For Mission San Jose High School’s baseball team, preseason weekday afternoons follow a familiar rhythm. Returning and prospective players sprint across the school’s baseball field, drop into sets of pushups and practice throws under the watchful instruction of team captains.
But this year, the team is preparing for more than the upcoming spring season. From Feb. 12 to 17, 14 returning players will travel to Hawaii’s Big Island to compete in the 30th annual Stanley Costales Sr. Tournament. For the first time in school history, Mission will face seven of the Aloha State’s top high school teams.
While preparations currently span numerous email threads and Excel spreadsheets, the trip sprang from a hypothetical question varsity head coach Bobby Kanno first posed to players four years ago. “If I could make it happen, would you be interested in going to Hawaii?”
“I grew up in Hawaii, and baseball is really popular there,” Kanno said. “I wanted to take them back and use my connections to give our team a flavor of baseball there.”
By November 2024, Kanno—a former player and graduate of Hilo High School—had worked with friends from his hometown to secure Mission’s spot in the tournament. He also obtained approval from Mission’s athletic director, school administration and Fremont Unified School District, ensuring the trip would happen.
Now, the team has faced challenges training for the tournament.
“Technically, the school season hasn’t started yet, so by league rule we’re not allowed to play in any tournaments [before the trip] or have official practices,” pitcher and second baseman Varun Rangarajan said.
Once the preseason moratorium on formal practices ends on February 10, the team will have just three days to scrimmage and refine their skills before their first tournament game on February 13.
Hawaii’s tropical weather poses another challenge. Sporadic heavy rain can interrupt games, and while local teams are used to adapting, Mission’s roster has little experience playing in variable conditions.
Despite these setbacks, players have stayed motivated, holding informal strength and conditioning sessions throughout the fall and winter months to stay in shape. In addition, Kanno plans to hold an official practice in Hawaii, simulating in-game situations like defending loaded bases while giving players exposure to the climate.
“We’re playing some of the toughest teams from the Big Island and state,” Kanno said. “But we’ll still go out and play, and we’ll still enjoy ourselves.”
Beyond baseball, the trip gives the team a chance to explore Hawaii’s renowned culture and landscape. With their stay funded solely by contributions from players, coaches and chaperones, Kanno has also enlisted his local relationships to schedule excursions, helping lower the overall cost to less than $2,000 per person.
“My friends are going to try to make us a small, homemade luau when we arrive,” Kanno said. “I also want to take them to see Kilauea, the Captain Cook Monument, Kona and show them the Aloha spirit.”
Ultimately, the outing poses a novel opportunity for Mission to compete in a new environment and bond as a team.
“It’s really awesome to have the opportunity to go to Hawaii, especially with my friends, and play the game that I’ve been playing for so long,” team captain, shortstop and pitcher Nikhil Mehta said.
“No team from our area has ever done this before, so it’ll be a unique experience and a lot of fun,” Rangarajan added.Mission San Jose will open their preseason on February 13, facing Hilo High School at Francis Wong Stadium at 7 p.m. Fans can follow their progress throughout the season at maxpreps.com.
