The team includes (from left): front — Aiden Arnise, Ryan Pagdilao, Vincent Iwamura, Issac Nakoa, Shmuely Godt, Ivan Aguinaldo and Tony Felice; back row — . Harry Flores, Darren Opunui, Jobe Catan-Lono, Nephi Hong, Kaleo Medeiros, Kealaula Medeiros, Kalewa Kalanikau, Jeff Felice, Anu McCabe, Ekolu Mathias, Liam Chadli, Jamie Smythe, Rodney Haia and Danton Hong. Not pictured are Isaia Acia, Maika Barroga, and coaches Emmett Markulis and Kaimana Ancog.

LAHAINA – Led by first-year head coach Danton Hong, the Lahainaluna High School varsity baseball team looked to be gaining traction for a solid start to the 2020 Maui Interscholastic League season. Then the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement, and now that renewed baseball vigor will be put on hold.

According to Coach Danton, the Lunas were off to a great start and had competed in pre-season tournaments at Maui High and King Kekaulike before the season folded.

“We played some competitive Neighbor Island teams that went very well and taught us where we were as a team,” Hong said.

“I had some goals in mind to start the season, and that was to have the support of a coaching staff and to equip the team with the gear needed. I knew once these two things were in place, we could start building our team.”

Coach Danton’s staff is made up of Rodney Haia, Darren Opunui, Harry Flores, Kaleo Medeiros, Emmet Markulis, Jamie Smythe, Jeff Felice and Kaimana Ancog.

The player roster includes Isaiah Acia, Ivan Aguinaldo, Aiden Arnise, Maika Barroga, Jobe Catan-Lono, Liam Chadli, Tony Felice, Shmuely Godt, Nephi Hong, Vincent Iwamura, Kalewa Kalanikau, Ekolu Mathias, Anu McCabe, Kealaula Medeiros, Issac Nakoa, Ryan Pagdilao and James Smythe.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Lahainaluna High School baseball program. I want to thank Athletic Director Scott Soldwisch for supporting the program, Trainers Jon Conrad and Rebecca Cohen for tending to the needs of our athletes, and a big mahalo to our coaching staff and the families for being here for the boys,” Coach Danton concluded.