By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 19, 2013
Mirroring what the old WGBB 1240-AM radio DJ Dave "Fearless Forecaster" Vieser used to do when I was growing up in Merrick, N.Y., time for me to put on my thinking cap, break out the Ouija board, crystal ball and tea leaves and take a crack at who’s going to win what tournaments this week to cap the Far East high school spring sports season:
-- Track and field, Monday-Tuesday, Yokota: No fewer than 19 Far East meet records and as many as six Pacific records are possible (see previous Pacific Sports Blog posts for specifics on what records may fall). The winning Division I team will come from a pack including what I call the K Klub members, Nile C. Kinnick, Kadena and Kubasaki, which sport the best balance. In Division II, expect a pitched battle between Zama American and Zion Christian Academy.
-- Boys Division I soccer, Monday-Thursday, Kadena: Christian Academy Japan is the champion until somebody knocks them off, but they’ll have their hands full dealing with Korea champion Seoul American, Kinnick and especially host Kadena, which has improved by leaps and bounds this year. Could be a Knights vs. Panthers final.
-- Girls Division I soccer, Monday-Thursday, Yokosuka: This isn’t your older sister’s Kubasaki team, not the one loaded with veterans that won the whole shooting match last year. On paper, American School In Japan has the unbeaten record and the pedigreed players, but they’ll get a battle from host Nile C. Kinnick and Yokota. Three of the final four teams could be from Kanto.
-- Boys Division II soccer, Monday-Thursday, Iwakuni: The tournament returns here after a two-year run in Korea. Host Matthew C. Perry isn’t as strong as it was a season ago (not when you graduate 100 goals), but will be in the mix along with Yongsan International-Seoul and Zama; the latter is in position to capture as many as five team banners this spring, which would bring the school’s haul for the year to 10! By far and away a record.
-- Girls Division II soccer, Monday-Thursday, Misawa: Defending champion M.C. Perry is also shorter on firepower than it was a season ago, which could mean that Osan American could rise back to the top. But watch out for International School of the Sacred Heart, which played very strongly this spring.
-- Division I baseball, Thursday-Saturday, Yokota: American School In Japan remains a prohibitive favorite despite that loss Saturday to St. Mary’s International. Still, Kubasaki stayed within a run of the Mustangs when they played in March and there is the matter of that 4-3 win by Yokota over the Mustangs.
-- Division II baseball, Thursday-Saturday, Atsugi: Another tournament that the host Zama Trojans could win, but they’ll get a battle from pitching-heavy Osan and defending champion Robert D. Edgren.
-- Division I softball, Monday-Wednesday, Atsugi: It’s that K Klub thing again. Co-host Kinnick has the arms and the unbeaten record against Japan opponents, but how well will that translate against reigning champion Kadena and runner-up Kubasaki? Don’t count out 2011 champion Seoul American, either.
-- Division II softball, Monday-Wednesday, Atsugi: Yet another tournament that co-host Zama is in excellent position to win; they can pitch and they can hit. Their strongest opposition will come from a rejuvenated Daegu High squad from Korea and always-tough E.J. King of Japan.
Is Ornauer spot on or is he full of hooey? Think your picks are better? Sound off! Be true to your school, but remember: You’ve entered THE “No-Hate Zone.”
By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 19, 2013
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer with great trepidation enters the nine-event Far East tournament week hoping he comes out in one piece on the back side of Saturday:
-- Rain, rain, go away! Will they EVER complete the Okinawa Activities Council district best-of-three baseball finals? Chances aren’t looking good, that’s for sure.
Game 1 was played on May 10 with Renton Poole tossing a two-hitter and Angelo Bourdony and Jaren Blessett combining to drive in seven runs in Kubasaki’s 14-3, run rule-shortened six-inning victory at Kadena.
Games 2 and 3, the latter if necessary, were scheduled for May 11, but that morning the annual monsoon season announced its beginning “with a vengeance,” Kubasaki athletics director Fred Bales said. Vivid lightning, booming thunder and Biblical rains that had most folks looking around for Noah and the Ark.
They tried to make up the games on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, without success. On Saturday, the weather broke, but … it was Kadena’s prom night, so playing was out of the question.
They’ll try again on Monday; overcast conditions are forecast. If they do play, it would be possible for Poole to get the wins in both games, should Kubasaki sweep the series and win it for the eighth straight year. It’s the last time they’d be able to finish the series until after the Far East Division I Tournament, scheduled for this Thursday-Saturday at Yokota.
***
-- Panthers softball back on top (but…): They’re Okinawa district champions once more, the Kadena Panthers softball team, reigning Far East D-I Tournament champions who recaptured the district title they’d lost for the first time in league and school history last year to Kubasaki.
The Panthers swept the best-of-three finals 2-0, putting the finishing touches on it Tuesday (so, how did they play and baseball did not?) with a 9-5 win over the Dragons. Maria Vaughan and Morgan Beecher had multiple extra-base hits and Peyton Lettkeman pitched one-hit ball over 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven.
If there’s one disquieting note to Kadena’s performance in the two-game set, it is pitching. Despite getting the wins and holding Kubasaki to a total of five hits in the two games, it’s bases on balls that may, just may be a tiny Achilles’ heel.
Panthers pitching allowed 20 walks in the two games. As baseball coaches are wont to say, if you put the ball over the plate and make hitters out of the batters, you have seven people behind you to help you out. But there is no defense against the walk.
***
-- Whither Kanto Invitational? It’s time that something be done to revive interest in the Kanto Invitational track and field meet; only six girls and five boys teams attended, and only one of those from off-island and that team, Kubasaki of Okinawa, featured just one athlete.
Talk among some of the organizers revolved around flipping the Kanto Invitational with the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools district finals, moving the former to the last week of April – prior to the DODDS Pacific-mandated Far East meet qualifying deadline – and the latter to the second week of May.
This way, the Kanto Invitational becomes the last major Far East qualifier and truly becomes a Far East dress rehearsal, with many of the major players from many more teams in attendance. Not to mention that teams from Okinawa, Korea and Guam that wish to travel to Yokota, the Kanto Invitational’s host site the last few years, won’t be bound by the DODDS restriction on long-haul trips during the two-week Advanced Placement testing period.
And it would also put the Kanto and the Okinawa Activities Council finals on equal footing, with each serving as a district championship, but not a Far East qualifier.
A modest proposal: Make that move.
***
-- As good as advertised, and thensome: American School In Japan regular season-ending girls soccer matches have been as good as advertised, definitely lived up to the hype, so much so that weeks in advance of them, I’d made plans to come to the last two, the Nile C. Kinnick 1-0 victory last May 11 at Yokosuka Naval Base and the Mustangs’ 1-0 rain-soaked win over Yokota last Thursday.
A couple of things resonated with me before, during and after the match, which was delayed 40 minutes by lightning.
The teams and spectators were ordered indoors by the referees to stay out of harm’s way. So all sequestered to ASIJ very well-appointed school cafeteria, where Panthers and Mustangs players – who seem to get along famously! – mingled at a couple of cafeteria tables, blue jersey next to black jersey, played games, sang songs, some good fellowship to pass the time prior to the match.
Rain drenched the match from start to finish, ranging from drizzle to downpour. In the end, the Mustangs took care of the business they didn’t at Yokosuka and salved the wounds from that heartbreaking loss to Kinnick by scoring in the 70th minute, in a manner that had to hurt the hearts of the Panthers as well.
ASIJ’s Kiyomi Powell sent a deep ball from the sideline toward the net and Yokota freshman goalkeeper Sarah Cronin. She appeared to have a good bead on it and had gathered it in … but it somehow slipped beneath her toward the goal and ASIJ’s Maya Szerdaheyli had a clear path to the net. Goal. Game. Set. Match. Mustangs win the Kanto Plain and gain Japan’s top seed into the Far East D-I Tournament (more on that later).
And plenty of fellowship after the match ended, too. ASIJ and Yokota players hugged, and every Panther was there to comfort Cronin, who looked as if her dog had run away. Sarah, that happens to even the best professionals on the biggest of stages (ask Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings about the fluke goal he gave up against the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Playoffs). And if that’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you, believe me, you’re doing great.
***
Best of luck to all at Far East this week.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 19, 2013
Last Tuesday was a crucial day in the 14-season history of the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League: A first meeting between league leadership (the new commissioner, Joe Howell) and a highly positioned USFJ official (incoming command Chief Master Sgt. James Laurent).
Over lunch Tuesday at Yokota Air Base’s Historic Route 16 Japan (nee Outback O’Club Annex), Laurent and Howell discussed the league, the past and the future of interservice football in Japan and the Pacific (DISCLAIMER: I was in attendance at Howell’s invitation).
The discussion was affable and engaging, Howell expressing the need for USFJ to provide even token recognition, that even if financial support couldn’t be offered for equipment, referees and transportation – and face it, varsity sports funding has been in decline for decades and not about to increase any time soon. Without saying so directly, Laurent made it quite clear that for the league to gain USFJ command support, the need must be demonstrated from the rank and file, teams, players and coaches.
That goes back to commitment, on a number of levels.
Commitment by each team to engage in their respective MWR, community services and force support outlets, requesting their assistance for any number of things and offering to work hand-in-hand with them to make things work. Even if all they can provide is a couple of goal-post cushions here, a new down box there and if they’re years away from receiving full financial support.
Commitment by teams to engage their respective bases’ leaderships. Starting with inviting them to preside over pre-game coin tosses.
Commitment by teams to engage their local base public affairs functions and AFN to market their on-field product, letting them know when games take place and where. And to keep doing so even if those functions don’t respond at first.
Commitment by teams to honor their schedule, to work hand-in-hand with opposing teams when a scheduling conflict occurs.
Commitment by teams to ensure their respective officials associations possess copies of and know the league by-laws inside and out. Commitment by the officials associations to ensure that each game is refereed consistently with the rules applied the same way no matter where games occur.
Commitment by teams to put a polished product on the field. Ensuring that sufficient numbers turn out for practice to make the offense and defense function as they should on game day, and not have four or five show up for practice, then 50 come on game day all expecting to play.
And commitment not just for the teams to look out for themselves, but to take the long view and do things with the league as a whole in mind.
It will take time and effort. Nothing like that comes overnight. It may take years of frustration and some may give up because of perceived lack of progress. The sort of things the teams and league are seeking is sort of like what you get when you visit the deli man cutting bologna, one slice at a time.
***
A few on-field modest proposals for teams to make their engines purr just a bit better:
Yokota needs to put two good halves of football together. The Warriors, with veteran Darone Frierson under center, appear to be one team that can consistently run a spread offense with the proper expectation realized. Frierson was 13-for-20 for 203 yards and five touchdowns in the first half of Saturday’s 33-6 romp over Misawa, but the offense went silent in the second half, which the Jets won 6-0. Consistency is the key.
Kadena could generate more firepower by getting receiver Devon Cheatham more involved in the offense. He’s the tallest player in the South Division and Cheatham, who played college ball, gave Hansen secondary types fits in the Dragons’ final drive in the Wolfpack’s 8-2 May 5 home win.
Hansen and Misawa could each benefit from working on their ground games a tad more. Despite getting soundly punished by Yokota, particularly in the first half, the Jets showed some signs of life when they went to a full-house backfield in the fourth quarter and ran what my old high school coach called “tank” plays.
And any time your offense hasn’t generated more than 100 offensive yards in a game, as Hansen couldn’t May 5, it’s time to consider something a bit more basic, if for no other reason to keep the ball out of the opponents’ hands more.
***
Good to see Hansen traveling north to play at Yokota this coming Saturday. First inter-division game the league has played since the Torii Bowl last August, and the first in the regular season this year. Strongly recommend the Wolfpack work on their pass defense.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 19, 2013
Only two numbers change in this, the final regular-season Pacific high school soccer ratings. But as with all Far East tournaments, these listings could change dramatically depending on the results. Here we go:
Boys
1, Christian Academy Japan (6-0-1).
2, Kadena, Okinawa (10-4-4).
3, Seoul American (11-1-4).
4, Matthew C. Perry, Japan (20-6-3)
5, Zama American, Japan (13-6-0)
6, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan (14-6-3)
7, Taejon Christian International, South Korea (11-6-2)
8, Yongsan International-Seoul (8-4-4)
9, Seoul Foreign (11-8-3)
10, Kubasaki, Okinawa (7-7-4)
Girls
1, American School In Japan (11-0-2)
2, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan (18-1-1)
3, Seoul Foreign (16-1-2)
4, Yokota, Japan (13-2-3)
5, Kubasaki, Okinawa (4-3-2)
6, Osan American, South Korea (8-3-1)
7, Southern, Guam, (7-3-0)
8, Seoul American (6-4-2)
9, Kadena, Okinawa (5-4-3)
10, Matthew C. Perry, Japan (12-7-0)
By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 12, 2013
OK, we’ve frequently gone down the list of possible Pacific high school track and field records that may be broken this season.
What about the Far East meet May 20-21 at Yokota? Let’s give it a look:
Boys
Shot put—43.011 feet, Gabriel Ahner, Kadena, 2011. Dead on arrival; Yokota’s Dylan Kessler has already thrown 44-8 this season. Possible mark: 44.10.
Discus—133.79 feet, Roland Cote, Zama American, 2012. Possible, but a long shot by Yokota’s Jesse Hogan. Possible mark: 130-6.
High jump—6 feet, 6 inches, Lotty Smith, Kadena, 2011. Possible by Yokota’s Donovan Ball, who’s posted 6-4¾ this season; it would make him the second to break the 2-meter mark in the Pacific. Possible mark: 6-5½.
Long jump—21 feet, 6 inches, Chaun Lynn, Nile C. Kinnick, 2010. Safe.
100—11.01, Andre Watson, Kubasaki, 2010. Dead on arrival, with Kubasaki’s Rahman Farnell and Jarrett Mitchell, Yokota’s Stanley Speed and Seoul American’s Ronald Dogan leading the charge. Possible time: 10.7.
110 hurdles—15.15, Fred Gustafsson, Yokota, 2012. On life support, as Kadena’s Derrick Taylor has already posted a sub-15 on Okinawa; Zama American’s Mitchell Harrison will also give chase. Possible time: 15.05.
200—22.66, Andre Watson, Kubasaki, 2010. Dead on arrival, with the aforementioned chasing. Possible time: 22.05.
300 hurdles—40.15, Fred Gustafsson, Yokota, 2012. Dead on arrival; Taylor has gone sub-40 on Okinawa this season. Possible time: 40.0.
400—51.02, Justin Smith, Kinnick, 2012. Dead on arrival; Okinawa Christian International’s Keishi Nambara posted 50.38 in the districts. Possible time: 50.20.
400 relay—44.01, Kadena, 2011. On life support; we’ve seen several sub 44.5s this season. Possible time: 43.80.
800—2:01.2, Tomas Sanchez, Kadena, 2010. Dead on arrival; Kubasaki’s Ryan Bugler has posted two sub-2:00s this season. Possible time: 1:56.5, which would also break the Pacific record (see earlier post).
1,600—Has never been run at Far East, but the foundation record will be hard to beat, thanks to Bugler and Erik Armes of Kubasaki, Kinnick’s Robert Beard, ASIJ’s Kai Layden, Yokota revelation Daniel Galvin and Kadena’s Andrew Kilkenny, Hunter Ficenec and Carlos Gutierrez. Possible time: 4:22:55, which would break Armes’ Pacific record of 4:25.88.
1,600 relay—3:30.59, Kinnick, 2012. Possible, but a long shot; OCSI ran 3:32.93 at districts. Possible time: 3:31.
3,200—Another foundation record will be set here. Possible time: 9:56.
3,200 relay—8:20.48, Zion Christian Academy, 2012. Safe.
Girls
Shot put—31.88 feet, Shannon Jackson, Kinnick, 2010. Dead on arrival; Zama’s Niyah Lewis and ASIJ’s Liz Thornton will put this out of reach. Possible mark: 32-6.
Discus—108.66 feet, Christian Garner, Zama, 2012. Safe.
High jump—5.12 feet, Arrianna Guerra, Zion, 2012. Dead on arrival; Kadena’s Jasmine Rhodes has already jumped 5-3. Possible mark: 5-4½.
Long jump—16.14 feet, Liz Thornton, ASIJ. On life support, with Thornton and Kinnick’s De’Asia Brown chasing. Possible mark: 16-3.
100—12.7, Kristy Taylor, Seoul American, 2010. Dead on arrival; Kadena’s Janika Caines, Zion’s Jade Cummings, Kinnick’s Val James and Kubasaki’s Kaelyn Francis giving chase. Possible time: 12.4.
100 hurdles—17.33, Stefani Loisel, Guam High, 2011. Dead on arrival; Kubasaki’s Danielle Balfour has already posted a 16.74. Possible time: 16.5.
200—26.07, Stefani Loisel, Guam High, 2012. Dead on arrival, Caines, Cummings, Thornton and Francis giving chase. Possible time: 25.1.
300 hurdles—46.97, Stefani Loisel, Guam High, 2012 (also the Pacific record). Safe.
400—59.17, Jenna Doyno, ASIJ, 2012. Dead on arrival; James has posted two sub-59s this season. Possible time: 57.9.
400 relay—49.17, Kadena, 2012 (also the Pacific record). Possible, but a long shot. Possible time: 50.2.
800—2:25.19, Amanda Henderson, Seoul American, 2012. Dead on arrival; Kinnick’s Cary Fontanez has run a sub-2:25 this season. Possible time: 2:23.8.
1,600—Another foundation record, with Kubasaki’s Jessica Ircink leading the charge. Possible time: 5:21.50, which would break Ircink’s Pacific record of 5:23.26.
1,600 relay—4:06.49, Kadena, 2012. On life support after Kinnick’s 4:07.37 in the Kanto Invitational. Possible time: 4:06.10.
3,200—Another foundation mark. Possible time: 11:45.60, which would break the Pacific record of 11:48.1.
3,200 relay—10:24.57, ASIJ, 2012. Dead on arrival; Kubasaki’s district finals time was nearly five seconds better. Possible time: 10:17.50.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 12, 2013
Far East is the next big stage at which the following Pacific track and field records may take a tumble. This is the final update prior to the Far East meet May 20-21 at Yokota:
Boys
High jump-- Lotty Smith, Kadena, 6 feet, 6 inches, 2011. Possible. Yokota’s Donovan Ball 6-4¾) is definitely in the neighbourhood. Possible jump: 6-6.
100 – Andre Watson, Kubasaki, 10.30, 2011. Remains on life support, with Seoul American’s Ronald Dogan and Darien Briggs, Osan American’s Marlon Cox, Kubasaki’s Rahman “Chima” Farnell and Jarrett Mitchell, Yokota’s Stanley Speed and Nile C. Kinnick’s LaTendre Paylor in pursuit. Possible time: 10.25.
200 – Kenny Elder, Yokota, 21.4, 1977, matched by Yokota’s Preston Brooks and Watson in 2011. Possible, by the aforementioned . Possible time: 21.80.
400 – Timmy Gardner, Yokota, 48.9, 1988. Possible; Keishi Nambara of OCSI ran 50.38 at Okinawa districts. Possible time: 50.20.
800 – Blake Bannister, Christian Academy Japan, 1:57.3, 2008. Remains on life support, with Kubasaki’s Ryan Bugler, with a PR of 1:58.52, leading the charge. Possible time: 1:56.9.
1,600 – Erik Armes, Kubasaki, 4:25.88, 2013. Dead on arrival. Armes, Bugler and Yokota’s Dan Galvin and Kinnick’s Robert Beard all have a shot. Possible time: 4:15.
3,200 – Roger Olson, CAJ, 9:31, 1974. On life support, and the aforementioned are all in the hunt. Possible time: 9:40.
110 hurdles – Eric Robinson, Kadena, 14.1, 2006. On life support, after Taylor’s 14.74 earlier this season. Possible time: 14.25.
300 hurdles – Randall O’Bannon, Kubasaki, 39.14, 2008. On life support, after Taylor’s 39.94 earlier this season. Possible time: 39.20.
400 relay – Kubasaki, 43.34, 2011. Possible, with Kubasaki, Yokota, Kinnick, Guam High, Kadena and others leading the charge. Possible time: 43.70.
1,600 relay – Kadena, 3:24.6, 2004. Safe.
3,200 relay – Singapore American, 8:13.6, 1991. Safe.
Girls
100– Jackie Richards, Kubasaki, 11.5, 2001. Safe.
200 – Lorianne Roxas, Kubasaki, 25.03, 2003. On life support, with Kadena’s Janika Caines, Kubasaki’s Kaelyn Francis and Zion Christian Academy’s Jade Cummings trying. Possible time: 24.90.
400 – Jenny Melson, Singapore American, 57.20, 2001. On life support; Kinnick’s Val James posted a 58.32 this season. Possible time: 57.50.
800 – Nylin, Yokohama International, 2:19.4, 1996. Possible, though a long shot. Kinnick’s Carydaliz Fontanez has the best chance, with Kubasaki’s Allie Reichenberg and Jessica Ircink, Kadena’s Ana Hernandez and others following closely. Possible time: 2:21.
1,600 – Siarria Ingram, Jessica Ircink, Kubasaki, 5:23.26. Dead on arrival. Ircink will likely rebreak her own record. Possible time: 5:22.50.
3,200 – Sakuma, Seisen International, 11:48.1, 2004. On life support, with that whole gang giving chase; Reichenberg posted a 11:51.96 at districts. Possible time: 11:50.40.
100 hurdles – Serafina Smith, Kubasaki, 15.2, 2004. Safe.
300 hurdles – Stefani Loisel, Guam High, 46.97, 2012. Safe.
400 relay – Kadena, 49.17, 2012. Possible, with Kinnick and Kadena giving chase. Possible time: 49.50.
1,600 relay – Kadena, 4:06.49, 2012. On life support, following Kinnick’s 4:07.37 at the Kanto Invitational. Possible time: 4:06.55.
Does Sports Blog Nation have any other ideas? Somebody out there I didn’t mention? Let me hear it! Be true to your school, but remember, you’ve entered THE “No-Hate” Zone.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 12, 2013
Precious little movement up and down in the ratings, now that the Okinawa district titles have been settled. There could be some major movement in advance of Far East depending on what happens Thursday when Yokota visits ASIJ’s Mustang Valley.
Boys
1, Christian Academy Japan (6-0-1).
2, Kadena, Okinawa (10-4-4).
3, Seoul American (11-1-4).
4, Matthew C. Perry, Japan (20-6-3)
5, Zama American, Japan (13-6-0)
6, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan (14-6-3)
7, Taejon Christian International, South Korea (11-6-2)
8, Yongsan International-Seoul (8-4-4)
9, Seoul Foreign (11-8-3)
10, Kubasaki, Okinawa (7-7-4)
Girls
1, American School In Japan (10-0-1)
2, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan (18-1-1)
3, Seoul Foreign (16-1-2)
4, Yokota, Japan (13-1-3)
5, Kubasaki, Okinawa (4-3-2)
6, Osan American, South Korea (8-3-1)
7, Southern, Guam, (7-3-0)
8, Seoul American (6-4-2)
9, Kadena, Okinawa (5-4-3)
10, Matthew C. Perry, Japan (12-7-0)
By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 12, 2013
After a convincing doubleheader sweep of Kinnick, ASIJ remains firmly entrenched atop this group, which pretty much remains the same as last week.
1, American School In Japan
2, Kubasaki, Okinawa
3, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan
4, Yokota, Japan
5, Osan American, South Korea
By Dave Ornauer
Published: May 12, 2013
The points margin between Nos. 1 and 2 remains rather wide; Seoul American breaks tie for fifth by capturing DODDS Korea regular-season title.
1, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan
2, Kadena, Okinawa
3, Zama American, Japan
4, Kubasaki, Okinawa
5, Seoul American, South Korea
Dropped out: Daegu High.
