Pagan keeps Kailua-to-HPU baseball pipeline going

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 13, 2024

WAIKIKI — From a Surfrider to a Shark.

Kailua senior Rayvin Pagan inked his commitment to play for the Hawai’i Pacific University baseball team Wednesday morning at the Honolulu Elks Lodge in the annual Hawai’i state National Letter of Intent Signing Day.

The 6-foot utility player follows in the footsteps of 2024 All-OIA Division I-East Player of the Year Kaimana Burgo, who is currently playing fall ball with the Sharks. Both Pagan and Burgo helped the Surfriders claim their 15th league title in April.

“First of all, glory and thanks to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Pagan. “I just wanted to stay home. I love the weather, I love the coaches and I didn’t want to leave this island. I want to thank my dad, my mom, grandmas, my two grandpas, my uncles, aunties, cousins, my friends and everybody that supported me.”

The all-time HPU leader in career saves that is currently on the Sharks’ roster in Ryan Inouye, is also a Kailua alumnus.

“It’s great, I can play with the boys, feel like Kailua High School again,” Pagan said of playing with former teammates at the collegiate level.

Pagan earned second team All-OIA D1 East honors as a first baseman earlier this year after starting off on a tear before finishing with a .267 batting average. His best game came in a 9-1 win over Moanalua on March 30 when he drove in three runs and had a home run.

The Sharks are projecting to use him as a pitcher on the next level. Pagan wasn’t use much (six innings pitched) at that position with a deep pitching staff in 2024, but as a sophomore he went 3-0 in 18 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts and a 1.96 ERA against four walks and 14 hits given up.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Rayvin and his family to HPU,” Sharks coach Dane Fujinaka said. “HPU has had a lot of success with players from Kailua. Former players Kale Sumner, Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo and current players Ryan Inouye and Kaimana Burgo have all made their mark at HPU.”

Kailua has won its last nine OIA titles under alumnus and former University of Hawai’i player Corey Ishigo, whose teams usually have a “us against the world” mentality.

It’s a mindset that Fujinaka is excited to have in the clubhouse.“I know Kailua boys are coached hard and are tough, making it very easy to coach them when they get to us. Rayvin checks every box and we are pumped to continue to have that Kailua pipeline.”

Kailua’s Rayvin Pagan (center) poses for a photo Wednesday morning at the signing day event.

Moanalua’s Kyler Shojinaga (center) will also play for the HPU Sharks baseball team after his high school career.

Shojinaga bolsters HPU infield for class of 2025

Another future HPU baseball player that also took part in the signing day event was Moanalua’s Kyler Shojinaga.

He spent his sophomore season at Mid-Pacific and saw some time at pitcher, but Fujinaka says he will play in the infield when he joins the Sharks’ roster.

“Kyler was our first 2025 commit. We offered him as early as we possibly could. Just his focus and dedication alone separates him from his peers. Kyler’s defense is game changing. He’s as sure handed of a shortstop as we’ve ever had here at HPU. Look for a gold glove at some point in Kyler’s career here at HPU.”