Aliviado has always had the drive to get better

One day you’re on top of the world of sports. Then, before you know it, you’re back home in seventh grade.

Layson “Kaeo” Aliviado experienced it first-hand. He was a standout on the West Oahu team that won the Little League World Series in 2005.

Unlike others, he didn’t peak on the 60-foot basepaths. Aliviado starred at Saint Louis School and now he’s finishing up his University of Hawaii baseball career, the final home series opening Friday against Cal State Fullerton.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Aliviado said Wednesday between a weight-lifting session and batting-cage cuts. “Nothing compares to playing at Les Murakami Stadium. Four-thousand people out here supporting us. I’m very happy to call this home. This state, too.”

He’s a fan favorite, and not just because of his deeds of a decade ago. There’s the 5-foot-5 inch stature. There’s the smile, ever-present except when he’s bearing down in the batter’s box.

“Every at-bat is life and death for him,” coach Mike Trapasso said. “The passion he brings every day inspires me.”

Aliviado thought about going the junior-college route before he got the call from UH.

“We knew if he were 6-feet he would’ve been drafted in the first two rounds,” Trapasso said. “He doesn’t play like 5-5. The production, the pop (in his bat), the above-average defense.

“We recruited him strictly on his tools,” Trapasso added. “Then there’s the love of the game, his passion for life that is infectious.”

He started all four years. Off-season weights helped him lead UH with four of its eight home runs this year. Aliviado also paces the Rainbows in slugging percentage (.369) and is third in on-base percentage (.354).

And he leads the team in autograph requests, even from fans who weren’t yet born when he did his thing in Williamsport 10 years ago.

Ask a young baseball player in Hawaii who inspired him the most, and the answer is usually quick: Shane Victorino or Kolten Wong. Aliviado, however, ponders nearly 30 seconds before replying.

“Actually, it’s my brother,” he said. “I always wanted to be just like him. He’s like my second father figure.”

At 33, Layton Aliviado Jr., is 12 years older than Kaeo. Layton said Kaeo got the first name few others than teachers address him by because Layton’s name was once misspelled as Layson in a newspaper article listing him as a youth-league all-star. Their mother, Debra, liked the ring of it. “That’s one of the few things I have over him,” Layton said with a laugh.

“He used to tag along to all our games, even when he was a little baby,” added Layton, who was a high school teammate of Timmy Chang in football and baseball at Saint Louis. “It was neat to see him prosper from the time he was a little kid. He played everything I did, but way better. Our dad (Layton Sr., who managed the West Oahu team and coached JV at Saint Louis) and I worked him hard, but he never got mad. Even after winning the Little League World Series, he stayed hungry, always wanting to get better.

“Now my twin sons (Kingzen and Shine) love to watch him play,” Layton said. “I guess like I was his inspiration, now he’s their inspiration.”

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.