Monday, May 21, 2001

Scalabrini named
UH baseball MVP

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Patrick Scalabrini, Matthew Purtell, Jeff Coleman and Gregg Omori were the top award winners at last night's University of Hawaii baseball awards banquet held at the Japanese Cultural Center.

Scalabrini, the first Canada native to play for the Rainbows, was named the Most Valuable Player. The senior third baseman was the only Rainbow to play in all 56 games.

The Waterville, Quebec, native led the team in runs and finished second in batting average (.319), doubles (14), home runs (seven), RBIs (38) and stolen bases (19). (He also is the first Rainbow to play pepper with a hockey stick, flicking baseballs with wrist shots to teammates.)

Purtell was selected the Most Inspirational Player by his teammates. The senior played several positions and settled into the No. 2 batting spot.

The Sonoma, Calif., resident walked on two years ago. He had a .304 batting average as a senior, a 140-point increase over a year ago. One of his biggest hits was a two-run single he bounced into center field in the ninth inning Saturday night that pulled UH into an 8-8 tie in the season finale against UH-Hilo. The Rainbows eventually won, 9-8.

Coleman, a junior right-hander from San Dimas, Calif., was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher. He won seven of his last nine decisions to finish with an 8-6 record.

Coleman, who led the staff with 97 strikeouts and the starters with a 3.75 ERA, had indicated he will turn pro if drafted.

Omori, named the Most Outstanding Player, had a stellar season after sitting out a year following his transfer back to UH from the University of San Francisco.

The junior infielder/designated hitter from Kaneohe led the 'Bows in batting (.367), hits (84), doubles (25), home runs (11), RBIs (62) and slugging percentage (.620). His second double in the ninth inning Saturday night drove in the winning run and gave Omori 25 doubles, tying Chuck Jackson's single-season mark set in 1984.

The Verizon Award was presented to Kailua senior first baseman Danny Kimura, who came on strong during the end of the season to raise his batting average from .218 to .294.

The Scholar-Athlete Award went to junior Aaron Pribble, a left-handed relief pitcher and occasional designated hitter from Fairfax, Calif. He has a 3.91 grade point average while majoring in political science.

Coleman and Omori were co-Most Outstanding First-Year Players.

---

http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu