HPU falls to Vanguard on Senior Day

WAIPAHU – Can’t win ‘em all. 

The Hawai’i Pacific University baseball team saw the bats go too quiet for too long in a shortened second game on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Vanguard Lions (27-19, 23-17 PacWest) in seven innings, 10-4. Sophomore right-hander Brennan Kettle was charged with the loss for the Sharks, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out one in 1.2 innings. 

Vanguard jumped all over the Sharks early as third baseman Brian Paymard started the scoring for the visitors with a two-out, two-run bomb and center fielder Tyler Shigenaka following promptly with a solo shot in the top of the second inning. A leadoff double and a few free passes led to another two runs for the Lions before left fielder Noah Madole cranked a three-run homer to make it an 8-0 game. 

HPU (27-19, 25-15 PacWest) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as left fielder Bronson Rivera roped an RBI single into the outfield grass, but Vanguard tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh to put the Sharks in a 10-1 hole and three outs to work. 

The Sharks didn’t go down without a fight, putting up three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning before ultimately falling. Rivera got the rally going with an RBI triple to bring home Ethan Murakoshi and Noah Blythe followed directly behind with a double to bring home Rivera and make it 10-3. 

Daniel Johnson hustled out a ground ball that scored Blythe, keeping the Sharks’ two-out rally alive a bit longer before Tyler Arnold grounded out to end the game. Christopher Ceballos earned the win for Vanguard, going 4.0 innings and allowing just two hits in a scoreless outing. 

Despite the loss, HPU had cause to celebrate as a special group of 16 seniors played their final home games at Hans L’Orange Park. While the Sharks will play a doubleheader at the field next weekend against Chaminade, the Silverswords will play as the home squad in each of the two final regular season games.  

It has been a steady climb back up the mountain for HPU in four seasons under Dane Fujinaka, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2010 last season. This year has continued the Sharks’ growth, seeing multiple program records broken by a special senior class. 

All smiles for Noah Blythe, who became the program’s single-season record holder for total hits during the series against Vanguard. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Senior outfielder Noah Blythe had himself a record-setting year for the Sharks, resetting the high mark for hits in a season with 82. While ranking top five in the country in total hits, Blythe’s production also has him competing with Rivera for HPU’s runs batted in record as both hitters have racked up 64 RBIs. 

HPU captain and relief pitcher Vicente Molina is greeted by teammates with lei as he makes his way down the third base path. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

HPU relief pitcher Ryan Inouye will finish his career as the program leader in all-time saves. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Relief pitcher Ryan Inouye will finish his HPU career as both the single-season and all-time leader in saves. The Kailua product tallied 13 saves last year for the Sharks and has totaled 20 throughout his three seasons with HPU, passing B.A. Garner’s 19 saves for the high mark. 

Senior transfer Bronson Rivera from the University of Hawai’i set the new Sharks’ single-season record for home runs during the season. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Bronson Rivera, a local boy and transfer from the University of Hawai’i, made one of the biggest impacts possible on a program with standout leadership on and off the diamond while smashing a single-season HPU record 15 home runs. His powerful bat also helped the Holualoa native break the program’s single-season RBI record of 56, though his own teammate is continuing to battle him for that record with four games left before the playoffs. 

Captain and 1B/C Daniel Johnson is decked out in lei and accessories after rounding the bases and greeting teammates. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Skyler Agnew pinned an All-PacWest selection on his resume last year and may snag another similar honor this year after his power numbers have ticked up during another fantastic season. Captain catcher Daniel Johnson was voted the Shark of the Year at the Sharky Awards, acting as a main piece for a playoff caliber HPU squad while fellow captain Vicente Molina has had a sneaky solid stay with the Sharks by going 3-1 with 28 strikeouts in 36.1 innings across 33 appearances over two years in Hawai’i. 

“When you have the saves record holder in the senior class, you have the [single-season] hits record holder … Bronson’s got the home run record, it’s pretty spectacular to see and it’s a credit to those individual guys for putting in the work,” HPU head coach Dane Fujinaka said with a smile when asked about the class. “Even the guys who haven’t broken records … we’re not in the position we’re in right now if it wasn’t for them. It’s awesome to see them finally make their way to graduation day and make their mark on the program as seniors.”  

In all, HPU recognized the contributions of 16 seniors with a variety of stories that each held a part in putting together back-to-back postseason caliber seasons and changed the trajectory of the program back towards being a contender in the West region. 

“Each of them individually have impacted our program in their own way,” Fujinaka said of the group. “Some guys have been here for five years … It’s obviously a really great day when we get to celebrate them and all of their success individually and what they were able to accomplish here at HPU as a team.”