With more than a month remaining in its fall baseball schedule, Hawai‘i Pacific University is using the offseason to build toward a return to the PacWest Conference tournament and another opportunity to compete for a championship.

The Sharks advanced to the PacWest championship game in 2024 but fell short of the conference tournament last season, finishing 27-21 overall. As HPU works through fall ball, sixth-year head coach Dane Fujinaka is encouraged by the way his returning players and newcomers have come together.

“Really excited about the core group of returnees obviously that we had coming back, and with the new guys coming in, just really excited how they’ve been able to mesh so far and the progress that we made over the month and a half that we’ve been together,” Fujinaka said.

The opportunity to scrimmage at Hans L’Orange Field, the Sharks’ home ballpark, has provided another encouraging sign as the team prepares for the upcoming season.

“Being able to get on the field at Hans. Obviously, that’s where we play our games. To see what that looks like on the field as we come together has been really exciting and really promising,” Fujinaka said. “Looking forward to the next five weeks left of inter-squads to be able to continue to improve every day.”

HPU has several experienced players returning at key positions, including a catching group led by Blake Helsper, Brock Wirthgen and Bruce Boucher. Taydem Hashimoto returns to anchor the infield, while outfielders Ziah Chang and Chase Christenson are among the Sharks’ other important returnees.

Outfielder Ziah Chang is expected to compete for the starting centerfielder spot with Noah Hata sliding over to the coaching staff. | Photo: Michael Lasquero.

The pitching staff also brings back left-handed depth, with Nick Blakeney and Garrett Sinfield among the returning southpaws. Closer Noah Meaux gives HPU another familiar arm as it looks to strengthen its pitching staff.

While the Sharks have a foundation of returning talent, Fujinaka is emphasizing improvement across every phase of the game rather than focusing on one particular weakness.

“I’m not sure if there’s one specific thing that I would say that we need continued improvement. It’s kind of all facets of the game,” Fujinaka said.

“Just fundamentally, I think we can always improve making the routine play on defense. Continue to be aggressive, make better decision on the base paths and the on the mound, getting ahead in counts. Throwing more strikes, early in counts to set ourselves up for more success there.”

The approach is straightforward, Fujinaka said, and the coaching staff has established processes to help players improve. The challenge now is to carry those lessons onto the field consistently.

Catcher Blake Helsper is part of a veteran room behind the dish. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

“Not rocket science, and not anything anybody else isn’t already trying to do,” Fujinaka said. “I think our processes that our coaches have in place for these areas to get better are really good. It’s just a matter of time and I think we’re going to get there.”

The Sharks also are incorporating a group of newcomers who have made early impressions. Infielders Jackson Rosenthal and Wyatt Ormonde, along with right-handed pitcher Travis Van Dyke, are among the players Fujinaka has been encouraged by during fall practices.

“With the new guys that have come in, just really impressed overall with their buy-in and they’re want to continue to improve,” Fujinaka said.

HPU has also added several players with ties to Hawai‘i baseball, including former University of Hawai‘i pitchers Zacary Tenn, a former ‘Iolani standout, and Koen Barton, who played at Leilehua.

Former Mid-Pacific standout Karter Wong and Aiea infielder Kylan Kono also are joining the Sharks through the transfer portal, giving the program additional local talent.

Kylan Kono is one of the newcomers on the team that transferred back home to Hawai’i after some time on the continent. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

For Fujinaka, keeping Hawai‘i’s top players at home is a priority, even as the program looks to assemble the strongest roster possible.

“Ultimately our goal is to bring in the best possible players. Would we like them to be from Hawai‘i? Absolutely, that is a preference for us and we want to try and establish ourselves as being able to keep the best local players here,” Fujinaka said.

The coach emphasized that the program’s recruiting philosophy extends beyond geography, with the goal of finding players who can contribute to the team’s continued growth.

“Ultimately, like I said, our goal is to get the best players in general and we feel like guys like Karter Wong, Kylan Kono, Taydem Hashimoto, and those guys of the world are great fits for our program and have ultimately helped us move forward so we’re excited for them,” Fujinaka said. “We’re excited for their community that they came from and for them to represent our university.”

HPU will also have a change in its coaching responsibilities this season. Assistant coach Caleb Millikan accepted a position at his alma mater, Pomona-Pitzer, opening the door for Fujinaka to take on a more hands-on role during games.

Fujinaka plans to coach the infielders and baserunners while returning to the third-base coaching box, a position where he feels most comfortable.

HPU head coach Dane Fujinaka will be at third base coaches’ box this season. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

“Super happy for him, but I’m also really excited to get back on the field,” Fujinaka said of Millikan. “I’ll be coaching the infielders, coaching the base runners as well as coaching third during the game. That’s where I feel the most comfortable. I feel I can control certain parts of the game that maybe wasn’t able to in the past. Both have their pros and cons, but I’m ultimately excited to be back at third.”

As fall practices continue, the Sharks are working to turn that early promise into the consistency needed to contend in the PacWest.