By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
St. Louis’ Brandon League and Kamehameha’s Bronson Sardinha are Hawai‘i’s top baseball prospects, friends and possible future teammates.
Baseball America magazine ranks League, a right-handed pitcher, No. 10 on a list of high school prospects. Sardinha, a left-handed hitting shortstop, is ranked No. 38.
St. Louis and Kamehameha, along with ‘Iolani and Mid-Pacific, are expected to challenge for this year’s Interscholastic League of Honolulu title.
League’s fastball is consistently clocked between 88-91 mph with movement, according to first-year St. Louis coach Dean Sato.
"We’re not looking forward to facing him, that’s for sure," Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said. "I don’t think anybody is. He’s got nasty stuff. When he’s on his game, he’s unhittable."
League, 6 feet 2 and 175 pounds, is attempting to refine his curveball and slider with new pitching coach Carlos Diaz, who played for four major league teams from the late 1970s through mid-1980s.
"He has awesome potential," Diaz said. "He’s great right now, and he can even get better. He was doing great before I got here, so I hope I don’t mess him up."
Sardinha, 6 feet 1 and 205 pounds, is the fourth and youngest son of Dexter and Darneen Sardinha to play baseball at Kamehameha.
Brandon graduated in 1992, Dane in 1997 and Duke in 1998.
Dane and Duke Sardinha opted to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. Dane, a catcher, was selected in the second round of last year’s draft by the Cincinnati Reds. Duke, a second baseman, is a sophomore for the Waves.
"Just because I’m Dane Sardinha’s younger brother, everyone expects me to be just as good as him," Bronson says.
Ramie said Bronson is a complete player.
"He has all the tools you look for in a Division I or pro player," Ramie said. "He’s got good size, quickness, swings the bat really well and has a great arm. There is not much more to add to that."
League and Sardinha met one another through pitcher Kahi Kaanoi, a Kamehameha graduate who was drafted in the seventh round and signed by the Kansas City Royals last year.
"Last year we went surfing because (Sardinha) lives in Kahuku," League said. "We’d go to Turtle Bay and other places on the North Shore."
Both have signed letters of intent to play for Pepperdine, and will likely be selected in the June draft.
"My dream has always been to play pro ball, but school is pretty important to me," League said.
Said Sardinha: "The circumstances have to be right. If they aren’t, college is a really good option. I can get better in college and maybe I’ll be more prepared for professional baseball after that."
The ILH season begins Saturday with four games at Ala Wai Field. St. Louis plays ‘Iolani at 9 a.m., Punahou plays Kamehameha at noon, Pac-Five plays Mid-Pacific at 3, and Maryknoll plays Damien at 6.
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