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Saturday, April 15, 2000
Mitchell sparkling
at plate after
eye injury
A brush with fireworks set him
By Al Chase
back, but the UH sophomore is
starting in the outfield and
has a 7-game hitting streak
Star-BulletinRAH-MIEL Mitchell expected to contend for a starting outfield berth on the University of Hawaii baseball team this spring after a solid freshman season.
Unfortunately, a wayward piece of fireworks that hit his right eye New Year's Day derailed that possibility until last month.
"I was in Aiea watching the fireworks, looking over a ridge and suddenly something hit me," Mitchell said.
"I don't know where it came from but my eye was split open at the top and bleeding."
Fortunately for the sophomore from National City, Calif., there was no permanent damage to his eye.
He finally got the opportunity to start in the recent Rainbow Easter Tournament, but not before correcting some bad mechanics with his swing.
"He had a long swing. He had problems with breaking pitches and he went after a lot of bad pitches," Hawaii head coach Les Murakami said.
"He obviously worked on it. Even now his swing is not perfect, but it's much better and he's stronger, so he hits.
"If you look at the last 15 games he's played, he just seems to have caught fire."
Mitchell had to work on getting his hands through while keeping his shoulder in.
Entering today's game against Fresno State, he is batting .367 and his seven-game hitting streak is the longest on the team.
Although he felt he was ready when the Rainbows opened the Western Athletic Conference season against Rice, Mitchell did not sense any extra pressure when he did get to start.
"There is pressure in everything you do in life, but my motto has always been to go out and have fun," Mitchell said.
"This is a game. I love baseball so much. Most of the time I just smile I enjoy it that much. I love competition and love big games. I get up for it, but I'm not a rah-rah type of guy.
"And, you know what coach says, you don't hit, you don't play."
The 5-foot-11, 172-pound Mitchell was an all-league performer at Sweetwater High School in football and baseball. Between the two sports, he had 15 scholarship offers. He made football recruiting trips to the University of Arizona and Nevada-Las Vegas.
Pepperdine was very interested in his baseball talents.
His parents, Laverne and Reggie Mitchell, had made it known they did not want a major league team to draft their son.
"My parents thought it was in my best interest," Mitchell said. "I was under 18 and they were still in control of my life. They are my role models and I listen to what they have to say and respect their opinion."
His heart was set on attending Pepperdine. He admits he didn't even know UH had a baseball program until the coaches called.
Eventually the decision came down to the Waves or Rainbows.
"When UH called, what they had to say passed with flying colors. They said a whole lot of things I was interested in," Mitchell said.
He hasn't decided on a major yet and when asked about the future, Mitchell just smiled.
"I'm a day-to-day kind of guy," he said. "I just work hard and if I work hard good things will happen. My guardian angel and parents will guide me in the right direction and I will eventually be doing something positive in the community."
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
