GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM UH's Brian Finegan was hit by a pitch against Wichita State last week. Finegan has been one of Hawaii's top hitters.
Finegan finds his place Brian Finegan thought he was a better football player than a baseball player when he graduated from Clovis West (Calif.) High School, although baseball was his favorite sport.
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.com
He was a starting wide receiver and a backup quarterback in football, and a shortstop for the baseball team.
However, interest from coaches of either sport at four-year colleges was minimal for the current Hawaii starting shortstop. He ended up going to St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif., with the idea of walking on to the football team. That never happened.
When: Today, 6:35 p.m., and tomorrow, 1:05 p.m. Hawaii-Hilo
at Hawaii
Where: Murakami Stadium
TV: Sunday's game live, KFVE, Ch. 5
Radio: Both games live, KKEA, 1420-AM
Tickets: $6 Orange, Blue levels. $5 Red level. $4 Seniors, children age 4-18, UH students in the Red level.
Parking: $3
"I ended up as a walk-on with the baseball team and played some second base, but I realized things weren't right for me there," Finegan said. "The shortstop ahead of me was returning and I only hit .130."
A change of scenery developed that summer. His coach with the Santa Maria Indians suggested Finegan look into transferring to Cuesta College and playing for coach Larry Lee.
"I wanted to play shortstop and I wanted to play everyday," Finegan said. "I never knew if this would happen at St. Mary's and, although Coach Lee never told me this, I got the feeling that the shortstop's job at Cuesta was mine to lose. I knew I could play defense and I've always had a strong arm."
In fact, Finegan enjoyed taking ground ball after ground ball in practice. Defense was his forte. He never really thought of himself as being much of a hitter.
Lee would change that.
"He made me address my weaknesses," said Finegan, who received a lot more interest from Division I coaches. "Last year was a turning point for me on offense. I hit three home runs in my entire high school career and I hit 14 last year. It was a great surprise."
Washington State wanted to sign him in the fall before he ever played for Cuesta, but the offer from the Cougars wasn't that great and Lee advised him to wait it out. In the spring he made recruiting visits to North Carolina State, UC Santa Barbara and Hawaii, and took an unofficial visit to Loyola Marymount when Cuesta had a game in Los Angeles.
"North Carolina was too far away, although coming 2,500 miles to Hawaii is pretty far too," Finegan said. "It came down to USCB and Hawaii.
"I knew my teammate at Cuesta, Nick (Ponomarenko), had committed in the fall and I thought Hawaii had a better recruiting class. I made my visit in late May and Kevin Gilbride was my host. He introduced me to a lot of people and they were really cool, nice and friendly. Then there was the stadium and the opportunity to play."
Ponomarenko was the one who told Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso about Finegan, who remembers going 0-for-4 at the plate and making an error the day Trapasso came to a Cuesta game.
"The funny thing is that is what you get from kids because they focus on performance," Trapasso said. "One of the most important things for me is to watch the 10-minute infield before a game. I'm looking for (baseball) tools and ability. After pregame infield you've seen half of what you came to see.
"I don't remember how many hits Brian had, but I knew after infield we were definitely interested. I liked his defense and we needed a shortstop. I also saw him during the California playoffs and his offense had improved. He has worked hard on his offense since with Brian (Green, UH assistant) and is off to a good start. We hope it continues."
Finegan arrived on campus last fall and knew there would be competition for the starting shortstop job.
"I knew that I would try to outwork them," Finegan said.
He hit safely in the Rainbows' first 10 games before ending the streak against Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday. Finegan hit .441 (15-for-34 with five doubles) in those first 10 games. His on-base percentage (.568) was the highest among the regulars.
During the streak he moved from No. 9 to leadoff hitter in the batting order. He says where he bats in the lineup makes no difference and that there was no pressure during the streak, except once.
"After I was named WAC Player of the Week, I felt like I needed to get a hit every at-bat. I put that on myself," Finegan said. "But, after talking to some people, it's not a big deal. I just want to help us win."
He will have an opportunity to do that in front of family and friends this coming week when the 'Bows travel to Fresno State to open the Western Athletic Conference season. Clovis is just a couple of long home runs east of Fresno, Calif.
HAWAII (8-3) Probable starting pitchers
W-L ERA K RHP Chris George (Sr.) 2-0 1.93 22 LHP Justin Cayetano (Sr.) 1-1 2.70 18 HAWAII-HILO (5-25)
W-L ERA K RHP R.Shimabukuro (Sr.) 0-4 9.00 16 RHP Brian Ebbs (Jr.) 2-5 11.66 14
Notes: The Rainbows and Vulcans have played 114 games, with UH holding a 95-19 edge. ... Earlier this year, UH defeated the visiting Vulcans in a midweek game, 8-2. ... Nineteen of Hilo's 30 games have been against teams ranked in the latest Collegiate Baseball Poll: Arizona State (No. 4), Kansas (No. 17) and Wichita State (No. 25). ... Rainbow right-hander Clary Carlsen is perfect in his three save attempts while allowing just one earned run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. ... Freshman third baseman Rocky Russo leads UH with 12 walks and runs scored with 11.
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