College Commitments: Wai'anae's Awana to pass on pro ball

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

All-State pitcher Dane Awana of Wai'anae said yesterday he will pass on pro baseball for now and will attend Saddleback (junior) College in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Awana was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 32nd round (the 970th player taken) of the Major League draft on June 5. He said he decided on Saddleback after "I talked with my friend, Reid Santos" (Castle '00), who also is skipping the draft to play at Saddleback.

Santos, like Awana a left-handed pitcher, was taken in the 13th round (394th player) by Cleveland. Santos also was drafted in 2000 and 2001, but chose to attend Saddleback instead. He underwent elbow surgery last July and red-shirted this year.

Saddleback is coached by Jack Hodges (Kamehameha '65) and has qualified for the California community college playoffs nine of the past 10 years.

Seattle and Cleveland retain the rights to sign Awana and Santos, respectively, until the week before next year's June draft.

First-team all-state outfielder Tyler Perkins of Kamehameha earlier signed a scholarship agreement with the University of Portland.

"We were holding our breath when the Dodgers brought him over to Dodger Stadium for a workout with 10 to 15 other prospects, but we were relieved when he wasn't drafted," said Loren Wohlgemuth Jr., Portland's sports information director.

Perkins also was a second-team all-state defensive back in football (Portland does not have a football team) and finished second in the state 100-meter dash championship.

Another first-team all-state outfielder, Bryan Tucker-Salas of 'Aiea, said he would play next season at Mt. San Antonio (junior) College in Walnut, Calif.

OTHER SPORTS

Women's basketball: Kalani's Ashley Takata, one of the state's sharpest outside shooters, decided yesterday to attend Irvine Valley (junior) College in California.

Women's volleyball: La'akea Campbell, first-team all-state player and captain of Iolani's state championship team, has signed with Fresno State.

Fresno State notes in its announcement that her full first name is La'akeaokamahealani and she is the first player from Hawai'i ever signed by the Bulldogs, who are coached by Punahou graduate Lindy Vivas.

Hawai'i Prep's Rachel Gleed, a Big Island all-star in soccer and volleyball, is going to Davidson (N.C.) to play volleyball.