It didn’t take long for former Pearl City High standout Tyler Tokunaga to make himself right at home at the next level with Hawaii Pacific University’s baseball team.<\/p>\n
As a freshman two years ago, he burst onto the PacWest Conference scene like a meteor, hitting .376 with four doubles and two triples for the Sharks, while scoring 37 runs and recording 21 RBI.<\/p>\n
Last year, he continued his upward mobility by batting .348 and driving in 25 runs to go with eight on-bases.<\/p>\n
Tokunaga’s efforts did not go unnoticed in league circles, as he recently was named to the Preseason All-PacWest Team as a shortstop.<\/p>\n
The Sharks were predicted to finish fifth in the PacWest in the preseason and received votes toward the top 10 in the West Region.<\/p>\n
During his high school days at Pearl City, Tokunaga was named OIA Red West Player of the Year in a vote of league coaches following his senior season in 2012.<\/p>\n
He was on two OIA title teams at Pearl City as well as a key member of the Chargers’ 2011 Division I state championship team.<\/p>\n
Tokunaga’s younger brother, Tanner, is a freshman outfielder on the Sharks’ roster, as well as a three-time OIA All-Conference pick during his own prep career.<\/p>\n
Coming off a 30-18 record in 2014, HPU opens its 2015 season Wednesday by hosting Northwest Nazarene University at 6 p.m. at Hans L’Orange Park in Waipahu.<\/p>\n
HPU also will play double-headers on Thursday and Friday at Hans L’Orange Park against Northwest Nazarene.<\/p>\n
The first games will begin at 4 p.m. on both days, with the nightcaps set for 7.<\/p>\n
In fact, the Sharks will play their first 16 games on Hans L’Orange field. Their first road game isn’t until March 21, when they meet Cal Baptist University in Riverside.<\/p>\n
HPU’s PacWest home opener will be Feb. 27 against Fresno Pacific University.<\/p>\n
Joining Tokunaga on the preseason All-PacWest Team (as well as a Second Team All-West Region honoree) was Saint Louis High product Derek Nakasato.<\/p>\n
An outfielder, Nakasato led the Sharks in batting as a junior last season with a .356 average and drove in a team-best 41 RBI.<\/p>\n
He also set a school record when he went on a 34-game hitting streak.<\/p>\n
In addition to Tyler and Tanner Tokunaga, the Sharks also will feature several other standouts from West Oahu, including Reid Akau (Waipahu; Pearl City High), Jordan Mopas (Ewa Beach; Saint Louis), Jordan Oshiro (Pearl City; Pearl City High), William Leskovec (Kapolei; Kapolei High), Austin Inabata (Kapolei; Moanalua High), Rico Garcia (Kapolei; Saint Louis) and Tre’ Haliburton-Goeas (Kapolei; Saint Louis). <\/p>\n
jackster.1969@yahoo.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It didn’t take long for former Pearl City High standout Tyler Tokunaga to make himself right at home at the..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-west-oahu-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n