In a one-two recruiting combo, the Hawaii baseball team secured commitments from seven players for the coming school year and a heralded pitcher for the 2022 season.
Of the August arrivals, five are pitchers, including two left-handers. Counting the earlier commitments, there will be 15 first-year Rainbow Warriors on the 2020 roster.
The ’Bows also landed a commitment from Cory Ronan, who is entering his junior year at Routt Catholic High in Jacksonville, Ill. Perfect Game USA ranked Ronan as Illinois’ No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect for the 2021 recruiting class. Ronan told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he received offers from Duke, Virginia and Miami. He is 6 feet 1, 160 pounds, and throws a two- and four-seam fastball, curveball and change-up.
The additions to this year’s team are:
>> Nieghel Calderon: The Lanai High graduate is a speedy outfielder and a recent inductee of the HHSAA Hall of Honor.
>> Blake Hiraki: After overcoming Tommy John surgery prior to his junior season, Hiraki served as a pitcher, catcher and infielder for ‘Iolani School. He is projected to catch at UH.
>> Trevor Ichimura: As an ‘Iolani senior in 2018, Ichimura was named to the All-ILH first team as a pitcher. Ichimura appeared in seven games for Washington State this past season. He throws in the high 80s, with three-pitch command. He is seeking a waiver that would enable him to play in 2020 without redshirting.
>> Nick Miller: At Bellevue (Wash.) Community College this past season, left-handed Miller was 6-1 with a 1.80 ERA. In 60 innings, he allowed 18 walks while striking out 45.
>> Buddy Pindel: With six starts for Southern Nevada, a traditional junior-college power, the right-hander went 3-1 with 48 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings.
>> Vince Reilly: He had a unique dual role as the starting center fielder and right-handed closer for Thousand Oaks High this past season. He is expected to initially pitch for the ’Bows. His fastball — one of his three pitches — touches 90 mph.
>> Brandon Ross: The 6-2 lefty was 4-1 with two saves for Riverside City College this year. He averaged 9.54 strikeouts per nine innings, in part to a 90-mph fastball.
The ’Bows are close to completing their 2020 schedule. They already have an agreement in place for a road series against Vanderbilt, the 2019 College World Series champion, and are finalizing an arrangement with Big East champion Creighton.
