Isle File
Mid-Pacific grad Rundgren, Kaiser grad Uegawachi sign pro contracts
Advertiser Staff
Two shortstops with ties to Hawai'i are on their way to pro ball.
Former Mid-Pacific Institute all-state pick Rex Rundgren, of Sacramento City College, signed with the Florida Marlins. Florida selected Rundgren in the 11th round of last week's Major League Baseball first-year player draft.
Also, Hawai'i Pacific University's Bryce Uegawachi signed with the Cleveland Indians, who made the 1997 Kaiser High graduate a 26th-round choice. Uegawachi completed four seasons of eligibility with the Sea Warriors.
Rundgren left for training camp in Florida yesterday. He will be assigned to Utica (N.Y.) in the short-season Class A New York-Pennsylvania League, according to his mother, Michelle. Rundgren batted .381 with 32 RBIs for Sacramento City and had a scholarship offer to attend Clemson.
Uegawachi said he leaves tomorrow for Cleveland, where he and other signees will be briefed before heading to the Indians' training site in Winter Haven, Fla. He then will be assigned to the New York-Pennsylvania League's Mahoning Valley (Niles, Ohio) club. Uegawachi batted .353 and led HPU with 45 runs last season.
"I'm surprised that I got drafted, but now I have to get past the surprise (phase) and be successful and not be in awe of being in professional baseball," said Uegawachi, who said he got a $1,000 signing bonus.
The University of Hawai'i might soon learn the status of junior pitcher Jeff Coleman, who said he will meet with an Oakland Athletics' representative today.
Coleman, who was drafted in the 21st round, the Rainbows' best starting pitcher with an 8-6 record and a 3.75 earned-run average.
GOLF
• Publinks qualifiers: Jarett Hamamoto and Chris Igawa tied for medalist honors and will represent the Hilo section at the men's National Public Links Golf Championship next month.
Hamamoto shot 75-66 and Igawa 70-71 yesterday at Hilo Municipal.
The national tournament will be held July 9-14 at the Pecan Valley Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas.
Gabriel Wilson (71-71—142) is the first alternate, followed by Laine Malson (67-76—143), Kyle Tengan (73-70—143) and Brett Furutani (73-72—145).
Pat Viernes shot 74-73—147 at the par-72 Wailua Golf course to claim the Kaua'i section's lone berth.
Juston Thomas shot 76-76—152 and is the first alternate. Clesson Pang (73-80—153) and Casey Watabu (78-76—154) are the next two alternates.
CAMPS
• Wahine basketball: University of Hawai'i coach Vince Goo has extended the deadline indefinitely for his two camps.
Goo, his staff and current and former players will conduct the camps. The first, June 15-17, is for girls and boys, ages 5-13. The second, June 22-24, is for girls ages 14-18.
Both sessions will be at the Stan Sheriff Center and campus gyms. Each camp costs $75, which includes personalized instruction, station work, a 5-on-5 tournament, and other techniques.
For more information and to obtain applications, call 956-2710 or 956-4507.
• Arizona Cardinals: University of Hawai'i defensive line coach Vantz Singletary has accepted a coaching internship with the Arizona Cardinals this summer.
This is Singletary's fourth invitation to an NFL camp. Each NFL team sorts through about 200 applications each year, narrowing it to two slots, one for offense and one for defense.
