He made the right choice.

Now a senior right-handed pitcher at Pepperdine, Kometani has amassed a 2.76 earned run average this season, and a 3-2 record, including wins over two ranked teams.

He was named to the West Coast Conference preseason all-conference team this season after earning WCC honorable mention selection last season.

His previous two appearances this season resulted in wins against then-No. 5 South Carolina, 7-5, on March 4 and then-No. 30 Winthrop, 4-1, last Friday.

"In my four years, this is definitely one of the toughest schedules," Kometani said. "It was kind of intimidating, especially with new players. But after going through it and playing as well as we have, it will definitely be beneficial for us in the conference."

Against Winthrop, he scattered 12 hits and struck out six in pitching his fourth career complete game. For the second game in a row, Kometani did not allow a walk as he extended his streak of not issuing a base on balls to 20 innings.

Against South Carolina, he struck out a career-high 10 in 8á innings, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters. He was an out away from a complete game before the Gamecocks scored four runs, three unearned, in the ninth.

"I think, so far, it's been a good start to the season. I think we have a real exciting team this year, so it's been a lot of fun," Kometani said. "We're starting conference this week, so these are the games that really count, so we have a lot of work to do."

His two losses were to Tulane, 3-0, then the top-ranked team in the nation, and to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, 2-1.

"I think it is just kind of over the years, you learn that is part of the game, you might not always get seven or eight runs every time you pitch," he said.

At 6 feet 4, Kometani is an imposing presence on the mound. He also used that height to gain All-State volleyball honorable-mention honors and was selected to the Interscholastic League of Honolulu first team as a senior.

Pepperdine pitcher Kea Kometani, who played for Punahou School, has a streak of 20 innings without issuing a walk this season.

He said he watched a volleyball match between UCLA and the Waves, then the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation, Saturday night.

"I think that would be fun, but I don't think I could hang with those guys," said Kometani, who was a middle blocker in high school.

"I definitely miss it. I still play beach volleyball once in a while with some of my friends. But you forget how hard some of these guys can hit the ball."

Kometani, an economics major who was named to the WCC All-Academic team last season, said schools such as Saint Louis University, Vassar and University of the Pacific recruited him for volleyball.

"For me, I kind of knew that being 6-4, if you were to play at a top program, at my position I'm a small guy," he said. "I kind of knew if I wanted to be successful, I would have to go to a smaller school."

He said Pepperdine was the only school that recruited him for baseball, because "I wasn't that good coming out of high school."

"I'm definitely glad I chose baseball. It's been a great experience," Kometani said. "I came in just trying to make the team, and I got to play my first year. I kept climbing up the ladder."