Jason Ross reflects on his sports careers at the University of Hawaii.
Photo by Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

Four bizarre years in the University of Hawaii athletic program are enough for the Augusta, Ga., native. With any luck, the junior will be a professional baseball player before the summer is out.

"I would like to go onto the next level, but the thing is, I might not be offered," Ross said before yesterday's practice. The major-league draft begins June 4 with Ross a projected 10th-round pick.

"I had my fun here," the 21-year-old said. "I would like to go on where I can learn more stuff. The coaches here took me to one level. The professional guys will probably take me to another.

"Up there, I wouldn't have to worry as much about the results. Our coaches are always looking for who can help them win right now. That's the predicament of college baseball."

Despite not playing as much lately, Ross' stock with the scouts hasn't exactly plummetted. After Ross broke his hand earlier this season, scouts in the Bay Area were glad he didn't play at Cal State-Sacramento for fear their competitors might see him.

Many major-league scouts from teams such as Boston and Florida already have told Rainbows head coach Les Murakami that Ross will go high in the draft based on athletic ability alone.

Granted, he still has trouble hitting the breaking pitch. And yes, Ross and his glove aren't always on speaking terms, but give him some undivided attention at the lower professional levels, and a major-league miracle may occur.

"The kid has natural talent," Murakami said. "They can take the time to work with him. He already has a great arm, good speed and he's 6-foot-4, 210.

"One scout told me that Jason is the best athlete he's seen, and he's been all around the country. The potential is there, no question. He could be another Glenn Braggs."

Murakami only wishes that Ross' potential had been realized at the collegiate level much like Braggs' was some 15 years ago.

After his somewhat controversial decision last summer to give up football to concentrate on baseball full time, Ross had hoped this would be his money season.

But it didn't work out that way.

First of all, he missed nearly a month of the season with a broken hand that occurred after he slammed it on a bat rack in frustration for making an out.

Even though he returned ahead of schedule, Ross and right field were suddenly an ill fit. Routine outs became misadventures.

The harder he tried to correct the problems of picking up the ball both day and night, the more Ross struggled.

Finally, Murakami replaced him with senior Keoni Hansen late in the series against Cal State-Northridge.

Hansen responded with a steady glove and a hot bat that kept Ross on the bench for most of the San Diego State series last weekend.

This weekend's final home series with Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo promises to be more of the same for Ross if Hansen remains hot. It's frustrating.

But even if Ross had known a year ago what he knows now, he wouldn't have changed a thing. Football might have been his life, but baseball is his livelihood.

"I think I would have done everything the same," Ross said. "I just wanted to give baseball a try. It didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, but I learned a lot about myself and about the game.

"I quit football not just because I thought I would be more successful in baseball, but because I didn't enjoy football as much. I just didn't feel like going through all the nonsense and all that went with playing football.

"I wouldn't say I was the first reason (former UH head coach Bob Wagner got fired). There were other guys who left way before I did. It had nothing to do with me.

"The person I was worried about hurting if I left was Coach George Lumpkin. Even to this day, he has helped me the most in my learning and growth process. I owe a lot to that man."

Ross was recruited out of high school by former UH offensive coordinator Paul Johnson in 1992. He was recovering from a knee injury and didn't play football until his redshirt freshman season in 1993.

That year, Ross played in all 12 games, finishing with one interception and 38 tackles from his free safety position. He started all 12 games again in 1994.

Ross was second on the '94 team in tackles with 65. He also caused two fumbles and had four interceptions, including two against Oregon.

Earlier that year, Ross began to play baseball as well. He batted

.288 in 1994 and .331 last year with one homer and 13 RBIs.

This season, Ross is hitting a modest .293. He has one homer and 16 RBIs. He also has four triples and five doubles, and eight stolen bases in nine attempts.

"I've had an unusual four years here playing baseball and football, but it's been fun," Ross said. "I enjoyed it a lot. When I first came here, I didn't know what I wanted to do.

"It took me to the end until I finally figured out what I wanted to do. I was kind of glad I wasn't there when they started spring practice at Cooke Field last week.

"But since I'm struggling now in baseball, I kind of wondered if I would have done better staying with football. That's just an easy way out. I made the decision to give up football, it's up to me to stick with it."