As a rare four-year starting pitcher, Kaimuki’s Arthur Oshita was denied his chance to win an OIA or state championship as a senior.
On this day in 1975, Oshita appeared to be well on his way with a 3-2 win over Kalani. The victory moved the Bulldogs two full games ahead of the field in the OIA East with a 9-1 record.
Oshita allowed six hits in the complete game, striking out eight Falcons and only walking one. His defense committed only one error behind him. Lloyd Tanji and Hugh Yonamine, Oshita’s battery mate, drove in runs in the third inning and Guy Ogasawara collected three hits for the winners.
Oshita began his varsity career as a freshman in 1972, limiting Kahuku to one hit over 7 innings to help Kaimuki to the OIA East title but he didn’t get to pitch in a league playoff loss to Gerald Ako and Aiea.
Kaimuki slumped a bit in Oshita’s sophomore year when the young righty started the season as the ace but finished only 3-2. Oshita, the school’s starting quarterback during football season, rebounded a bit at a junior but Kaimuki finished a game out of first behind McKinley and missed states for the second straight year.
So there was a sense of urgency with new coach Ed Kawano in 1975, as Kaimuki was the team to beat with a pitching staff of Gene Smith, Oshita and Dale Taniguchi. It paid off as Kaimuki returned to the top of the East but lost the OIA championship when Aiea’s Derek Tatsuno completely shut them down with 18 strikeouts to outduel Smith.
Kawano chose Smith for the first game at states, knowing that he would have Oshita the next day against Iolani if the Bulldogs won. It was not to be as Oshita never saw the mound and the Clippers eliminated the Bulldogs 4-3.
In other games on this date in 1975:
>> Wayne Nagamine smashed a grand slam in the sixth inning and Campbell beat Waianae 14-7.
>> Pat Dugan threw a four-hitter and Kaiser topped Kalaheo 5-1. Dugan and Alan Odo each paired hits for the Cougars.
>> Scott Kurihara allowed one run in eight innings and Carlos Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth for the save as light-hitting Castle nipped McKinley 2-1.
>> Saint Louis erupted for an 8-0 lead after two innings to beat Punahou 8-3 at Iolani Field. Mel Travers got the scoring started with a bases-loaded triple in the first inning and Tony Goo did the same in the second. Albert Cummings pitched a three-hitter and had two hits for Saint Louis.
>> Kamehameha beat Mid-Pacific 10-3 in the second game of the doubleheader. Vernon Ramie, Craig Kunitomo and Darren Gomes limited the Owls to just four hits and Keoni Jardin had two hits and a pair of RBIs. Kimo Perkins, Robin Tsukayama and Gomes also paired hits for the Warriors.
>> Hilo scores 11 runs in the fourth inning and the Vikings blasted Kohala 14-1. Jolson Nakamura and Layne Matsushita each had three hits for Hilo and Robin Miyamoto went the distance on the mound.
>> Keith Shikuma beat Glen Hashimoto in a high-scoring affair and Laupahoehoe beat Ka’u 10-7.
>> John Costales had two hits and St. Joseph beat Konawaena 5-1. Stephen Gabriel went the distance for the Cardinals, striking out eight to beat Steven Texeira‘s 10 strikeouts for the losers.
Correction to name: It’s Scott KURIHARA and not Kurahara,
Wow, played against some of these guys….and Gerald Ako, lived on my block.
Off course the legend himself, Tats was just up the road….