Pac-Five’s Ahu and Nakagawa earn top All-State baseball honors on

By Paul Honda

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In a season of firsts for Pac-Five Wolfpack baseball, the taste of a bittersweet, state runner-up ending hasn’t washed away completely.

The firsts, though, are monumental. Coaches and media in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Baseball All-State selections voted Alika Ahu as Position Player of the Year and Colten Amai Nakagawa as Pitcher of the Year.

Playing in its first Division I state tournament, reaching the championship game, the Wolfpack program has not one, but two top honorees.null

“I think these two have worked their tails off for the past four years in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the field and let the results speak for themselves,” Pac-Five coach Reyn Sugai said of his two standouts. “The work ethic and dedication to consistently better their game whether it be physically, and mentally is something that I am grateful for because it set the standard for the younger players in the program moving forward.”

“I feel extremely grateful and honored to be voted POY. I wouldn’t have done it without the support and belief of my coaches, teammates, friends and family,” said Ahu, son of former UH and Waiakea player Jaime Ahu.

Mililani’s thrilling 1-0 win over Pac-Five for the state crown became an instant classic.

“Alika is a special athlete. His athleticism on the field gives him a lot of options at the next level,” Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said. “He is a competitor. I enjoyed watching him play the game.”

Ahu and Amai Nakagawa are currently busy playing in the West Coast League. Ahu is with the Wenatchee Applesox (Wash.). Amai Nakagawa is hurling for the Marion Berries (Salem, Ore.). In an era of consolidation at bigger programs, neither wavered. Ahu became an All-State basketball player for University Lab School as a junior, while Amai Nakagawa started at quarterback for the Wolfpack.

“I needed Pac-Five and ULS to become the person I am today and I am so grateful that I got to be a part of these amazing programs,” Ahu said. “They gave me opportunities to become a leader and grow as a person and athlete. What brings me the most joy about my high school career was getting to play with my brother (Austen) and friends. We had so much fun and I’m blessed to have gotten to play with my brother and friends that I consider my brothers.”

I want to thank my Nana for supporting me. My brother and my team for every single game, comforting me after losses and congratulating me during wins. I love you always, Nana.”

Ahu, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior, was resilient during a stellar four-year career. A consistent, reliable fielder at shortstop. An occasional starter on the mound and go-to closer in the clutch. Ahu’s 92 mph fastball came in handy at the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Championships. In the opening round, he entered a tight game with Kaiser and got the final two outs for a save in a wild 8-7 win.

In the semifinals, he started and delivered six shutout innings against BIIF champion Waiakea, allowing just two hits. Ahu racked up eight strikeouts with one walk for the victory. Sugai picked his spots with the Stanford signee. Ahu pitched 131⁄3 innings for the full season and did not allow a run. He allowed just five hits with 17 strikeouts and two walks issued, finishing 2-0 with four saves.

Ahu hit .405 for the season with 17 RBIs and 23 runs scored. He walked 12 times for a .479 on-base percentage and tallied a .655 slugging average for a 1.134 OPS.

As a former All-State basketball player, Ahu also did something in a similar path of Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken. 

Ahu did not take a single game off. There was no break between the end of hoops season and the start of baseball preseason for Ahu. The ‘Pack came so close to claiming a state crown.

“Of course, it still stings a bit, but it was a great game. I definitely took in the success that our team achieved this year,” Ahu said. “They’ll be back, though, I’m sure.”

Amai Nakagawa was superb from day one of senior year. He fanned 86 batters in 58 innings, allowing just 40 hits and 17 walks. He allowed just six runs and closed the season with a 7-1 mark and a 0.72 ERA.

“It’s an amazing feeling for sure,” Amai Nakagawa said. “I am very blessed to have amazing people around me that have helped me get to this point in my life and my baseball career. The journey wasn’t always easy. There were a lot of ups and downs, but having a positive mindset everyday is something my coaches preached to us and something that helped me when I didn’t feel my best some days.

“The loss in the state final still stings. It was a tough loss, but it was a really good game. It could’ve gone either way. Even though we lost I am proud of how far we came as a team. I am proud of all my teammates for the amount of hard work they put in and how they pushed each other to be the best every day. I couldn’t ask for a better senior season.”

Amai Nakagawa had three outings in preseason. First was four scoreless innings with six K’s and no walks against Baldwin on Feb. 12. Ten days later, he did another four scoreless innings, this time against Aiea, adding nine strikeouts and one walk. 

Amai Nakagawa ended preseason with a five-inning, one-hit performance against eventual state champion Mililani. He struck out nine with no walks.

In ILH play, Amai Nakagawa threw 341⁄3 innings, posting 48 strikeouts and 11 walks while permitting 25 hits. He was 4-0 with a 1.02 ERA in league play.

In the state tourney, he got the win against Kaiser, pitching 42⁄3 innings, allowing one run on four hits with eight K’s and three walks.

In the final against Mililani, he went six innings and allowed one unearned run on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Mililani’s 1-0 win was the only loss of the year for Amai Nakagawa.

In addition, he played right field and hit .292 with 16 RBIs.

His next chapter begins at the University of Hawaii.

“Colten is a good get for UH,” Hirayama said. “He has excellent command and throws multiple pitches for strikes. I am looking forward to seeing his progress at the collegiate level.”

”The thing that I am most proud of is the fact that winning POY wasn’t their goal, it was to help the team and program win our first state championship and that speaks volumes to their character and leadership to do whatever it takes to help our team win,” Sugai said.

”Where they took a big leap this season was their leadership skills. They both have always been the most competitive guys on the team but this year, they were able to bring the rest of the team with them to that level of intensity by not only leading by example but holding people accountable.”

Coach of the Year honors went to Hirayama.

“I am blessed to be honored with this award. There are so many deserving coaches who could have easily been selected this year,” Hirayama said.

The longtime guru managed a roster of 30 players expertly.

“The growth of the team from day one was amazing. We had a lot of underclassmen and everyone came together to play for a common goal. There were no egos. Everyone played for each other,” Hirayama said.

The Trojans were 6-0 in postseason action, including a 13-3 TKO win over Pearl City for the OIA title.

Hirayama and staff relied on their leaders. 

“From an experience standpoint, we were very young. Our leadership this year made everyone feel that they were critical in our success. They brought the team together and the love that these players had for each other was a big difference,” he said. “We’ve had better, more physically talented teams in previous years, but the way these guys played together and for each other made this year’s success possible.” 

Coach of the Year voting was very close. Sugai was second to Hirayama. Waylon Salazar, who guided Honokaa to the Division II state title, was third.

In Position Player of the Year voting, Baldwin catcher Kai Watanabe was second, followed by Roosevelt third baseman Luke Tuasivi.