswords also honored the original members of the first team in 1980 who were able to attend including: Kala Kaaihue (assistant coach), Joe Arakaki, Billy Duhay, Rankin Kaanoi, Carlton Keyes, Kyle Tengan, Peter Tuohy, Terry Derby and Ivan Loughmiller (represented by his wife, Leora).
Game 1: CSUEB 9, CUH 6
The 'Swords got their first run with
Cato Kleinman (Westlake Village, Calif./Monterey Peninsula College/Westlake HS) coming in on a fifth-inning wild pitch.
The Pioneers would build a 9-1 lead before the 'Swords'
Brayden Braga (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) got a spark going with a pinch-hit solo homer in the bottom of the eighth. Kudell and
Jackson Dorn (Happy Valley, Ore./Mt. Hood CC/Clackamas HS) would tack on RBI hits in the inning, helping Chaminade close to within 9-5.
Rhyn Chambers' (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) sacrifice fly in the ninth got the 'Swords to within two runs, bringing the tying run to the plate before Caleb Schaeffer got the final out.
Xavier Stoker (Cedar City, Utah/College of the Canyons//Canyon View HS) got the opening game start for Chaminade, going six innings with four strikeouts in taking the loss.
Gabe Tanner earned the win for the Pioneers while Schaeffer got the save.
Game 2: CUH 9, CSULA 6
Trailing by a run, Kleinman put Chaminade up in the second with a two-run single and helped them build a 5-1 lead.
The Golden Eagles rallied and tied it at 5 in the fifth but Braga's sac fly in the home half of the inning put the 'Swords up. Kudell's last two at-bats were significant, both doubling in scores – a run in the sixth and two more in the eighth.
Rhyn Chambers (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) then tossed the final 1 2/3 hitless innings to close out the 'Swords' first win since April 1980. Chambers and
Mac Zawistoski (Coto de Caza, Calif./JSerra Catholic) helped to back starter
Mac Elske (Lake Oswego, Ore./Lower Columbia CC/Lakeridge HS) who tossed five innings to earn the win.
Kudell and Augenstein both had three hits with the former driving in three against the Golden Eagles.
Brandon Gutierrez took the loss for Cal State LA.
The Silverswords will wraps the O'ahu Baseball Classic on Sunday with a rematch against CSU East Bay at CORP Field 1 at 11 a.m., a makeup of Thursday's rainout. They will then make the short move across the complex and close the tournament against Cal State LA at 2 p.m.
