WAIPAHU — Talk about making an impact.

Hawai'i Pacific University senior Aaron Asher didn't take long to break into the school's baseball record books.

In his first season last year, he tied the school's single-season mark by crushing 10 home runs. Now, with four games left at Grand Canyon in thin-aired Arizona this weekend, he can continue adding to his school's career home run record that stands at 19.

"I'm shocked I accomplished that in so little time," Asher said.

Several weeks ago, when he hit his eighth homer, he broke the career mark of 17 set by Wade Taguchi from 2000 to 2002. He hit another over the weekend against Hawai'i-Hilo to give him nine on the season, one shy of tying the single-season mark he shares with Benny Agbayani (1993).

"It's a real honor to break that," Asher said of the career home run record. "Coming to HPU, I never thought I'd be able to break a record like that."

Asher has nine of his team's 15 homers, while hitting .331. His 33 RBI is third behind Blake Amaral's 38 and Jonah Hobson's 36.

The 2004 graduate of 'Aiea High, where he was an Advertiser all-state selection as a senior, came to HPU via Yavapai Junior College in Arizona. The JC league used wooden bats.

"Arizona is an all-wood conference, so it really helped with my swing," Asher explained. "The competition up there is just ridiculous (good), so it helped me a lot."

At NCAA Division II HPU, aluminum bats are used, so the transition worked in his favor.

"To focus on the wooden bat has kind of helped him concentrate more, staying inside the baseball, staying through (the pitch) versus the aluminum bat coming out of high school, where you can swing, swing, swing, get jammed and still get a hit. In our BP (batting practice), he hits with wood," HPU coach Garret Yukumoto said.

Asher originally signed to play for the Hawai'i Rainbows, but he said he didn't have the SAT scores. But to his credit, he found a route to work on his education and continue playing baseball.

"I wanted to come back home to play in front of my family and friends," he said. "I went away for two years. I missed the Islands, the local lifestyle. It's really different up there."

Other four-year schools on the Mainland showed interest, Asher said, but "Coach (Yukumoto) offered me right off the bat."

There were hurdles along the way. Asher had surgery on his rotator cuff and labrum. Shoulder injuries for a position that relies on throwing aren't easy to rehabilitate, which is why he saw more action at designated hitter, Yukumoto said. He has been able to do more catching this season.

Yukumoto was the coach at Leilehua when Asher was still in high school, so he was already familiar with the Na Ali'i catcher. When he became HPU's coach in 2006, Yukumoto kept track of where players went away to play and Asher was one of those players. Asher brings more than a big bat to the Sea Warriors, Yukumoto said.

"I've known Aaron since he was at 'Aiea High School," Yukumoto said. "He has grown a lot, going away to Yavapai then having the opportunity to play for us. He's been a great asset. He's worked hard. He's had some ups and downs, where he had to deal with his injuries and persevere and overcome those things, especially his throwing because he had shoulder surgery. It's not as easy as people think with the rehab. You just tip your hat to him for his hard work. All his hard work is showing up on the field. Not just for what he's done for himself, but what he's done for our program. Our players respect him. They listen to him. He's a leader. He's not a rah-rah leader. He leads by example."

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Asher, like a lot of college players, is hoping to get drafted in June.

"He's shown he can play the game," Yukumoto said. "Hopefully, somebody gives him a chance. I can't say he's going to get drafted or not. He has some tools some scouts like."

FANTASY GAME

For those playing NCAA Division II fantasy college baseball, they would've loved HPU's Blake Amaral's line in Saturday's 18-2 win against UH-Hilo: 5-2-4-10.

The outfielder set an HPU single-game record with his 10 RBI. The previous mark was seven, set by Wade Taguchi in 2001.