At Les Murakami Stadium at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, they do things a little differently before their games. With thousands of fans in attendance, the Rainbow Warriors take part in a unique pregame ritual—blowing a conch shell.

This year, the Firebirds’ roster features four players from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa: Elijah Ickes, Itsuki Takemoto, Sebastian Gonzalez, and Isaiah Magdaleno. While Ickes is an infielder for Orleans, Takemoto, Gonzalez, and Magdaleno are all a part of the Birds’ pitching staff.

And one of these players has successfully taken over that pre-game tradition for the Rainbow Warriors. Selected by former teammate and Hawaiʻi native, Tai Atkins, Ickes is now in charge of the pregame ritual.

“At home games, we blow it anytime we go out and take the field,” Ickes said. “It’s something that signifies we are here to play and ready to battle. That’s something special Tai Atkins started. I’m happy he chose me to keep it going.”

Drafted in 2023 in the 19th round by the Texas Rangers, Ickes did not sign, and instead took the UH scholarship.

“I’m happy with the choice I made going to UH,” Ickes said. “I can develop more and become a better ballplayer, just do things like this. Experience new opportunities like Cape Cod, I’ve never been to this part of the country. To see these things, meeting new players from all across the country is pretty cool.”

Born and raised in Wahiawa, O‘ahu, Ickes isn’t too far from home to feel his family and community’s support at all of his games.

“My family are season ticket holders. I know exactly where they sit,” Ickes said. “I know where to look when I’m doing good and where not to look when I’m doing bad.”

According to Gonzalez, some players within the program are able to achieve what may be deemed the unthinkable.

“We get lucky and find the hidden gems in places,” Gonzalez said. “A lot of it is some scrappy, scrappy guys. I’ve seen a lot of players that came from junior colleges or Division II and then compete at Division I, and they can come in and do better than guys that have been Division I for a long time.”

Over 5,126 miles away from Eldredge Park, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is surrounded by just about everything a player would need.

Having some of the world’s best beaches, food, culture, and nature, the university also features what many Cape Cod Baseball fans may not know, some of the most dedicated collegiate baseball fans in the country.

“Our coach says it all the time that there is no pro-team in Hawaii and that we are the pro-team,” Gonzalez, who is from California, said. “Everyone there has a really big sense of pride in their athletes."

With the smallest crowd around 1,500 to 2,000 people and the largest crowd tallying 6,000 to 7,000, Rainbow Warrior fans never shy away from showing their support. In the series against Oregon State, the total weekend attendance was 21,000 fans.

“The fans are really into every game no matter whether it’s a Tuesday game or a weekend series, whether it’s the biggest series of the year or just the middle of the season, they are always there and are always showing out,” Magdaleno said. “It just shows love and they treat us like a family whenever they can.”

For Magdaleno, who is a pitcher from Los Angeles, committing to UH was a no-brainer.

“The feel of the whole island and everything, I committed on the spot,” Magdaleno said. “It just felt like a family really, and I’ve been enjoying it a lot actually. My family loves it, the fans, the support, really everything about it honestly.”

One familiar face for the Birds is Takemoto, who was named the 2024 Cape League’s most outstanding pitcher.

When asked about the achievement, Takemoto had a simple response.

“That’s huge for me, but the past is the past,” Takemoto said. “I don’t care, I just keep going. I just like baseball.”

Hailing from Wakayama, Japan, a city about an hour south of Osaka, Takemoto moved to the US at 18 in pursuit of going to the MLB.

“I knew that Hawaii had Japanese culture and Japanese food, and it’s a little bit close to Japan, and it was a little bit easier for me,” Takemoto said when asked about why he originally chose to play at UH.“We have Japanese restaurants, Japanese culture, Japanese people, and some Hawaiians can speak Japanese, which is huge for me.”

Despite the language barrier, Takemoto didn’t let that stop him from succeeding in a new environment.

“I couldn’t speak English, so the first three months were crazy,” Takemoto said. “I just keep trying everyday, and it’s getting better. I went to classes, I practiced talking, and that’s it.”

Even though Takemoto entered the transfer portal, that hasn’t put a wrench in the teammates’ friendships.

“With Suki not going back, it’s going to be a different feeling for sure,” Magdaleno said. “But all of them, I hang out with them outside of baseball and just enjoy their company and have fun on the field, and we take care of business when we need to.”

In fact, it may have only strengthened their friendships.

“It’s kind of like having the band back together one more time before we part ways,” Gonzalez said.

The distance doesn’t seem to be slowing down the four teammates though, as they have made a rather smooth transition to the Cape League.

Ickes, who has been a bright spot for the Firebirds’ offense, credits his transition to the support of his fellow Rainbow Warriors.

“Having familiar faces in the locker room and on the field helps you be yourself and play your kind of baseball,” Ickes said. “You can always have someone to joke around with and just someone to talk to when you aren’t the best or going through things, it’s really helpful to have them here.”

Even being a few thousand miles away from college, the teammates are able to find some similarities with the Aloha State.

“You are in a new environment and it’s a place you don’t know,” Gonzalez said. “In Cape Cod, the people are very, very open and nice and that’s a lot like Hawaii, and that’s a good thing that helped me transition here a little easier.”

According to Magdaleno, that reigns true in Hawaiian culture.

“When I think of Hawaii at least, I think everyone is there for each other,” Magdaleno said. “We show that on the team, the fans show it, and the kindness of everyone. You don’t meet too many people with a bad heart and everyone is genuine.”

Ickes expressed a similar sentiment.

“That’s pretty big for me,” Ickes said. “Being a Native Hawaiian, you try to represent the state of Hawaii the right way. Our culture is super big over there, we try to do everything in a respectful manner and be proud of where we are from. We just try to do the right things everytime.”

When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, Ickes’ focused on something far more important than just the box score.

In their last go-around as a quartet, his response is all the more fitting.

“You should enjoy the little moments, enjoy the time just being with your buddies on the field, that’s what makes the game fun,” Ickes said. “That’s what it is for me being able to look to my right and see one of my best friends and being able to look to my left and seeing another great friend. Cherish those and that’s what makes the game fun.”