Hawaii baseball coach Mike Trapasso continued to retool next year's Rainbow roster with the signing of three pitchers, two outfielders and a shortstop for the 2003 season. Trapasso revamps
Rainbows roster
with 6 recruitsThe UH coach is impressed with
the 3 pitchers and 3 hittersBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThey join 11 recruits who signed national letters of intent during the early signing period last November.
The pitchers, all right-handers, are 6-foot-3 Michael Peck from Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif., 6-1 Richie Olsen from Iolani and 6-8 Colby Summer from Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore. The position players are shortstop Brian Finegan, a 6-1, 185-pounder from Cuesta (Calif.) College and left-hand hitting outfielders Josh Green from Feather River (Calif.) College and Jaziel Mendoza from San Joaquin Delta (Calif.) College.
Trapasso watched Peck pitch last year and was even more impressed this past spring when the 180-pounder increased his velocity.
"Michael is a guy who can develop into an absolute blue-chipper. He throws in the mid-to-high 80's, has a good slider and throws strikes. He is similar to Ricky Bauer," said Trapasso. "Michael has a good pitcher's body. He will get bigger and stronger and become very special for us. He played in a competitive league."
Peck topped all Southern California players with 95 innings pitched, was third in strikeouts with 130, walked just 26 while posting a 9-2 record and a 1.30 earned run average. He was the only California prep hurler to pitch a perfect game this year.
Olsen is the son of former Rainbow standout Richard Olsen, who went on to a lengthy pro career, first in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, then for a couple years in Japan before finishing with eight campaigns in Italy.
"I'm happy to sign another local player who I think has a good upside," said Trapasso. "Richard possesses a tremendous breaking ball, one that can be a power breaking ball. He throws in the mid-80s and with that breaking ball he just needs some polishing. He is going to represent UH very well."
Olsen was an honorable mention all-state and a second-team all-Interscholastic League of Honolulu selection.
This past spring Summer was 4-2 with a 1.24 earned run average. He struck out 35 and walked 15 in 51 innings. He also played shortstop for the Saints and led the team with a .343 (35-for-99) batting average. These statistics earned Summer Northwest Athletic Association Community College Player of the Year accolades.
"Colby is concentrating on pitching this summer and we've been getting good reports on him," Trapasso said. "What I like about him is he is a multi-position player. I don't know if he'll play shortstop for us, but we could use him at first base or in the outfield."
Mt. Hood won the Southern Division of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges, a wood bat league, with a 21-5 record and finished 31-14 overall.
"He is the most athletic shortstop we've ever had and has a super-big-time arm," said Mt. Hood coach Gabe Sandy. "Colby pitches in the 85-88 range and has a good slider. I think he has a chance to be super down the road. I see him as a closer.
"He grew an inch after he got here and, if he fills out like his father, watch out."
Summer, from Mountain View, Ore., was the player of the year in basketball and baseball his senior year in high school. He had offers from NCAA Division I schools to play basketball and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners.
Green led Feather River College to a 32-12 record. He was a Junior College All-American and a Golden Valley Conference first-team selection after winning the triple crown (11 home runs, 59 RBIs, .408 batting average).
Green also led the conference with 17 doubles and .758 slugging percentage and hit four triples.
"Josh is just athletic, a baseball player all around who is very competitive," said Trapasso. "He is a good defensive corner outfielder with a decent arm. He's wiry and I think he can get stronger. I'm pretty excited about him."
A product of Galena High School in Reno, Nev., the 6-1, 180-pound Green had the highest batting average (.374) among Golden Eagle freshmen while hitting fifth. He had 14 doubles, two triples, four homers, 39 RBIs and was 7-for-8 in stolen bases in his first JC season.
Trapasso called Finegan a true shortstop who batted leadoff for a 43-9 team this past spring.
"Anyone who plays for coach Larry Lee at Cuesta is going to be a student of the game. He will be taught well," said Trapasso. "Brian has offensive potential, some power, but it's his defense I like."
Finegan was named to the All-Southern California team after helping Cuesta reach the California Community College Championships.
Mendoza, a 5-10, 215-pounder, was named to the All-Bay Valley Conference East second team after a season in which he hit .337 with 16 doubles and four homers.
"He's a strong left-handed hitter who will put up solid numbers," said Trapasso.
Trapasso has six junior college and 11 high school players committed to UH for 2003.
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