HONOLULU — Derek Tatsuno kept on voting and hoping, wondering why year after year, his peers in the College Baseball Hall of Fame did not see fit to grant Les Murakami passage into their esteemed ranks.

As the Hawaii pitching legend stood among some 50 UH alums beyond the third-base bullpen on a night to honor the program patriarch, Tatsuno mused, “Maybe it was his time. … He was long overdue.”

A torrential downpour at Murakami’s namesake stadium less than an hour before first pitch cleared in fine style and the 89-year-old Murakami, wheelchair-bound and assisted but perfectly aware, received his ceremony for his inclusion in the 2025 class of the Hall prior to Friday’s game against Wichita State.

[Note: See below for more photos of Les Murakami Hall of Fame Night of Hawaii baseball.]

Hall of Fame Shockers coach Gene Stephenson, Murakami’s old friend and rival, joined Tatsuno in draping the Hall’s signature blue jacket over his shoulders as the many UH alumni stood and clapped behind him while wearing special caps and shirts bearing No. 11 in their old coach’s honor.

Flanked by his wife Dot and a caretaker, Murakami doffed his Kelly Green cap to fans who gave him a standing ovation. He even remained on the field to take the lineup card from present-day coach Rich Hill and presented it to the umpires. Stephenson did the same on behalf of Brian Green and Wichita State.

“Well, fantastic,” Murakami said of the night a few minutes later. He chuckled. “Like I tell everybody, there’s only so many words.”

Murakami was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame all the way back in 2000.

After Murakami’s granddaughter, former UH softballer Madixx Muramoto threw out an on-target ceremonial pitch, the contemporary Rainbow Warriors did their part. Starter Hekili Robello and three relievers combined on a five-hitter in defeating Wichita 4-2.

It continued a magical 5-1 start to the season that included Thursday’s rally from a 6-0 hole to win 7-6.

“He’s the guy, he’s the legend,” Robello said. “Without him, we wouldn’t be here today. I’m very grateful to pitch in front of him, and also the alumni who came.”

Hill said Murakami is the reason he enjoys a job at the University of Hawaii and shook his head at the sellout night that saw the pregame line of fans stretch around the entrance of Les Murakami Stadium to near that of the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

He credited the Big Island native Robello for keeping his head given the setting and a second-inning threat by the Shockers when they plated their only runs.

“You’ve got Rainbow legends (in house), that’s Coach Murakami, Gene Stephenson, they got the Hall of Fame blue jackets out here and you got a packed house screaming,” Hill said, “and (Robello) just went out there like it was another day, at the park in Hilo. It was really fun to see.”

Saturday’s 3 p.m. game against the Shockers (4-2) was postponed to Sunday as a seven-inning affair starting at 11:05 a.m., with the nine-inning series finale to follow.

Wichita State was grateful to be included Friday. And Murakami was glad to see Stephenson.

“Oh yeah, terrific,” he said. “Let me tell you something, that guy got to be a miracle worker because, have you ever seen Wichita? There’s nothing.” Murakami laughed again. “I’m telling you. I don’t know how he did it, and recruited so well for them over there.”

Murakami got Ricki Bass to come to UH from Los Angeles for the 1977 season by writing to him that the temperature in Hawaii never dropped below 60 degrees and never went above 90.

“It was such an amazing experience,” Bass told Spectrum News of the night. “All the years, going back 50 years of players, guys that helped build the program before when this was a rock quarry, to hear their stories, that was an honor. I’m glad for Coach Les we were able to have our opportunity to show our appreciation.”

Bass, the leadoff hitter for UH’s storied 1980 College World Series team, said Murakami was more of a life mentor than just a coach.

“We spent Thanksgivings at his house. It was all one family,” Bass said. The connection on those teams has endured, he said; many still keep in regular contact.

Tatsuno, a workhorse who became NCAA baseball’s first 20-game winner in 1979, has his likeness right next to Murakami on UH’s “Wall of Legends” in the outfield. He credited Wes Kimura for contacting alums and getting them together for the night.

“I wouldn’t be the person I am if it wasn’t for Coach Les,” Tatsuno said. “He gave me the opportunity to play here, turn the program to be a D-I program, because prior to that I had no interest. But when he made the schedule to become a D-I schedule, that was the reason why I came here.”

His memories of Murakami, UH’s 30-year skipper who won 1,079 games and six WAC titles, were clear.

“Well, he’s a blunt person. He pulls no punches. He tells it straight. He tells it like it is,” Tatsuno said. “It didn’t matter if you were on scholarship or not, the bottom line was you gotta hit the bloody ball to play. And he was just straightforward, which was true.”

After John Alkire II closed out the Shockers in the ninth for his second save of the season, WSU’s Green, a former UH assistant under Mike Trapasso, paid tribute to Murakami.

The old coaches’ lineup exchange stirred something.

“I remember being here in (2003-04) and meeting Coach Les,” Green said. “Just like Coach Gene, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. There’s supposed to be that level of respect. I wouldn’t be where I am today, and neither would Coach Hill, if it weren’t for what those guys did for the game of college baseball.”

Relief pitcher Tsubasa Tomii, middle, celebrated Hawaii’s victory. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

John Alkire II raised his arms after sealing his second save of the season. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii starter Hekili Robello threw a pitch as Wichita State’s Alex Ulloa took a lead from third base. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii shortstop Elijah Ickes attempted to glove a ball as Wichita State’s Alex Ulloa dove into second base. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii catcher Jake Redding rounded third base as Wichita State infielder Jayson Jones (23) raised his arms to the outfield. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii’s Draven Nushida was tagged out at home plate by Wichita State catcher Max Kaufer. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Legendary Hawaii baseball coach Les Murakami was wheeled onto the Les Murakami Stadium field for his College Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

A tribute to Les Murakami played pregame on the stadium video board. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Coach Les Murakami with 50-plus alumni for his Hall of Fame ceremony. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Madixx Muramoto, the granddaughter of Les Murakami and a former UH softball player, threw out a ceremonial first pitch. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Les Murakami doffed his cap to Hawaii fans in the stands. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Les Murakami shook hands with his old friend and rival Gene Stephenson, a Hall of Fame coach with Wichita State, as the teams exchanged lineup cards for Friday’s game. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii coach Rich Hill accompanied Les Murakami to home plate for the exchange of lineup cards before the game. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii shortstop Elijah Ickes, left, shook hands with UH coaching legend Les Murakami before the game. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com