Rainbow baseball signs four for 2005

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i signed four more players for the 2005 baseball season.

Esteban Lopez, a catcher from Yavapai (Prescott, Ariz.) College, Adam Roberts, a third baseman from Edmonds (Lynnwood, Wash.) College, Dean Roberts, a right-handed pitcher from Bellevue (Wash.) College and Erik Ammon, a senior catcher at North Salem (Ore.) High, signed letters of intent to play for UH, the school announced.

Lopez was batting .375 with 25 doubles, two triples and two home runs with 46 RBIs through yesterday. He was drafted out of Chandler (Ariz.) High in the 49th round by the New York Mets in 2002.

Statistics through April 6 showed Roberts batting .316 with three doubles and three triples.

Both play in leagues that use wooden bats, UH coach Mike Trapasso said.

Turner is 2-2 with a 7.53 earned run average in 14¡ innings. He was drafted last year in the 35th round by the San Diego Padres, despite an 0-3 record in 2003. He declined a scholarship to play at Centenary after last season, according to a school biography of Turner.

Ammon is listed as one of the top 17 high school prospects in Oregon by scouting report service Prospects Plus.

They join 15 other JC transfer and high school seniors who signed in the fall.

Meanwhile, UH outfielder Greg Kish's left ankle has been diagnosed as a "grade-two" sprain, Trapasso said.

Kish, who is leading the team with a .383 batting average, is doubtful for the crucial Western Athletic Conference series against Nevada at Les Murakami Stadium starting Thursday.

Kish injured his ankle in Friday's game at Fresno State while beating out an infield single.

Trapasso said Kish could be ready for next week's series against Rice.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.