2025 marked year two for Higa as he saw the 2025 Sharks offense put together a season for the record books, cementing themselves as the best offense in program history. This offensive performance helped propel the Sharks to a 32-22 record, the most wins in a season since 2010 and an appearance in the PacWest Conference Championship game.
Numerous program and conference records were broken by the Sharks this year:
Single-Season - Team: - Hits (598), Doubles (121), Home Runs (71), Runs (436), RBIs (307)
Single-Game - Team: - Home Runs (5)
Single-Season - Individual: Hits (94 - Noah Blythe), Doubles (24 - Noah Blythe), Home Runs (19 - Bronson Rivera), Runs (64 - Bronson Rivera), RBIs (77 - Bronson Rivera)
The Sharks also found themselves at or near the top of every offensive category in the PacWest (2025 PacWest Conference Ranking, Conference All-Time Record):
- 8.07 Runs per Game (1st)
- 598 Hits (1st, 4th All-Time)
- 121 Doubles (1st, Most All-Time)
- 20 Triples (1st, 4th All-Time)
- .338 AVG (1st, 3rd All-Time)
- .426 OBP (1st) - .549 SLG (1st)
- .974 OPS (1st) - 243 BB (2nd, 8th All-Time)
- 15.03 K% (3rd) - 11.59 BB% (3rd)
- 71 Home Runs (4th)
Alongside all of team achievements, many individual accolades were earned by Sharks hitters in 2025:
PacWest All-Conference Awards:
- Noah Blythe (Player of the Year, 1st-Team Outfield)
- Bronson Rivera (Newcomer of the Year, 1st-Team Outfield)
- Tyler Arnold (1st-Team Third Base)
- Daniel Johnson (2nd-Team Utility)
- Kan Taguchi (2nd-Team Designated Hitter)
- Skyler Agnew (2nd Team Second Base)
NCBWA West All-Region Awards:
- Noah Blythe (Player of the Year, 1st-Team Outfield)
- Bronson Rivera (1st-Team Outfield)
- Tyler Arnold (1st-Team Third Base)
- Skyler Agnew (Honorable Mention Second Base)
CCA West All-Region Awards:
- Noah Blythe (Player of the Year, 1st-Team Outfield)
- Tyler Arnold (1st-Team Third Base)
- Bronson Rivera (2nd-Team Outfield)
- Kan Taguchi (2nd-Team Designated Hitter)
Rawlings/ABCA West-All Region Awards:
- Noah Blythe (Player of the Year, 1st-Team Outfield) - Bronson Rivera (1st-Team Outfield)
- Tyler Arnold (2nd-Team Third Base)
- Kan Taguchi (2nd-Team Designated Hitter)
NCBWA All-American Awards:
- Noah Blythe (1st-Team Outfield)
- Bronson Rivera (2nd-Team Outfield)
Noah Blythe and Bronson Rivera were the Sharks’ first NCAA All-Americans in program history, while the six all-conference nominees were tied for the most by a single program this season.
In Higa’s first season, the Sharks made significant jumps in offensive production, helping them achieve their first 30-win season since 2016, as well as their first postseason appearance since 2010.
Notable offensive achievements (2024 Pacwest conference ranking)
- 19 Triples (1st)
- 86 SB (1st)
- 16.6% K% (Lowest)
- .308 AVG (2nd)
- 513 Hits (2nd)
- 92 2B (3rd)
- .394 OBP (3rd)
- 200 BB (3rd)
The 19 triples were a program-best since prior to 2010, and AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS, 2B, and HR were all a program-best since the 2019 season. From 2023 to 2024, the offense saw improvements in AVG (+16 pts), Hits (+76), 2B (+22), 3B (+5), HR(+10), SLG (+43 pts), OPS (+37 pts), BB% (+.84%), K% (-1.13%), with 76% of all plate appearances taken by returning players from the 2023 roster. Alongside these achievements, seven position players made the 2024 Pacwest All-Conference Team:
- Kota Suzuki (1st Team Outfield)
- Chase Taylor (1st Team 1st Base)
- Tejean Smith (2nd team Shortstop)
- Nicholas Jio (3rd Team Second Base)
- Skyler Agnew (3rd Team Third Base)
- Daniel Johnson (3rd Team Catcher)
- Jordan Otjen (3rd Team Utility/Pitcher) The seven all-conference position players were the most from the Sharks since 2010.
Higa joined the Sharks as a walk-on in 2018, spending six seasons with the program. During his time at HPU, Higa was an all-conference selection in 2021 at second base, as well as starting in 100 career games, making an appearance at every position on the field, except catcher. Higa accumulated 107 hits, 25 doubles, 11 triples, and two home runs, finishing his career with a .301 batting average and .829 OPS. Higa’s 11 career triples are tied for second all-time with the program.
In 2023, Higa earned the Shark of the Year Award, awarded by the school’s athletic department. This award was earned by the athlete that prides themselves on the value of Pono, Kuleana, and Aloha.
Alongside his playing career, Higa was hired as the lead hitting trainer at HAWAIIANHARDBALL in 2020. Higa was tasked with building out their training program, utilizing technology and coaching skills to create efficient feedback loops for to improve youth players across the island. During his time at HAWAIIANHARDBALL, Higa has worked with hundreds of players that have come through the facility
