Sardinha starts
Rockies career
in Wyoming

Duke, a Kamehameha alum,
joins brothers Dane and Bronson
in professional baseball

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By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.com

Kamehameha alumnus Duke Sardinha, drafted in the 19th round (561st overall) by Colorado in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft last week, has agreed to terms with the Rockies.

He also was drafted by Colorado a year ago in the 41st round, but was coming off an injury-plagued season at Pepperdine and opted to return to the Waves, where he enjoyed an injury-free campaign this past spring.

Sardinha leaves tomorrow morning for Casper, Wyo., to play for one of eight teams in the Pioneer League, which is classified as rookie advanced. He will meet on the way with Colorado scout Billy Eppler in Los Angeles to sign his contract.

After several days of negotiations, the telephones went silent for a couple of days until Eppler called yesterday.

"He said the coaches want to know if they can pencil me in as their starting third baseman Saturday night, otherwise they will have to find another third baseman," Sardinha said.

Further conversation resulted in an agreement being reached.

"It's not seventh-round money (Colorado's final offer of $100,000 a year ago), but it's better than the money for the round I was selected in," Sardinha said. "I'm happy with the deal. I just want to start playing."

The Rockies also want him to learn the catcher's position.

"I'm pretty much going to play third and catch a little bit, maybe every third game or the last couple of innings of a game no matter what the score is," Sardinha said. "I need a lot of work, but it's a position every team needs players and it helps you move up the ladder faster."

Sardinha has never caught before, although he did travel as the bullpen catcher during his redshirt freshman year at Pepperdine.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder was fourth in batting for Pepperdine with a .315 average, had a career-high 20 doubles, hit 11 home runs and knocked in 45 teammates.

He is the third son of Dexter and Darneen Sardinha to enter professional baseball. Dane Sardinha is a catcher with the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Cincinnati Reds' team in the Class AA Southern League. Bronson Sardinha is an infielder with the Greensboro Bats, the New York Yankees' Class A farm team in the South Atlantic League.

Also, his great grandfather's cousin, John Sardinha, pitched in Japan for the Nankai Hawks in 1959 and 1960.