Friday, May 8, 1998
’Bows bid farewell
to 3 seniors
Sunday's regular-season
By Al Chase
baseball finale could be it for
Binkie, Honma and Konishi
Star-BulletinKamuela Binkie, Neal Honma and Kelly Konishi, who were walk-ons for the University of Hawaii baseball team five years ago, will complete their regular-season college careers this weekend against San Jose State.
And unless UH qualifies for the Western Athletic Conference playoffs the Rainbows are 212 games out in the race for the final playoff berth the three will end their college careers Sunday.
Binkie, a 6-foot-3, 218-pound right-handed middle reliever, graduates May 17 with a degree in Hawaiian Studies.
"He's somebody who kind of willed himself to be a Division I pitcher," UH head coach Les Murakami said. "He did the things that made us keep him. He's going to make the Hawaiian race happy. He's family orientated, smart and could go for a masters. But his father died, and as the oldest in his family, he's going to work to help his mother and younger sisters."
Honma, a 5-11, 170-pound right fielder, will earn his degree in Civil Engineering in December.
"He's one of the toughest kids I've ever had here," Murakami said of Honma. "The only time he hasn't been hurt was during his redshirt year (1994), yet he has missed very little playing time the last four seasons."
Konishi, a 5-11, 200-pounder, has played the outfield and first base and served as designated hitter. Murakami calls him "Manny Mota" for his pinch-hitting abilities. Konishi recently changed his major to Sports Psychology and plans to graduate next May.
"He could come off the bench and give us a hit when it counted," Murakami said of Konishi. "He's probably the greatest batting-practice hitter we've ever had. I've never seen anyone hit so many home runs in BP. I was so happy to see him get one against San Diego State last week. It's too bad we lost. It should have been Kelly's game."
Binkie, from Makawao, Maui, points to this year's victory over the University of Hawaii at Hilo in Kona as his career highlight.
"It stands out because it's one of the few times I ever got to finish a game and greet all my teammates as they came out (of the dugout)," Binkie said. "As a middle reliever, I was usually going out."
Honma, who has a .333 career batting average, said hitting for the cycle against Cal State Sacramento at Rainbow Stadium during his sophomore season is his most memorable game at UH.
"What I'll remember most is just getting the chance to play here," he said. "I grew up watching the Rainbows and it was a dream come true."
Konishi said his highlight came early in his college career.
"It was probably my first at-bat," he said. "I think I got a hit, but I remember how nervous I was."
WAC baseball
Friday San Jose State vs. Hawaii, 6:06 p.m.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
