That sound two summers ago was good fortune knock-knock-knocking on the door of the University of Hawaii baseball office.

“Maaki got us,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said of Maaki Yamazaki, the ’Bows’ Tokyo-reared starting shortstop. “He was in town, and he came and introduced himself to (former UH) coach (Rusty) McNamara. We’d like to say we’re super recruiters and went to Japan and had all these contacts and made it work, but the reality is Maaki contacted us and talked about walking on.”

Yamazaki redshirted last year while trying to accumulate enough NCAA-qualifying credits after a year at Tokyo International University and another at affiliate Willamette University in Oregon.

This season, Yamazaki is a key middle man in the ’Bows’ redesigned infield. Ethan Lopez moved from outfield to third base, and Dustin Demeter from short to second. Yamazaki has fielded 13 grounders without an error and collaborated with Demeter on turning three double plays. Last year, the UH shortstops had 18 errors in 223 attempts.

“He makes all the routine plays, and he’s got solid range, particularly to his left,” Trapasso said. “If you’ve got a guy who gets to balls maybe some guys don’t, you’re always going to give yourself a chance to make plays that’ll keep you in games.”

In the No. 9 slot in UH’s first three games, the left-hitting Yamazaki is batting .400. He has not struck out while making contact equally to all fields.

“We’re not expecting him to hit .300, but that’s not to say that’s not allowed,” Trapasso said, smiling. “That’s not to say we’d be upset if he did. We’re confident he’s able to execute. He can bunt and he can move runners. And he rarely strikes out. He’ll battle.”

Yamazaki said: “I’m figuring out my hitting every day.”

Yamazaki began playing baseball when he was 6. His role models were Ichiro Suzuki for hitting and Derek Jeter for fielding. “I watched them on YouTube,” he said.

Fielding has been a long-time passion. Growing up, he said, “I took ground balls every day. I loved to take ground balls from my dad, my coaches, my friends.” During Japan’s winters, he would field indoors. “I always had a baseball with me,” he said.

Yamazaki had harbored goals of playing in the United States. At Tokyo International, he majored in English communication. When he was attending Willamette, his parents were taking classes at Kapiolani Community College. “They knew there was a really good baseball program at UH,” Yamazaki said.

At his parents’ suggestion, he visited the Manoa campus.

“It’s worked out,” Trapasso said.