So this is a fun one! Hawaii Pacific University has not made the playoffs in 14 seasons. That all changed this weekend when HPU earned a trip to the PacWest Tournament at Azusa next month.
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One of the biggest reasons for the Shark’s success this season was strong hitting, led by centerfielder Kota Suzuki. The senior is hitting .425 with a strong .480 OBP. My favorite stat? Over 174 at-bats, he has 21 walks and only 7 K’s. And he is not without a little pop, since he peppered in 2 HR this season. Yesterday he also got his 72nd hit of the season, making Suzuki the school’s all-time single-season hit leader.
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Fun fact: the last time that HPU made the playoffs, in 2010, the team’s best hitter was catcher/infielder Kale Sumner. That season he hit .394 with 5 HR and a .502 OBP. He was drafted in the 32nd round of the 2013 draft and hit well during his two seasons in the minors.