Posted on: Friday, November 21, 2003
'Bows' recruits include 'high profile' players
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Fifteen players, including a top 100 high school prospect in the nation, have signed binding national letters of intent with the University of Hawai'i baseball program.
James Parr, a senior right-handed pitcher from La Cueva High in Albuquerque, N.M., is one of four "high profile" recruits UH got during the early signing period that ended Wednesday.
Rainbows coach Mike Trapasso characterized Parr, Walnut (Calif.) High outfielder Greg Burns, Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley, Calif.) shortstop Joseph Spiers and Kamehameha right-handed pitcher Kanekoa Texeira as "high profile guys who will get a lot of play in the draft."
Parr is ranked 93rd in the latest ranking by Prospect Plus, a scouting service by Perfect Game. The top 100 was posted on Baseball America Online.
"He's real polished with a good loose arm that can get up to 92 miles per hour," Trapasso said.
The other six high school signees are: Outfielder Ryan Asato and pitcher Harrison Kuroda, both of Mid-Pacific Institute; catcher Aaron Asher of 'Aiea; pitchers Myles Ioane and Ronnie Loeffler of Waiakea; and first baseman Steve Bralver of Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.).
The JC recruits are primarily outfielders: Jeff Piaskowski and Jose Casteneda of Orange Coast (Costa Mesa, Calif.); Kyle Thomas of Riverside (Calif.); Jon Combs of Santa Barbara (Calif.) City; and Robbie Nelson of Edmonds (Wash.).
"You hope by the time the draft's over that this doesn't end up being just a wish list," Trapasso said.
He added that Ioane and Asher also are strong candidates in the draft, as well as some of the JC players.
• UH-Hilo signees: Baseball players Mark Veneri and Dennis Gonsalves Jr., and softball players Charity Senas and Brittany Dock have signed with UH-Hilo, the Big Island school announced. Veneri is a senior left fielder at Punahou School, while Gonsalves is a right-handed pitcher at West High (Torrance, Calif.).
Senas is a senior shortstop at Mililani and Bock is a senior catcher at Upland (Calif.).
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.
