Heading into the start of the third season for the Chaminade baseball team, the objective was clear from head coach Chad Konishi: to do better than last year and the year before that.
In 2024, the team finished with 15 wins and had two players named to the all-conference team. The Silverswords also had 30 members of the team named Academic All-PacWest.
Last year, the team finished the season with 16 PacWest Conference wins, doubling its eight conference wins from the previous year. The season was also highlighted by the upset of Division I school Wichita State, with a 6-4 victory in February.
Though Chaminade’s rejuvenated program has yet to have a winning record in its first two seasons back, the team is confident that it can build on the successes it found since 2024.
“Well, we’ve definitely grown from year one and year two. We’ve grown as people, and we’ve grown as players, we’ve grown as far as wins and success,” said Konishi, who has coached the team since it was reintroduced. “It’s a different group of guys this year, a totally different team.”
Chaminade will start its season Friday with a three-game series against Cal State Los Angeles at Hans L’Orange Field in Waipahu, O’ahu, Hawai’i. The first game will start at 5:30 p.m., with the other two games following on Sunday.
The offense for the Silverswords will look different due to the graduation of their two biggest hitters: Safea Villaruz-Mauai (.323 average, 11 homers, 43 RBI) and Casey Kudell (.274, 14 XBH, 30 RBI).
Senior infielder Cade Fujii, who was tied for second best hitter by RBIs on the team last year, is expected to step up this season after starting all 50 games in his junior year. Knocking home six runs and 30 RBIs, he will look to lighten the loss of the two biggest hitters.
“As a senior, I want to lead by example with how I do things day in and day out, “Fujii said. “I’m focused on being consistent, helping the younger guys adjust to the college game, and doing whatever the team needs to win.”
Junior outfielder Aydan Lobetos has been a part of the team since year one and has led the team in stolen bases both seasons. Konishi emphasized that he expects Lobetos to have a big year and play a lot of time in center field.
“Our team speed is elite this year,” Konishi said.
Konishi pointed out that he has seen some great qualities in a junior infielder/outfielder, Cameron Breeze, who has joined the team from San Diego City College. He had 15 runs and 13 RBIs at the junior college level. Between him and Fujii, the Silverswords will be focusing on timely hitting from their offense.
“I don’t think we can get into a situation where we’re going to outslug somebody, it’s the timely hitting part, I think that gives us the best chance to stay in the ball game,” Konishi said. “I think we’re going to have to pitch and we’re going to have to play good defense.”
Defense will be vital for Chaminade, as the coaching staff focused on recruiting guys who can play several different positions defensively. Konishi mentioned that he and his staff just want to find great athletes, who they can put wherever they need them.
The weakness of the team will come from the starting pitcher position. The Silverswords have several rotation pitchers but lack the starters who can pitch several innings at a time. Senior lefty Anthony O’Canas started nine games last year, which is the most out of all the returners. He tallied up 20 strikeouts in 46.1 innings, with one of his best starts being when he went seven innings and allowed just one unearned run at nationally-ranked Westmont. The Silverswords will look for him to fill in that role as the guy they can depend on.
Also, sophomore righty Brennan Panis, who made 15 appearances and five starts as a freshman, was one of the best pitchers this fall season, according to Konishi. Overall, the team will be looking for some new underclassmen and returners who didn’t get a lot of appearances last season to step up in the pitching role.
“Maybe I have to use a different plan of attack, where a guy gives me three innings, and I get him out of there, and get somebody else in there to give me another two innings,” Konishi said. “We’ll use multiple guys in a game rather than your traditional starter who gets through seven; others have done it, and it’s been successful.”