Cody  Ells 

The Hawaii Pacific University is home to many prestigious degree plans as well as athletic programs. Student Athletes are the chosen few that are able compete in their sport at a high level of competition, all the while performing successfully in the classroom.  The Hawaii Pacific Sharks are the 13 varsity athletic teams that represent Hawaii Pacific University, on the island of Oahu. These 13 teams compete as members of The Pacific West Conference in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports.

 

Today we will take a deeper look into Hawaii Pacific’s Baseball team. The team’s history consists of many standout individual players, as well as some very successful teams in 2008 and 2010 whom became Pac West Champions. This year the baseball program is working harder than ever before. Spending countless hours bearing blood, sweat, and tears, they are striving for not only a Conference championship, but also the title of Division II National Champions.

 

This year’s team is made up of 35 individuals who will work together in order to achieve one goal. The competitive sport of baseball depends on outstanding efforts from players individually in order to manufacture a victory at the end of the competition. Each game the team has one objective, to win, at all costs! “It all starts in the weight room and on the practice field. We have to push each other to our ultimate limits if we want to become champions,” says Sharks first basemen Nolan Barraza. The team, starting at six o’clock in the morning spends 3 to 5 mornings’ weekly training at Kakaako Fitness. Here their days start fighting to strengthen themselves for the upcoming season, which is five long months away. These grueling morning workouts consist of heavy weightlifting, intense cardiovascular exercise, and a series of flexibility sessions. These three components are sure to make the players perform at their highest possible level.

 

Players are also required to attend every single class meeting and obtain a 2.5 or higher GPA. After morning workouts and a full schedule of school players are to report straight to Keehi Lagoon where they meet again to continue the grind. At practice they believe if they work harder than anyone else in the country they will be rewarded at the end of the season, next spring. Because they are on the remote island of Hawaii they only have each other to scrimmage during the fall season. Second basemen Bronson Aiwohi stated, ”if you want to earn a spot on this team you have to compete against your friends, the harder I work, the better chances I have of earning playing time, and also making my teammates better.” Having such a large team makes for extreme competition amongst themselves, but it also allows the players to scrimmage each other in full 9 vs. 9 games three days a week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year the Sharks had an overall record of 27 wins and 20 losses. Fourteen of their losses came on the road so it is apparent that statistically the team needs to work on putting wins together while away from the island. For more information on the teams up-and-coming schedule as well as photos and statistics visit the teams website below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myself being a seasoned veteran going into my fifth and final season of college baseball has high expectations for this team. I know that progress is slow when it comes to becoming stronger and sharpening our skills, but we must commit as a team to 100% effort each day because our dedication will become apparent and rewarding at the end of the season if we can come out of our final game victorious.