MANOA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Here in Manoa, the Mid Pacific Owls are feeling extra proud tonight.
Two of their own – Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Will Ireton – have soared from this very diamond to the World Series stage.
“We’re really proud them and we want them to do good,” said Coach Dunn Muramaru who has led the Mid Pac baseball program for nearly 40 years. He says his two former players speak volumes about what he’s tried to build here.
“I think what they tell is that the culture here was good, that they worked hard,” said Coach Muramaru.
Mid Pacific baseball pitching coach Craig Hayashi says that’s how he remembers both players and that’s what made them stand out, even back then.
‘They both were very respectful and they were coachable. They always listened. They did what they were asked to do,” said Hayashi.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a 2013 graduate and now an infielder with the Toronto Blue Jays. Will Ireton is a 2007 graduate and is a Japanese language interpreter with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mid Pacific catching coach Todd Jinbo says he’s in awe of where his two former players have come in their careers.
“Isaiah in high school, he was like a tiny kid, like you would never think that he was, he would be that size. But after high school, he just he grew like six inches and put on a good 30 pounds of pure muscle. The Samoan part kind of kicked in, but he had, like, the smoothest hands and the quickest feet and the attitude of a giant,” said Jinbo.
“Will was the studious guy. He didn’t throw very hard, so he had to figure out different ways to get guys out. So he had to be smart. He had to place his pitches. And he was always, like, literally always asking questions. If there’s one thing about Will, he was always asking questions.”
Coach Muramaru says he’s stayed in touch with both his former players and is proud of how they have both stayed humble. He recalls going to watch a game when Kiner-Falefa was in his rookie year with the Texas Rangers and met up with him after the game.
“I asked him, ‘can I get an autograph?’ and then he goes in the back, and I was thinking, ‘What are you doing?’ And he comes back, he goes, ‘Oh, Adrian Beltre, is not here.’ I go, ‘No, we don’t want Adrian Beltre. We want your autograph!’ And it was kind of funny because he was, ‘me?’ But he’s grown up since that time, so I really enjoy watching him,” said Muramaru.
There’s a message other young athletes in Hawaii can take from seeing these players on this stage.
“If you work hard, like baseball was Isiah’s life. if you have that goal, and you have that drive, the sky’s the limit. And for Will, you know, maybe he just didn’t have the talent, but you have the brains, like, there’s always a way to do what you’re passionate about,” said Jinbo.
So while these coaches teach teamwork every day, in this World Series, this dugout is divided when asked who they’re cheering for.
“Isiah,” said Coach Muramaru. “He’s our player. Will, he’s not playing. He interprets, right? So I’m hoping that if they interpret him with Shohei, he just does his job. I mean, like, just don’t mess up. But Isiah, he’s playing, right?”
“Oh, LA all the way,” said Jinbo, wearing a Dodgers polo shirt. “I mean, I hope Isiah does well. I hope it’s a good series. But in my heart, I gotta bleed the blue.”
“Well, my favorite team is neither of those teams, but I’m definitely cheering for both of them,” said Hayashi.
The World Series may crown one champion, but for Mid Pacific, they’ve already won.