HONOLULU – The 2026 season for the Chaminade University baseball team was a mixed bag.
Although the season did not go the way they wanted, head coach
Chad Konishi, in the third year of the program's revival, got the usual standout performances from several returnees.
Shortstop
Cade Fujii (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Porterville College/Kapolei HS) hit a healthy .341 with four home runs and a team-leading 29 RBI in his final year as a Silversword. The senior ended his career with a .308 average which tops the all-time list. He also finished with 100 career hits, 10 homers and 60 RBI, both of which are second in program history. Fujii signed a contract with the Bakersfield Train Robbers, an independent team in the Pecos League in California.
Junior
Aydan Lobetos (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama), who has endured injuries the past two seasons, overcame a slow start to hit .275 as he became a regular at the designated hitter spot.
Trysten Mooney (Helena, Mont./Wenatchee Valley College/Capital HS) and
Jaren Banis (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) split time at catcher with Mooney hitting .287 in a part-time role behind the plate.
On the mound, returnees Anthony O'Cañas (Woodland, Calif./American River College/Woodland HS) and
Brennen Panis (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) got 12 starts each. O'Cañas had several strong performances while Panis threw the team's only complete-game of the season against Menlo on March 15.
Chris Cody (Orange, Calif./Irvine Valley College/El Modena HS) entered the season as one of the top returnees but suffered a season-ending injury midway through the season.
Ryan Shimabukuro (El Cerrito, Calif./College of Marin/Saint Mary's College HS) and
Tyler Geivet (Aliso Viejo, Calif./Aliso Niguel) had solid outings out of the bullpen.
Lobetos and Banis were two of the 10 'Swords who completed their third years who were part of the program's first year of its resurrection.
There were also several newcomers who stepped in as impactful players.
Outfielder
Chris Mata (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/South Mountain CC/Maui HS) proved to be a revelation. The junior college transfer, who had just one at-bat through the season's first seven games, was inserted as the starter in centerfield in the Silverswords' eighth game and never let go. Aided by 17- and 12-game hitting streaks, the junior set a program record with a .409 batting average with 27 runs, 27 RBI and 15 stolen bases to earn All-Pacific West Conference second team honors.
Taylor Ayala (Bountiful, Utah/Salt Lake CC/Woods Cross HS) split time between second and third base, hitting .275 and was a table-setter with a team-leading 25 walks with 30 runs and wasn't thrown out in 10 stolen base tries.
Outfielder
Bode Poler (Montesano, Wash./Gonzaga University/Montesano HS) drove in 21 runs while
Cameron Breeze (Temecula, Calif./San Diego City College/Paloma Valley HS), who played both in the DH spot and at first base, hit .296. Freshman outfielder
Caleb Wagner (Menifee, Calif./Mesa) saw most of his playing in the second half of the year and finished at .284 and 14 RBI.
On the mound,
Jacob Petersen (Sammamish, Wash./Everett CC/Skyline HS) led the 'Swords with four wins in his 14 appearances. Fellow first-year hurlers
Ryan Kepple (Dana Point, Calif./Saddleback College/Capistrano Valley Christian HS) and
Kyle Seo (Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento City College/Inderkum HS) were also relied on with Kepple getting four starts in 15 appearances while Seo led the team with 13 out of the pen.
