For the first four years of Hawai`i Hilo baseball coach Kal Miyataki's tenure, the focus was on building character, being active in the community and leaving the program a better person than when you came in.

It will always be all of those things, but in 2018 the Vulcans added another element—winning.

The Vulcans won eight games in 2016 and nine in 2017. Then in 2018, they more than doubled the win total of those two years by going 21-27 overall and 16-22 in the Pacific West Conference. That was the program's best record in seven years, and the high water mark thus far for Miyataki's program.

"Last year was certainly very positive," Miyataki said. "I was disappointed in the fact that you always want to do better. I think you will see another jump forward this year."

On paper, the 2019 Vulcans look deeper with a solid mix of returnees and an impressive newcomer list. But noticeably absent is the presence of Phillip Steering, who graduates as the single-season (10) and career home run (18) leader.

"You can't replace Phil Steering with one guy," Miyataki said. "But I think we will be deeper and more mature than we were last year. We will have a larger bench and right now it is really close at a lot of our positions as to who will get the most playing time."

Let's take a look at each of those positions.

PITCHING
Games are not played on paper, but this looks to be the strongest area when you look at the Vulcan roster.

The three top starters for UHH return along with one of the best closers in the conference last year. Coaches in the PacWest recognized as much, voting starter Dylan Spain and closer John Kea to the PacWest All-Preseason team.

Spain had a 3.54 ERA last year in 14 starts with a 4-7 record. He pitched a one-hit shutout against St. Martin's, and at 6-foot-6 and still developing, there will be scouts in attendance at his starts. Fellow St. Louis High School alum Kea set a Vulcan single-season record with nine saves, and had a 3-2 record and 3.38 ERA.

A pair of sophomores that were freshmen sensations last year also return to the starting rotation. Left-hander Kyle Alcorn and righty Travis Burleson both put up good rookie numbers and were PacWest Freshmen of the Week on a few occasions. Burleson finished with a 3.96 ERA, a 4-7 record and fanned 57 batters in 63 innings. Alcorn went 3-3 with a 4.90 ERA.

Likely joining them in the starting rotation will be newcomer Christian Sadler, who has been impressive in early practices.

"Our frontline pitching is really good," Miyataki confirmed. "We are strong in the closing spot with Kea, we just need to still answer a few questions in middle relief."

6-foot-5 junior Brandyn Lee-Lehano will fill one of the middle relief spots and fellow returnee Kekai Mahiko could be the set-up man. Three veterans who will log innings are seniors Devan Elson, Thomas Warren and Nick Asuncion. Others who will vie for time on the pitching mound are Jamieson Hirayama, Jordan Tagawa, Garrett Gladney and Jacob Morales.

INFIELD
As mentioned earlier, Steering's eligibility is done. Miyataki will move RJ Romo from third base to first, and Romo—who was a PacWest Preseason All-Utility player—will also see some time in the outfield. The senior hit .279 last year with 11 doubles.

Dylan Sugimoto, a starting outfielder for the past two seasons, will also play first base and DH until he recovers from an arm injury. He hit .260 last year and scored 22 times. Returning starter Mana Manago is back at second base (.265, 21 runs scored).

Third base will be anchored by redshirt freshman Kobie Russell, who debut is highly anticipated. Russell was a 17^th round draft pick in 2017 out of Waipahu High School by the Toronto Blue Jays. The starting shortstop in the opening games could be Nick Lugo, a freshman out of South Hills High School in southern California—one of the top prep programs in the nation. Right there with him is Mikey Rita who redshirted last season after standout years at Feather River CC and Bryan College (Tenn.).

The wild card in the infield, and almost every other position for that matter, is true freshman Casey Yamauchi. The former Waiakea High School standout (Hilo, across the street from UHH), grew three inches, added strength to his baseball body and will literally play almost everywhere.

"He gives us so much flexibility," Miyataki explained. "He could start at shortstop, second base, third base or play in the outfield. He will bat No. 2 in the line-up, wherever he plays on defense."

Others that will vie for time in the line-up include senior transfer Coryn Iwamasa (Simpson U.) and senior first baseman-catcher Theron Shigematsu, along with sophomore Miguel Valadez (Simpson U.), Joshua Argarin (redshirt freshman) and true freshman Jaron Sugimoto (brother of Dylan).

CATCHER
Jaryn Kanbara will start behind the plate most nights and hit No. 4 in the line-up. When he is not catching, he could play first base or DH. The sophomore started the last half of the season in 2018 behind the dish with 31 starts. Kamalu Neal also saw time last year in catcher's gear (16 games) and freshman Keanu Yamashiro (Torrance, Calif.) is in the mix as well. "Kanbara can hit and will always have to play some place," Miyataki added.

OUTFIELD
The Vulcans will miss Jonathan Segovia, who led the team in 2018 as a senior with a sizzling .372 average.

As previously mentioned, Romo will see some outfield time, and centerfield will be anchored by returning starter Kyle Yamada. It's Yamada's fourth season as a starter, and he hit a career-high .294 last and had an on-base percentage of .436. When Sugimoto is healthy, he will join the group that includes Yamauchi, junior John Bicos (Pasadena CC), senior returnee Marcus Calamese, junior Rustin Ho (Pierce JC) and sophomore Gaven Palagonia.

Bicos was a Second Team All-South Coast selection at Pasadena and Ho returns home (Waipahu HS) after two years as a starter at a Washington JC. Palagonia started for the Vulcans as a freshman until his season ended after five games due to an injury.

Sophomore Brett Komatsu will be one of the fastest Vulcans when he returns from injury. Sophomore Austin Inouye will work for outfield playing time, and Chris Aubort, a left-handed hitter that swatted the ball at a .500 clip before an injury ended his season last year after seven games, will serve as the designated hitter and play some outfield.

REDSHIRTS
There are a half-dozen on the list, led by Yamauchi's all-state mate at Waiakea, Trayden Tamiya. Junior pitcher Race Gardner (Pasadena CC) will sit out the year as will fellow pitchers Johnny Mitchell (Newbury Park, Calif.), Mike Ortega (South Hills HS) and Zach Vander Hoek (Bellevue, Wash.). Freshman infielder Bradyn Yoshida (Kapolei HS) rounds out the list.

SCHEDULE
The Vulcans will see a lot of island rival Hawai`i Pacific, opening the season with five games at home versus the Sharks (Feb. 7-9), before heading to Oahu the following weekend (Feb. 16-17) to play four more. UH Hilo will host Biola February 28 to March 2, and Fresno Pacific comes to town March 7-9.

"It would have been nice to get some non-conference games at home prior to the start of PacWest play, but it just wasn't to be this year," Miyataki said. "As we always do, we will just deal with what is in front of us. There are challenges (schedule) to living in this beautiful place but we embrace that.

"I am proud of our kids and our program and am looking forward to where we will go this year."