February 13-16, 2004

Results of the 25th Annual Bob Rapp Invitational Fastpitch Softball
Tournament, Hilo, Hawaii (The Big Island):

After a preliminary week that included a team bonding/camping trip on a desolate lava strewn coast, swimming in the open ocean with dolphins, spear-fishing, opihi (limpet shell) picking, boogie boarding in large surf, rescuing a potentially drowning tourist, deep-sea fishing on the Kona Coast, a lot of raw seafood eating and some barbecuing, the Hilo Athletics were finally ready to take the field and play some ball.

On the Weekend of February 15th-17th the Hilo Athletics claimed their first Bob Rapp Memorial Championship Title by defeating No Respect of Hilo twice in the finals by the scores of 8-0 and 3-1. The tournament attracted teams from Japan, Oahu, and the Big Island of Hawaii. All games were played at Victor Wong Stadium, a converted baseball facility.

The Onomea Rangers captured third place while Waseda University¹s A Team (Japan) finished in fourth place.

As a side note: Waseda University is Japan¹s equivalent of an Ivy League institution like a Yale or a Harvard. Waseda sent two sides, an A and B squad as separate entries in this year¹s tournament. Their top A thrower was fresh off an ISF 6th place finish with the Japanese National Team in New Zealand from the week before.  Although that did little to hold back the considerable hitting talents of the local Hawaii teams that are generally short on top flight pitching, but have a number of talented baseball converts who handle the bats well. Professor Tadashi Yoshimura is the original founder in 1965 of the Waseda University Men¹s Team Program and has brought the Waseda Teams to the Bob Rapp tournament in all the even years since 1990. This year marks the 8th time Waseda has participated. Waseda A captured the Bob Rapp Championship in 2002 while Waseda B took runner-up honors. Waseda A also participated in the NAFA World Series on three occasions - 1998 in Hutchinson, Kansas, 2000 in Fargo, North Dakota, and 2002 in Salem, Oregon where they placed 5th in the AAA division. Waseda has also captured several first place finishes in the All Tokyo and the East Japan Collegiate Championships.

The Champion Hilo Athletics Team this year were a hybrid team comprised of local ³braddahs²: Tracy ³Poto² Miyashiro, James Hirayama, Ivan Okinaka, Kevin "Z" Matsunami, Jayson Vaughn, Malcom Lehano, Henry Aina, Craig ³Doobie² Miyashiro, Moke Ugalde, and Coaches Neil Gyotoku (Head), and Dean Ponggan (Assist.) and Mainland ³Malahini²player pick-ups: Steve Schucker, Raf Hernandez, Jeremy Spear, Robbie O¹Brien and Collin MacKenzie.

The Athletics run to the Championship:

Game 1: Hilo A¹s vs Kats Athletic Club (Hilo) Hilo A¹s won 1-0
HR: Malcom Lehano (solo - 5th inning) (4 hits - M. Lehano, J. Spear, S.
Schucker and C. Miyashiro)
Winning Pitcher - Collin MacKenzie (no-hitter) / Save Robbie O¹Brien
Losing Pitcher- Boy Wong

Game 2: Hilo A¹s vs. Hilanders (Mt. View)
Hilo A¹s won 2-0
Winning Pitcher - Collin MacKenzie / Save Robbie O¹Brien
Losing Pitcher - Tod Spencer
HR: Robbie O¹Brien

Game 3: Hilo A¹s vs. No Respect (Hilo)
Hilo A¹s lost 0-1 in bottom of 7th with International Rule and a wild pitch that allowed winning run to cross plate
Winning Pitcher ­ Kaha Wong
Losing Pitcher - Collin Mackenzie

Game 4: Hilo A¹s vs. Onomea Rangers
Hilo A¹s won 9-1 on a mercy rule in 6th inning
Winning Pitcher ­ Robbie O¹Brien
Losing Pitcher - Blaine Medeiros
HR: Robbie O¹Brien / Triple: J. Spear

Game 5 (Championship): Hilo A¹s vs. No Respect (Hilo)
Hilo A¹s won 8-0 on a mercy rule in the 6th inning after setting the tone by
scoring 5 runs in the top of the first off No Respect ace Kaha Wong
Winning Pitcher - Robbie O¹Brien
Losing Pitcher - Kaha Wong
HR: Malcom Lehano / Doubles: J. Hirayama, K. Matsunami

Game 6 (Championship Final): Hilo A¹s vs. No Respect (Hilo)
Hilo A¹s Win Championship 3-1
HR¹s: Robbie O¹Brien, Bubba Lancaster (NR) / Doubles: S. Schucker, J. Spear
Winning Pitcher - Robbie O¹Brien
Losing Pitcher - Shoop Lincoln

Tournament MVP: Robbie O¹Brien
Batting Champ: Kazuhito Suzuki -Waseda B (.500)
Homerun Champ: Robbie O¹Brien - Athletics (3) - two others were tied, but went to batter with higher batting average
RBI Leader: Blaine Medeiros - Onomea (8).
Umpire in Chief: Roger Haws (ISC, NAFA)

All Tournament Team: Gordon Ishihiru (Ewa), Bryan Arbles (Hi-Landers), Blaine Medeiros and Carl Yamauchi (Onomea), Kazuhito Suzuki (Waseda B-Japan), Yukinori Nakashima (Waseda A-Japan), Kirk Imai and Alton Penrose (No Respect) and Malcolm Lehano (Athletics).

The Hilo Athletics plan to make their annual trip to the Mainland this
Spring and will compete in The Red Rock Invitational in St. George, Utah during early May. The Hilo A¹s also hope that next year more Mainland teams will make the trek in February to play in the annual Bob Rapp Memorial Tournament. It's a great break from the Winter doldrums...

Until then, Aloha and A Hui Hou!

Pre-Tournament Info:
Name:       25th BOB RAPP MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Date:         February 13-16,  2004
Location:    Wong & Victor Stadiums - Hilo, Hawaii (Big Island)
Teams :     18
Format:      Double elimination - 3 game guarantee.
Entry fee:   $300 us dollars.
Deadline:   JAN.  5  2004
Classification:   OPEN

Contact Person:            Derrick Imai
                                      Kats Athletic Club
                                      757 Ho'olala Place
                                      Hilo, Hawaii 96720
                                      Ph: 808-959-2164



This is the 25th Annual Bob Rapp Memorial Fastpitch Tournament celebrating the memory of a great local Hawaii pitcher who passed away on the mound while doing what he loved to do.  There is already a commitment from 1 or 2 Japanese Teams and a California team. Rumor has it that Fedlock's Mike Groves may send a squad. Jeremy Spear and Steve Schucker as well as 2 major throwers will be suiting up with the local Hilo Athletics Team.

There are about 6 local Hawaii Teams and hopefully more mainland squads will get the itch to leave the Winter doldrums and play ball in paradise. Hilo, Hawaii is a less-touristed, fishing industrial port town located on the Big Island (aka The island of Hawaii) about 35 minutes from Volcano National Park. An inter-island flight of 35 minutes from Honolulu gets you there. It is a lush verdant area with waterfalls and awesome nature. The locals guys have great hospitality (aloha) and will have barbecues galore. The Kona Coast is located about an hour and a half on the other side of the Island is home to world class resorts, beaches and golf courses. Whale watching will also be in season during February.

Come check out the local Hawaiian flavor!

Aloha,

Jeremy Spear
mailto:shortstopfilms@earthlink.net