[ BASEBALL ]

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UH’s Symonds signs
with Arizona

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By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.com

Grady Symonds, selected in the 39th round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday by Arizona, signed with the Diamondbacks this weekend.

The 6-foot-2 catcher, who joined the Hawaii Rainbow program after two seasons at Triton Junior College in River Grove, Ill., will take part in the Diamondbacks' mini-camp for drafted players in Yakima, Wash., site of Arizona's farm team in the Northwest League.

"It appears he will be assigned to Missoula (Mont.) in the Pioneer League," said his father, Robert. "Grady was very happy with the way things worked out."

Symonds is one of five catchers picked by Arizona in the draft.

He saw limited action behind UH starting catcher Brian Bock this past spring. Symonds hit .179 in 19 games with two doubles, a triple, one home run and nine RBIs.

Justin Azze, a Rainbow recruit for next year and a 10th round pick by Montreal, had his first meeting with an Expos representative yesterday.

"They did not make an offer. They are still trying to decide on what to offer me and said they would get back to me in the next 24 to 48 hours," Azze said.

A left-handed pitcher, Azze posted a 9-5 record for Orange Coast College this year.