Iolani graduate Olsen to pitch for Rainbows
Advertiser Staff
Iolani School graduate Richie Olsen is among six recruits recently signed to play baseball for the University of Hawai'i this coming season, the school announced yesterday.
Olsen, a right-handed pitcher, is the son of former UH pitcher Richard Olsen, an assistant with the Hawai'i Island Movers collegiate summer team. The elder Olsen pitched professionally after playing for the Rainbows from 1976-1978.
The younger Olsen, who is pitching for the Movers, will become the second second-generation Rainbow. Ryan Monico, who played briefly last year, is the son of former outfielder Mario Monico (1982-1985).
The Rainbows have also signed right-handed pitcher Michael Peck, a recent graduate of Woodbridge High in Irvine, Calif. He earned first-team all-California Interscholastic Federation honors while setting a school record with 130 strikeouts. He had a 9-2 record with a 1.30 earned run average, while allowing 26 walks in 95 innings.
Peck pitched a perfect game last season.
The four other signees are junior college transfers. Two are left-handed hitters, filling a void the Rainbows had from that side last season.
• Outfielder Josh Green, of Feather River JC in Quincy, Calif., was named to the California JC All-America team after batting .412 with 12 home runs and 72 RBIs. The left-handed hitter was a two-time all-Golden Valley Conference selection.
• Outfielder Jaziel Mendoza, of San Joaquin Delta JC in Stockton, Calif., batted .337 with 16 doubles and four home runs while earning all-Bay Valley Conference East Baseball second team honors. He also is a left-handed hitter.
• Shortstop Brian Finegan, of Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Calif., helped lead his team to the California Community College baseball championships. He hit about 12-14 home runs last season, according to UH coach Mike Trapasso.
• Pitcher/infielder Colby Summer, of Mount Hood JC in Greshman, Ore., was his conference's Player of the Year. A starting shortstop, Summer also pitched, posting a 1.20 ERA. He was a 38th-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in the 2000 draft out of Mountain View High in Bend, Ore. The 6-foot-8 Summer will be used as a two-way player, according to Trapasso.
UH-HILO
• Vulcans announce schedule: Hawai'i-Hilo will open the 2003 season against perennial Pac-10 contender Arizona State in a four-game series Jan. 17-20 in Hilo and Kona.
The Vulcans also will play Santa Clara, Sonoma State, Wichita State, Western Illinois, and Centenary, as well as UH and Hawai'i Pacific.
