Whenever the Punahou baseball and football teams of the mid- 1990s needed an injection of power, Scott “Scooter” Martines ’97 was there to provide it. His combination of skill, aggression and competitiveness made him one of the most decorated buff ’n blue athletes of his era.
But Martines’ Punahou Athletic Hall of Fame career almost never happened. He suffered a devastating knee injury as an 8th grader during an intermediate football scrimmage; after surgery and a difficult year of rehab, he earned a rare freshman roster spot on the varsity baseball team for coach Pal Eldredge ’64.
A right-handed slugger batting third in the lineup, Martines immediately became one of the most feared hitters in the state. As a true five-tool player who could hit, run, steal bases, throw and play defense, he became a three-time All-State first-teamer and a critical member of a buff ’n blue squad that made two deep state tournament runs.
Playing first base as a freshman in 1994, Martines hit .431 with 18 runs scored, 19 RBIs and six extra base hits, helping anchor a team that won the ILH championship and placed third in states. In the state consolation game against ‘Aiea, which Punahou won 6 – 2, Martines went 4-for-4 with a triple and a double. He was named to the All-Tournament team.
On the gridiron, at 5’10” and 205 pounds, Martines was a hard-hitting linebacker with a nose for the ball. He flourished during his junior season in 1995, making the All-ILH and All-State first teams and helping Punahou to a 9 – 1 regular season record and the league’s first-round championship.
Martines attended Texas Tech University on a baseball scholarship, hitting .411 as a freshman. He transferred to the University of Hawai‘i for his sophomore campaign, batting .355 with 46 RBIs in 1999. He was a two-time team captain for the Bows and finished his college baseball career with the 2002 season.