Hawaii’s impressive haul of local baseball recruits recently got even better.
Saint Louis junior ‘Iolana Akau became the fourth player from Hawaii to join UH’s class of 2014, committing to the Rainbows over Christmas break.
Akau joins Waiakea’s Kean Wong, younger brother of former UH All-American Kolten Wong; Hilo’s Chayce Kaaua; and Mid-Pacific’s Marcus Doi as current juniors who plan to enroll at UH.
“They were the first to jump on me and UH was one of the schools I always wanted to go to,” Akau said. “They gave me the opportunity and I didn’t want to lose it.”
Other schools showing interest include Washington State, Oregon State and Kansas.
Akau, who is now 5 feet 11, played on the 2008 Waipio Little League team that won the World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
His younger brother, Kahoea, now a freshman at Kamehameha, was on the 2010 Waipio team that won the U.S. championship before losing to Mexico in the final.
‘Iolana was an honorable mention all-state performer as a sophomore, helping Saint Louis win the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship as the team’s starting catcher.
Wong (shortstop) and Kaaua (outfield) were named to the third team, while Doi made the second team as an outfielder, hitting .413 with five home runs.
UH has also secured a commitment from 6-foot-1 first baseman Jake Bauers of Marina (Calif.) High.
Wagner makes late coaching change
Hawaii’s first five-game series since 2007 is against a team without a head coach.
Wagner (N.Y.) College is expected to officially announce as soon as today that Joe Litterio has left his position after 12 years to take an assistant’s job at Rutgers, where he played college ball.
Litterio guided the Seahawks, who open their season Feb. 23 at Les Murakami Stadium, to the school’s only conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 2000.
Wagner’s most famous baseball alumnus is 2009 American League Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star Andrew Bailey, recently traded from the Oakland A’s to the Boston Red Sox.
The first-ever meeting between the two schools will feature five games in four days.
UH’s Grand Slam Celebration coming up
The UH baseball team will host its 10th annual Grand Slam Celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Fans will have a chance to meet players and coaches and enjoy food provided by Big City Diner, Bubbies, Gordon Biersch, Morton’s, Roy’s, Sansei Seafood, Hukilau/Pagoda and Superb Sushi.
Individual tickets are $100 or you can purchase a table of 10 for $1,000. Each ticket includes a complimentary ticket to a UH baseball game.
For information, call (808) 956-6247 or email uhbsb@hawaii.edu.
