WAIPAHU, Hawaii (February 5, 2016) – Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Hawaii Pacific baseball coach
Garett Yukumoto will announce the completion of several improvement projects to the historic baseball field at Hans L'Orange Park on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 11:30 a.m.
Both Caldwell and Yukumoto will be available to the media prior to the Sharks taking the field at noon for the annual alumni exhibition game. The public is welcome to attend the game, and both parking and admission is free.
Some of the field improvements implemented to create safer, more reliable playing conditions include upgrading the irrigation system, grading the field and expanding the foul territory in right field.
The Hawaii Pacific baseball team has played at Hans L'Orange Park since 2006 after a stint at Aloha Stadium, and high school teams including those in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu also compete at the facility.
Hans L'Orange Park was also utilized by Hawaii Winter Baseball, a professional minor league baseball organization, from 2006-2008. Many of the league's former players went on to play in Major League Baseball, and some are still playing professionally at the highest level.
The Sharks were picked to finish seventh in a very competitive 10-team PacWest Conference via a recent vote by league coaches.
Hawaii Pacific will follow the pace set by 13 seniors on the roster, including ace pitcher
Rico Garcia, who was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America Preseason All-West Region First Team and earned a spot on the Preseason All-PacWest Team.
Garcia, a prep standout at Saint Louis School, led the Sharks with a 6-4 record last season and a 2.18 ERA through 10 starts, including four complete games. The Kapolei native also paced HPU in 2015 with a school-record 87 strikeouts over 74 1/3 innings pitched, while opposing batters hit just .186 against him.
The right-handed hurler is looking to help the Sharks improve on their 27-20 record last year, which included a 17-15 mark in conference play. Garcia was named to the All-PacWest First Team last season and was also honored as HPU's Male Athlete of the Year.
HPU officially opens the 2016 campaign on Feb. 10 against Saint Leo (Fla.) University at 6 p.m. at Hans L'Orange Park.
