by Bob Sims

Texas Rangers rookie relief pitcher Keone Kela, a Chief Sealth all-stater and Metro League co-MVP his senior year in 2011, has made quite a splash in the big leagues this season.

Kela, 22, recorded his first two major league wins in the span of three days, one against the Oakland A's, an 8-7 verdict on May 2, and the other on May 4, a 2-1 win over the resurgent American League West-leading Houston Astros.

He pitched scoreless ball in the eighth inning of both games.
In his pitching debut April 7 against Oakland at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, Kela came on in the seventh inning to protect a two-run lead. The first two batters got on, and the bases eventually would get loaded with one out.

During that crisis, Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, brother of baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, came out to calm his young pitcher.

"Mike came out there and said, 'you have other pitches, right'?" Kela told the Dallas Morning News. "I was like 'yeah.' So, I did (pitch them). Experience is a great teacher. This is something to put in my memory bank."

Kela, who just happens to have a 95-mph fastball, an 87-mph changeup and curveball, induced a ground ball for an inning-ending double play to help preserve a Texas 3-1 win, its first of the season.

Kela (2-1) has pitched in 14 games so far. He has a 2.08 ERA and has struck out 9 in 13 innings. He is battling for the set-up spot.

Kela, of Hawaiian descent on his paternal side, played for Highline High in the ninth grade. He also played for Everett Community College one year.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound right-hander was drafted in the 12th round by Texas in 2012.