Posted on: Friday, May 30, 2003

Rainbow baseball adds California prep pitcher

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i baseball team has added another recruit for the 2004 season with possibly more to come.

Right-handed pitcher Darrell Fisherbaugh of San Marin High in Novato, Calif., is the 15th recruit signed for next season.

"We got a couple of offers we're still waiting on," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

Fisherbaugh was 12-2 with 0.64 earned-run average. In 122 innings, he had 119 strikeouts and 32 walks.

"We like that he's shown pitchability," Trapasso said. "He has a very good curveball, a mid-80s (mph) fastball. He can throw a couple of (different) pitches for strikes."

The Rainbows also are awaiting next week's Major League draft. Several of their recruits are being targeted, including left-hander Jeff Pry of Portland, Ore., and right-hander Steven Wright of Moreno Valley, Calif.

Both Pry and Wright were ranked in the top 350 high school prospects in the country by Prospects Plus, a publication that periodically ranks prospects on a national and state-by-state basis.

Iolani catcher Kala Ka'aihue, who also signed with UH, attended a Braves workout in Atlanta recently. His brother, Kila, signed with Kansas City out of Iolani last year. Kila had signed a letter of intent with Nebraska.

Junior college transfers Mark Rodrigues, a left-handed pitcher who is a Kaua'i High graduate, and outfielder Brandon Bailey were drafted last year. Although the teams that drafted them — Oakland (Rodrigues) and Toronto (Bailey) — lost "control" for their signing rights on Tuesday, both are eligible for this coming draft.

Also, two UH juniors have drawn scouts' interests.

Center fielder Tim Montgomery, who struggled with a .245 batting average, but still had a team-leading nine home runs and played good defense, has been touted as having the "tools," such as speed and power.

Shortstop Brian Finegan said at least two teams told him they had submitted his name for the draft.

Both said they would return to UH if they don't get drafted.