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Thursday, October 12, 2000

Top Hawaii prep
baseball prospects
go to Pepperdine

League, Sardinha catch
the 'Wave' to Malibu

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By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

Brandon League and Bronson Sardinha, the two top baseball prospects in the Hawaii high school class of 2001, have made verbal commitments to accept full scholarships at Pepperdine University.

But whether they end up going there is another question; both are projected as high picks in next spring's professional draft -- League in the first round, Sardinha anywhere from the first to fourth.

Sardinha committed to the Waves last week and League did over the weekend while visiting the Malibu, Calif. campus.

"I was really impressed with everything," said League, a pitcher from St. Louis School. "I'm comfortable with the area, the coaches and the team."

League was so taken with Pepperdine that he canceled three other visits to UC-Irvine, Arizona State and Cal-Berkeley. He had earlier visited the University of San Francisco.

"Ijust thought it was the right thing to do so the other schools could adjust their plans," League said.

Sardinha, a shortstop at Kamehameha Schools, made his choice before making an official visit. But he is very familiar with the school, since his older brothers Dane and Duke have played at Pepperdine.

Duke Sardinha, a junior this upcoming season, helped recruit his younger brother and League.

"Duke and I are close, so it was a factor. He helped me make the decision. And I think the program is going to get better and better there," Bronson Sardinha said. "It reminds me of Kamehameha, because it's up on a hill overlooking the water.

"And Brandon said Duke showed him a surfing spot there already."

Sardinha said another factor in his decision is that coach Frank Sanchez said he will let him play shortstop.

He chose Pepperdine over Southern Cal, Miami and Louisiana State.

League struggled last season for St. Louis in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, but pitched well with the USA Junior National team in the summer. His fastball has been timed at 94 mph, and is consistently in the low 90s.

Sardinha helped lead Kamehameha to the final game of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament last spring.