Pain became big gain for ex-Kalani pitcher Komine
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
What was certainly the most painful part of University of Nebraska pitcher Shane Komine's career might have worked in his favor.
After a line drive broke his jaw during last year's NCAA Regionals, Komine dropped 10 pounds from his 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Not good for someone with hopes of big league career.
University of Nebraska
"After the jaw injury, I needed to gain some weight," Komine said in a recent telephone interview from Lincoln, Neb. "I hit the weight room every day, lifted a lot and ate healthy."
Pitcher Shane Komine said pro scouts have approached him, but heâs concentrating on getting Nebraska to the College World Series.
Well, he isn't quite the Incredible Hulk, but the 2000 All-America selection has been muscling his way through the collegiate baseball season. The Cornhuskers' ace, the so-called "Friday pitcher" who throws the opener of each series, took advantage of NU's support staff. He sought a dietician and went to the trainer for an offseason workout regimen.
Gaining strength
When Komine graduated from Kalani High School in 1998, he weighed 135 pounds. Last year, he went up to 160. After summer workouts at Iolani School and the University of Hawai'i with another Isle player, Keoni DeRenne, Komine returned to Nebraska at a buff 175 pounds.
"I worked on my legs a lot," Komine said. "That was my weakness when I came here. (This new strength) is helping me go deeper into the games. I'm not as tired any more."
And it shows. After losing to Georgia Tech in his first start of the season, Komine has reeled off 11 consecutive wins, including five complete games in 13 starts. He leads the Huskers with an 11-1 record and a 3.63 earned run average. Earlier this season, he became the school's all-time career strikeout leader (353 and counting). Also, with 115 strikeouts (to 27 walks) in 96á innings, Komine became the first Husker to record consecutive 100-strikeout seasons.
Actually, Komine's season got off to an inauspicious start. He gave up five runs in four innings in his loss to Georgia Tech in the Rice Invitational.
Even his first victory, a 15-7 win against New Mexico wasn't anything to e-mail home about. He gave up six runs in 5á innings.
But he has settled since. Despite owning an effective curve, he was relying on his slider.
"The hitters were just sticking their bats out hitting it, getting flares that just dropped in," Komine recalled. "But when I threw my curve, they missed it, hit ground balls to the players."
Komine entered the season ranked 42nd in Baseball America's top 100 college prospects. Although he threw in the high 80-mph range in high school, his size (5-8, 135) apparently worked against him.
But he didn't need to look far for inspiration. DeRenne, his workout partner, encountered the same issue out of high school. At 5-8, DeRenne was not drafted out of high school, despite earning Advertiser Player of the Year honors and named to USA Today's prep All-America second team. He proved himself at the University of Arizona, became a three-year starter, earning All-America honors last year. Scouts noticed him this time, as he signed with the Atlanta Braves, who made him a 12th-round pick. He is playing at Double-A Greenville (S.C.).
"We still talk once in awhile," Komine said.
Pro prospect
Komine, whose fastball has been timed at 96 mph this season, said scouts have approached him.
"If I get drafted this year, I have to talk to my parents, talk to my coaches see what's the best thing to do," Komine said. "But I still have one more year left, so I can return (to Nebraska)."
If he gets drafted, he wouldn't be the first Cornhusker from Hawai'i with that honor this year. Former St. Louis School all-state lineman Dominic Raiola, an All-America center, was a second-round pick of the Detroit Lions on April 21.
"I talked to him the day he got drafted," Komine said. "He sounded pretty excited."
Komine hopes that call comes June 5, the first day of the amateur baseball draft. But for now his focus is on the Cornhuskers getting to Omaha, Neb., site of the College World Series. The Cornhuskers (37-12 overall), leader of the Big 12 with an 18-6 record, are ranked between Nos. 4 and 7 by three different publications.
"I'll worry about that when the time comes," Komine said of the draft. "I'm just concentrating on this season."
