The Hawai'i baseball team capped off a strong summer with a number of returning players and newcomers putting up big numbers and earning recognition in collegiate wood bat leagues around the country.
Incoming freshman Sebastian Gonzalez turned in one of the most impressive summers by a Rainbow Warrior, earning Prospect League Pitcher of the Year honors after striking out 86 batters over 56.2 innings with the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. He also recorded seven saves and posted an ERA of 2.22 and allowing just 18 walks.
Kamehameha-Kapālama graduate and 19th round pick Elijah Ickes was named the top prospect in the West Coast League after batting .277 with 11 stolen bases for the Nanaimo Night Owls. Also in the WCL,
Naighel Ali'i Calderon earned honorable mention all-league after going 16-for-19 in stolen bases while hitting .276 for the Portland Pickles.
A number of 'Bows had strong summers in the Northwoods League, led by
Stone Miyao who hit .324 with two homers, 46 RBIs and 27 stolen bases for the Willmar Stingers.
Ben Zeigler-Namoa hit .335 with three homers and 39 RBIs for the La Crosse Loggers while
Sean Rimmer hit 10 homers and drove in 42 runs for Willmar. Additionally,
Aaron Ujimori batted .289 for the Waterloo Bucks while
Nainoa Cardinez helped lead the Green Bay Rockers to a league title.
Tai Atkins turned in a lights out performance in the Alaska League, earning first-team all-league honors after posting a 1.13 ERA with 38 strikeouts and six walks.
Matthew Miura also was named first-team all-league in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, batting .388 with 24 RBIs and 18 stolen bases for the Olney Cropdusters.
A list of notable summer performances by returning and incoming 'Bows can be found below.
BATTING
| Player, Team, League |
Avg. |
AB |
R |
H |
HR |
RBI |
2B |
3B |
BB |
SB-SBA |
| Matthew Miura, Olney, Cal Ripken |
.388 |
98 |
27 |
38 |
0 |
24 |
5 |
0 |
22 |
17-24 |
| Ben Zeigler-Namoa, La Crosse, Northwoods |
.335 |
200 |
46 |
67 |
3 |
39 |
12 |
1 |
45 |
12-15 |
| Stone Miyao, Willmar, Northwoods |
.324 |
210 |
50 |
68 |
2 |
46 |
6 |
0 |
40 |
27-30 |
| Aaron Ujimori, Waterloo, Northwoods |
.289 |
76 |
13 |
22 |
2 |
16 |
3 |
0 |
15 |
4-5 |
| Jordan Donahue, La Crosse, Northwoods |
.286 |
70 |
10 |
20 |
0 |
12 |
3 |
1 |
20 |
13-17 |
| Bronson Rivera, Eau Claire, Northwoods |
.282 |
188 |
37 |
53 |
4 |
39 |
9 |
1 |
28 |
8-10 |
| Elijah Ickes, Nanaimo, West Coast |
.277 |
177 |
34 |
49 |
0 |
16 |
6 |
1 |
27 |
11-14 |
| Naighel Ali'i Calderon, Portland, West Coast |
.276 |
116 |
32 |
32 |
0 |
10 |
7 |
0 |
24 |
16-19 |
| Sean Rimmer, Willmar, Northwoods |
.264 |
174 |
40 |
46 |
10 |
42 |
7 |
2 |
25 |
5-6 |
| Dallas Duarte, Willmar, Northwoods |
.263 |
76 |
16 |
20 |
1 |
22 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
10-11 |
| Jared Quandt, Arroyo Seco, California |
.263 |
76 |
15 |
20 |
2 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
13 |
8-9 |
| Kyson Donahue, Chatham, Cape Cod |
.256 |
86 |
10 |
22 |
3 |
10 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
0-0 |
| Tobey Jackson, Illinois Valley, Prospect |
.253 |
91 |
18 |
23 |
2 |
15 |
3 |
1 |
20 |
3-3 |
| Xaige Lancaster, Portland, West Coast |
.252 |
115 |
28 |
29 |
2 |
22 |
8 |
0 |
27 |
8-9 |
PITCHING
| Player, Team, League |
ERA |
W |
L |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
SV |
| Tai Atkins, Anchorage, Alaska |
1.13 |
1 |
1 |
32.0 |
24 |
7 |
4 |
6 |
38 |
2 |
| Sebastian Gonzalez, Illinois Valley, Prospect |
2.22 |
2 |
2 |
56.2 |
50 |
22 |
14 |
18 |
86 |
7 |
| Ben Zeigler-Namoa, La Crosse, Northwoods |
2.70 |
0 |
2 |
16.2 |
17 |
7 |
5 |
9 |
13 |
0 |
| Itsuki Takemoto, Portland, West Coast |
4.76 |
1 |
2 |
28.1 |
29 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
26 |
0 |
