Rainbows sign JC power hitter
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
A power-hitting junior college first baseman/outfielder has signed with the University of Hawai'i baseball team.
Nate Thurber, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound right-handed hitter at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, has already signed his letter of intent to play at UH, his coach Roger Ward said yesterday.
"You're getting a guy who will drive in runs for you," said Ward, son of former Oklahoma State coach Gary Ward. Hawai'i coach Mike Trapasso played for Gary Ward at Oklahoma State.
Also, Iolani School senior Kala Kaaihue said he will sign his letter of intent to UH this morning before school starts. Kaaihue is a catcher and pro prospect. His brother, Kila, was drafted in the 15th round and signed by the Kansas City Royals last year. Their father is former professional player Kala Kaaihue.
April 16 was the first day for the final signing period for baseball recruits.
Also, Maui High pitcher/catcher Vance Otake said he has accepted a walk-on offer at UH. He said he was told by UH coaches that he might be put on scholarship, depending on how UH's scholarship recruits fare in the June draft.
"They're a program on the rise right now," Otake said. "In the future they will be real tough."
Although Otake plays catcher, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound right-hander said he will be used as a pitcher at UH. He said the only program to offer him a scholarship was Saddleback Community College in California.
Otake (5-0) has a crucial two-game series against rival Baldwin this weekend. Both teams are 12-0 in the Maui Interscholastic League.
Thurber was batting .437 with a team-leading 15 home runs and 44 RBIs for the Golden Norsemen through April 22. He also had 19 walks to 25 strikeouts.
Thurber, whose hometown is listed as Herperia, Calif., also had an offer from New Mexico State, which is coached by Roger Ward's brother, Rocky Ward.
Roger Ward said that in the past couple of days, schools like Texas and Oklahoma had inquired about Thurber. But they were too late because he had already signed UH's letter of intent.
Ward added that Thurber has drawn interest from the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox.
"He won't be a high pick because he doesn't have a projected position," Ward said.
Ward added that Thurber does have a slight tear in his rotator cuff.
"Traps (Trapasso) is getting a really good hitter for the Division I level," Ward said.
Trapasso is not allowed to comment on recruits until he receives the letters from the players.
