Hirota and Amaral Leading Charge of HPU in Hilo Homecoming

Cheynne Hirota and Blake Amaral will be having some home cooking, family hugs and handshakes with friends and relatives this weekend when they take on the UHH Vulcans. Cheynne Hirota has come full circle and is having a monster senior year for the Sea Warriors.

First Baseman Hirota a Waiakea High baseball standout is one of HPU’s leading hitters thus far in 2009, posting 15 hits in 22 at bats for a hefty 682 batting average. Hirota has also scored eight runs. Before transferring to HPU, Hirota took the JUCO route going to Shoreline Community College in Washington playing for Coach Steve Seki, former Hawaii resident. In Washington, Hirota performed and made first team for the NWAACC North Division. Last season for the Sea Warriors, Hirota batted .270 with 6 doubles, one home run and 20 RBI’s. He started in 24 games as a junior.

Former Kamehameha Warrior, Amaral has broken into the starting lineup as the left fielder. He is batting .370 with 10 hits in 27 at bats while batting in 9 RBI’s. Amaral has had to make an adjustment in left field, where he will be utilized on defense. Amaral was a first team selection for the BIIF last year and was the Warriors one two punch with team mate Kolten Wong (UH, CF).

Royce Ebesu (Hilo High 07) is also on the HPU roster and will add pitching depth to the Sea Warriors. Other former BIIF players on the Vulcan roster in this weeks six game marathon are Mathew Hassenritter (Hilo 05), John Holley Jr (Pahoa 07), Casey Koizumi (Hilo 07), Sheldon Otsuka (Waiakea 06), and Cade Uyetake (Hilo 07). Hassenritter is enjoying a fast start and is hitting .417, with 10 hits in 24 at bats. Otsuka a Waiakea standout, also took the JUCO route similar to Hirota and also performed successfully at Hartnell College in California before transferring back to UH-Hilo. Otsuka will be counted on to provide depth to the Vulcan pitching staff along with Koizumi and Holley whom seen action last season as freshmen. For BIIF fans it will be an interesting homecoming for former BIIF baseball players and supporters. Let’s enjoy it!