Seven seniors saying aloha

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i will bid farewell to seven seniors who will finish their baseball eligibility at the end of this season.

Playing their final home games for the University of Hawai'i this weekend will be, from left, Josh Green, Andrew Sansaver, Jaziel Mendoza, Brian Finegan, Creighton Kahoali'i, Clary Carlsen and Chuck Withers. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

This group represents one of the shortest stints for a departing class. All, except Kahoali'i, were junior college transfers and have been here at most two seasons. Kahoali'i transferred from California. And Withers was only recently determined to be a senior; he was listed as a junior in previous rosters.

Sansaver, a co-captain with junior pitcher Ricky Bauer, came here via Delta College (Stockton, Calif.) with Mendoza. Hawai'i went to scout Mendoza, but Sansaver also caught its attention.

"I had a good game and I just kind of slipped in," Sansaver said. "So I sort of rode Jaziel's back (to get) here."

Sansaver ended up being a wild-throw saver for UH's infield, as he deftly scooped throws in the dirt. At 5 feet 11, he only asked the infielders that they keep their throws low.

"He's the best defensive first baseman I've ever seen at the college level," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "A true captain of this team in every sense of the word, just a leader by example with his work ethic."

If his baseball career ends with this season, Sansaver said he will return to Hawai'i and complete his degree in psychology before returning to California, where he wants to be a firefighter.

Finegan was as constant as the Manoa mist falling over Les Murakami Stadium. He came here from Cuesta College (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) because he was promised "playing time." The program delivered and so has Finegan. To date, he has played in every UH game since he got here. That's 102 in a row. He even played the final month of last season with an elbow injury. He took the summer off, did not need surgery, and returned showing no residual effects from the injury.

Ripken-like consistency

"Finny's had a tremendous year, a breakout year for him," Trapasso said. "He's just played outstanding defense all year. He's raised his hitting to a level that I think will allow him to go out this summer and have success."

"I just wanted the opportunity to play every day," said Finegan, who appropriately considers Cal Ripken his idol.

The business administration major still needs a year to complete his degree. Since he is considered to be a draft prospect, finishing school will be put on hold. When his playing days are done, Finegan said he will likely get into the family business. His father, Tim, has a car dealership in California.

Green, a native of Reno, Nev., came here from Feather River College (Quincy, Calif.) to take his best cuts. But one of his best plate appearances came when he took a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to drive in the winning run in a 6-5 victory over nationally-ranked Rice this past Saturday.

Although Green's statistics did not match the potential he showed at the junior college level, he contributed in other ways.

"He's shown some versatility by having to play different outfield positions this year and hitting in different spots in the lineup," Trapasso said.

Said Green: "I kind of hoped to help the foundation of players coming in and for success in the program."

One of Green's memorable moments was the birth of daughter Madison toward the end of last season, coincidently, when the Rainbows traveled to Nevada. Green missed a game to be with fiancee Jennifer for the birth. Madison turned 1 on May 2 and has been seen walking on the Les Murakami Stadium turf.

The sociology major said he will complete his degree at the University of Nevada, which is in his hometown of Reno.

"That way, I can pretty much start my family life, get a job and starting living a regular life without sports," said Green, who said he plans to marry Jennifer in the fall.

Injuries plagued Mendoza's two seasons, practically denying UH fans from seeing his true potential. In playing about half the season last year because of a leg injury, Mendoza batted .337 with nine doubles, two triples and a home run with 14 RBIs. This season, a hamstring and most recently a dislocated finger on his right hand have slowed him a little.

"He had a couple of stints where he was hurt and I think it took away from some of his consistency," Trapasso said. "I don't think we've seen the best Jaziel this last half of the season because when he dislocated his finger on his right hand, that had an effect on his swing throughout much of the second half."

Mendoza also had been recruited by Long Beach State, but chose UH because it offered the better deal.

"How could I pass up two years of living in Hawai'i?" he said. "It's a different environment and everybody's friendly."

The sociology major plans to return here and graduate in December. Like Sansaver, he will return to California to become a firefighter.

Pitching in everywhere

This season, he has made 13 appearances, 12 as a starter, notching a team-leading three complete games. Since he is the No. 3 starter in the rotation, he is on-call for relief situations in the first and second games of series.

"Clary's been a guy who's been invaluable," Trapasso said.

Carlsen can't recall a single highlight of his career. "There's been a lot, so it's hard to pick one over the other," he said. "But I had a great time and made some great friends here."

Trapasso believes Carlsen has a future in pro baseball.

"I've always thought Clary would be successful and can be successful against wood bats at the next level, but that remains to be seen," Trapasso said. "In my humble opinion, he's capable of playing at the next level."

Otherwise, the marine biology major knows what he will do after completing his degree: "Save the whales," he said.

Kahoali'i, who transferred here after three years at the University of California, was having the best season of his career until a right knee injury after diving into third for a triple against Rice last Friday shelved him. He has a torn posterior cruciate ligament that should heal with with time.

"He's someone I've really been proud of with the job he has done, defensively and offensively," Trapasso said. "His injury is a huge blow."

Versatility a plus

Kahoali'i was recruited out of Newark (Calif.) Memorial High in 2000 by Trapasso, when he was still an assistant at Georgia Tech. (Kahoali'i also was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 48th round that summer.)

Ironically, the only senior of Hawaiian ancestry isn't even from here. But he isn't the first in his family involved in athletics in the state. His sister, Kristine, starred as a softball pitcher at UH-Hilo.

Kahoali'i said he will return to Cal to finish his degree in American studies this fall. His injury leaves a question to his future in the game. Kahoali'i is a versatile player. He was a catcher and third baseman this season.

"I don't know what this injury will do to his draft status, but there were a lot of scouts who are intrigued by his tools," Trapasso said.

Kahoali'i, who homered off a high school friend, pitcher Scott Siegfried of UH-Hilo earlier this season, said he doesn't know what he will do after graduating. Returning here to work "is not out of the question," he said. "We'll see what happens."

Withers' career came to a premature ending. He transferred to UH after spending the fall semester at UNLV. He had played two seasons at Treasure Valley College (Ontario, Ore.) before that. However, he learned a month ago that his eligibility status was elevated from junior to senior.

"It's a bit of a letdown," he said. "But I'm just trying to take it all in, make it as good an experience as I can. I'm having a great time."

Withers joined the team as an invited walk-on after teaming with Keahi Rawlins in the Alaska summer league. Withers' Alaska coach also knew UH batting coach Brian Green, so that combination brought the right-handed reliever here, he said.

Withers plans to complete his degree in political science here with plans to work on a master's degree in Middle Eastern relations.

"I want to get a (law enforcement) job with the federal government," he said.

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