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Volume 126 Issue 111
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
kansan.com
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
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THE HAWAIIAN PIPELINE
Four players who learned about teamwork and the meaning of "aloha."
KA'IANA ELDREDGE Senior catcher
JUSTIN PROTACIO Junior second baseman
BEN FELDERSTEIN
sports@kansan.com
As Ka'iana Eldredge squatted behind home plate on a cool February day during his junior season, he paused. Eldredge looked to his eight teammates on the field in front of him and saw something different. He saw something he never expected at the University of Kansas.
Eldredge's eyes went from his pitcher, to his second baseman and finally his left fielder. Robert Kahana, Justin Protocio and Michael Suiter — three of Eldredge's teammates, three of his best friends and three fellow Hawaiians.
"I had to pause." Eldredge said. "I was just sitting behind the dish, and it was just one of those things you have to pause and think about. You're here at the University of Kansas — nowhere near Hawaii — and you have four local boys in the starting lineup. It's a chicken skin, goosebump kind of moment"
These four ballplayers are products of a pipeline. A pipeline that extends 3,800 miles from Lawrence, Kan., to Hawaii. A pipeline that Kansas coach Ritch Price started during his time in California and continues to use in his 12th season with the lawhaws.
FROM PARADISE TO KANSAS
In the late '90s Jack Gifford, the founder of Maxim Integrated Products, invited Price to help him run a baseball camp in Hawaii. Price was the only person invited not from California.
MICHAEL SUITER Junior outfielder
A pipeline that has been formed with not just baseball in mind. A pipeline that's been made with trust, compassion and honor. A pipeline that has started a family.
Price stepped off the plane in Hawaii for the first time and immediately knew this trip would be unlike any hed been on before. Price started building connections and meeting people.
Most importantly, he began learning the meaning of "aloha." He saw how Hawaiians acted, and was blown away by their generosity, compassion and emphasis on family. The true meaning of "aloha."
In 2007, Price was in Hawaii on another recruiting trip. He was scouting Wally Marceli, Hawaii's high school player of the year. Marceli intrigued Price. He wanted this young talent for his Kansas team. When Marceli committed to
ROBERT KAHANA Junior pitcher
Kansas, it laid the groundwork for his fellow Hawaiians to follow.
Eldredge quickly learned of Price's devotion to learning and living aloha. When Eldredge came to visit Kansas and Marceli hosted, his decision was easy. Eldredge was to become the second product of the forming pipeline.
Protocio and Kahana had Kansas in their sights early on in their senior seasons. From playing in the Big 12 to having the opportunity to play with Eldredge at the collegiate level, Kansas was the obvious choice for them.
"You're here at the University of Kansas — nowhere near Hawaii — and you have four local boys in the starting lineup."
KA'IANA ELDREDGE
Senior catcher
Just like that, two more Hawaiians were making their way to Kansas via the Ritch Price pipeline. The last Hawaiian to commit was Michael Suiter. Suiter was originally committed to a different program, but when the entire coaching staff left, he reopened his status. Price reached out to Suiter, explaining why the Jayhawks were the best fit for him. Shortly after he uncommitted from his first school, Suiter committed to Kansas, becoming the fifth Hawaiian to play for Price.
"It's not often that you get to pitch to a local boy," Kahana said. "Having Kai' here made my decision a lot easier."
"That started the ball rolling in the direction were in now." Price explained. "In that region of the country, it's all about trust. If one player comes and he has a really good experience, then you get the next player and the next player, and that's exactly what's taken place."
BASEBALL ON THE ISLANDS Eldredge, Suiter and Punahou School were looking to defend their sixth straight state championship in 2010. They made it through the first rounds of the Hawaii state championship tournament with ease. But when the semi-final round came, Justin Protocio and the Mid-Pacific Institute stood in their way from a seven-peat.
BASEBALL ON THE ISLANDS
SEE ALOHA PAGE 8
"We knew we were playing