Like they have most years in recent memory, Reid and Ron Nomura’s 18-and-under national team from Hawaii made the trek to the mainland and back to Ohio and played a doubleheader at Crushers Stadium in Avon against the T3 Warhawks on July 11. Over the years, the Hawaii teams and T3 have formed connections that allow the players to come out to Ohio as part of the stateside swing. Through this partnership, Nomura’s players are able to gain some exposure – along with experience and the ability to use T3’s facilities in Avon.
“The facilities up here are beautiful,” Reid Nomura said. “Back home, we don’t have many turf fields. So over here, it’s nice to come out here and work out at T3.
With Coach (Ryan) Rua and Coach Jeff, they allow us to come and work out and it’s a great opportunity for these kids to continue and develop their game.” One of the other differences coming from the islands to the mainland is the competition, as Izzy Diaz noted, among a few other items. “We really don’t see that much pitching with guys throwing gas,” Diaz said, with guys throwing into the 90s a rarity back home.
“There’s probably about four people, at best, who throw 90 on the island. It’s good to see 90 out here.” Diaz also stated the exposure stateside is much different compared to playing at home.
“The only type of exposure we get is just videos. People actually come out to the games over here,” Diaz explained, as several T3 Warhawks in the opposing dugout had been covered multiple times from their high school careers at Morning Journal coverage area schools. Having such a vastly different experience livens the atmosphere a bit for Diaz.
“Having an atmosphere is pretty OK,” he said, “but we don’t have much at home either because it’s not as big as this.” One player who made his second trip stateside – as well as returning to Ohio – is Jaydon Geraci, who’s enjoyed the ability to come out this way to play baseball. With the lack of turf fields and having the access to the T3 facilities with the relationship developed with Ryan Rua, Geraci looks forward to the trip each year.
“It’s enjoyable, and I look forward to this every year after high school baseball,” said Geraci. “It’s very relaxing and I get to hang out with everyone here, and just have a good time.” There’s also a difference in how varsity and junior varsity squads are constructed on the islands vs.
Northeast Ohio – with the two squads in Hawaii often traveling together. “We have JV and varsity players together for Hawaii baseball,” Geraci explained. “It’s not separate where JV and varsity is one season.
They’re both happening at the same time, so you get pulled up and pulled down every time. It’s pretty much like the minor (leagues) at that point.” Still, the exposure the players gain is invaluable, and Reid Nomura knows its critical for his squads’ growth.
“The reason we come up here is to expose these players to the top-tier talent and the next level baseball,” the coach said. “We’ve had many players come through Ohio and they’re going off to Division I (schools) like Nolan Souza at Arkansas and Kanoa Morisaki at Cal State Bakersfield. The list goes on and on, but it’s just about coming out here to play the good competition to help them prepare for the next level.
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