HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow baseball team announced today that they have signed 12 players for the 2004 season, seven high schoolers and five junior college transfers, in the early signing period.

"We're happy with this recruiting class," head coach Mike Trapasso said. "I have to give credit to our staff, Chad Konishi, Brian Green and Keith Komeiji. They did a great job putting it together to address some needs we have for next year while taking the next step in rebuilding Hawai`i to be a top 20 program."

The class includes three players who are from the islands in Mark Rodrigues, Kaimi Mead and Jonathon Serapion. Rodrigues was a star pitcher at Kauai high school before he played two years at Los Medanos College. Mead plays for Roosevelt high school and Serapion is at Pearl City high school.

The other high school recruits are Steven Wright of Valley View High in Moreno Valley, Calif., Jeff Pry of Franklin High in Portland, Ore., Travis Denker of Brea Olinda High in Fullerton, Calif., Derek Dupree of Shorecrest High in Shorecrest, Wash. and Matthew Buck of Cactus Shadows High in Cave Creek, Ariz. The other four junior college transfers are Andrew Castillo of Cerritos CC, Brandon Bailey of Sacramento City CC and Stephen Bryant and Evan MacLane of Feather River CC.

"We had the No. 19 recruiting class in the country last season and if everyone were to show up out of this class, it would be even better," added Trapasso. "But you never really know because of the Major League draft. There are two or three high profile guys in this class that will probably be drafted high in June. But you have to take that risk. As far as a fall recruiting class goes, we have to be happy though."

Brandon Bailey
Bailey is an outfielder at Sacramento City CC. Last year, Bailey hit .269 with eight home runs and 35 RBI. In high school, Bailey hit .598 with seven homers and 45 RBI during his senior season, while making the Sacramento Bee Player of the Year. He was also selected in last year's MLB draft.

Stephen Bryant
Bryant is a right-handed pitcher at Feather River CC. He pitched seven scoreless innings against Sacramento City CC in the Regional Championship game last year. He had 21 strikeout in 30.1 innings pitched.

Matthew Buck
Buck is a 6-2 left-handed pitcher at Cactus Shadows High. He's a two-time honorable mention all-conference player.

Andrew Castillo
Castillo is an infielder that was at Cerritos CC, Santa Ana CC and Mater Dei High.

Travis Denker
Denker is a infielder that earned all-CIF and all-state honors in 2002. He hit .448 last season with 13 home runs and 35 RBI.

Derek Dupree
Dupree is an outfielder at Shorecrest High. He made all-conference in each of his last two seasons and has a two-year batting average of .395.

Evan MacLaneMacLane is a left-handed pitcher for Feather River CC, that had a 13-2 record last season, with a 2.21 era. He led the state in wins while making all-conference and all-Northern California JC.

Kaimi Mead
Mead is a left-handed pitcher for Roosevelt High that played three years at St. Louis before going to Roosevelt this season.

Jeffrey Pry Jr.
Pry is a right-handed pitcher for Franklin High. "Pry is a high-profile guy that come June, will have a chance to go high in the MLB draft," Trapasso praised.

Mark Rodrigues
Rodrigues is a left-handed pitcher for Los Medaros CC that has been drafted in the MLB draft twice. He is a Kauai High graduate.

Jonathon Serapion
Serapion is a right-handed pitcher that was an OIA all-star his junior year. He was also selected to the Hawai`i Select baseball team in July of 2002.

Steven Wright
Wright is right-handed pitcher and a third baseman at Valley View High. "Wright is another high-profile guy who should go high in the draft as well," added Trapasso.

-uh-