Hawaii Island Movers put another season in the books

For more than two decades, the Hawaii Island Movers have provided an opportunity for kids with many dreams.

For some, like Hawaii Pacific’s Derek Nakasato, it’s a chance to play under the bright lights of Les Murakami Stadium as he improves himself heading into his sophomore season.

It’s a chance for others, like pitcher Chris Chung, to simply play baseball for the first time in more than a year after transferring home from Southern Utah.

Even UH pitcher Connor Little, who redshirted what was supposed to be his senior season in the spring, got a chance to play in a real game over the weekend for the first time since injuring his ankle last Christmas.

The Movers close their 2012 Pacific Region Baseball season today at Murakami Stadium in the finale of the Hawaii International Baseball Championship Tournament.

After losing to Kansai Big-Six Universities 2-1 on Wednesday, Hawaii will play Hokusho University in the third-place game at 5 p.m. today. Kansai meets Hiroshima Big-Six Universities in the title game at 2.

Nakasato, who hit .363 with the Sea Warriors as a freshman, has used the experience to soak up a wide variety of knowledge from many different coaches.

“I’ve definitely enjoyed taking it all in to try to make myself a better player,” Nakasato said. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot of things from different coaches that will improve my game for next year.”

Nobody has enjoyed playing more than Chung, a Saint Louis grad who pitched one year at Southern Utah.

The 2010 ILH player of the year went 6-6 as a freshman for the Thunderbirds before deciding to transfer home, where he will attempt to walk on with the Rainbows.

Chung worked two jobs in the spring at the movie theaters and a sushi restaurant before finally getting back on the field this summer with the Movers.

“It feels good to get back into it, especially against some really good competition,” Chung said. “It was tough at the beginning because I hadn’t faced hitting like this, but I guess the more you get used to it the more it feels natural out there.”

Chung estimates he’s pitched about 10 innings in five or six games this summer and recorded the win in 12⁄3 hitless innings against Hokusho in the first game of the tournament on Monday.

He also earned the save with a perfect ninth inning against Osaka Gakuin University on Saturday.

In that same game, Little earned the win with two shutout innings in his first action since a freak ankle injury suffered over Christmas break last year.

“First time in a year and a half, dude,” Little said. “It was what I imagined. I’ve been out for so long, I just wanted to get into a game and help whoever I’m playing for right now.”

Little went four months without throwing a baseball and started a long-toss program toward the end of the UH season.

He first pitched off the mound in June and said it’s been a slow process working himself back into shape.

“There’s no rush right now obviously, but I’m trying to work on my stuff and my abilities and make each pitch better.

“I’ve been here half a decade when I thought I’d only be here three years and obviously I want to keep pitching (after the season.)”

While most of Little’s UH teammates have played summer ball all across the mainland, the 6-foot-5 right-hander said it’s not all bad spending the summer here on the islands.

“You can’t beat it here, right?” Little said. “This is a great organization out here that’s helping me get an opportunity to face some live hitters and get ready.

“Everything is 100 percent now and I’m ready to go.”