SECOND OF 3 PARTS
After tearing through junior college at Rio Hondo (Calif.) for two years, Adam Hurley is ready to take on Les Murakami Stadium.
Hurley is part of a recruiting class the Rainbows signed after the end of last season, when they finished 247th out of 291 teams with a .257 batting average.
The left-fielder was named a junior college All-American after leading the Road Runners to both the league and regional titles. He led the entire Foothill Conference with 10 homers and a .619 slugging percentage and was second in doubles with 16.
"We brought him in to give us some left-handed pop, which we didn’t have," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said.
Hurley was first approached by assistant coach Rusty McNamara and it didn’t take much to convince him to enroll at Hawaii.
"It was really a no-brainer, obviously," Hurley said. "Who wouldn’t want to come out here and play baseball? The program is good. It was an easy decision."
Hurley is solely a corner guy while the other outfielders are capable of playing any of the three positions.
Sophomore Kaeo Aliviado, who spent nearly all of his freshman year in left, will move over to right to take advantage of his dynamic arm that recorded seven outfield assists.
"With him, we told him defensively, do what you’ve been doing because he’s so valuable," Trapasso said. "From an offensive standpoint, it’s about consistency."
Aliviado was the only Rainbow to collect four hits in a game last year and reached base six times in a nine-inning game against Wagner College.
He also struggled through an 0-for-20 stretch midway through the season and recorded only nine multi-hit games in 52 starts to finish with a .239 average.
"He was a little too pull-conscious but starting this fall and moving into the spring, we’ve seen growth and maturity and the understanding to hit to all fields," Trapasso said.
With Kalei Hanawahine, that would give Trapasso three left-handers starting in his outfield.
Needing a righty, Trapasso had junior Conner George switch to the outfield. George was recruited as an infielder out of high school in Oregon and moved to first base last year before transitioning to the outfield in the fall.
"Second base and catcher," George said are the only two positions where he hasn’t practiced. "I have no problem with it because I’m just trying to get in the lineup and be a part of everything. If I have to play a different position to do that I’m going to do that."
At 6 feet 4, George ran the 60-yard dash in 6.6 seconds in the fall, making him an easy candidate to move to the outfield.
"I have a feeling it’s the right place," George said.
In limited action, George has only hit .111 (5-for-45) but has been arguably the hottest hitter in the fall and spring. It has earned him a chance to start against left-handed pitchers out of the gate.
"Right away, Conner George will be in the outfield," Trapasso said. "He’s been swinging the bat as well as anybody over the last two weeks in our scrimmages."
No. 2 pitcher Quintin Torres-Costa will also play in the outfield.
STRENGTH
Versatility. Nearly every outfielder is capable of playing all three positions. Against right-handed pitchers, UH can field a lineup of three quality-hitting left-handers.
WEAKNESS
Experience. Aliviado is the only one out of seven to get more than 31 at-bats at the Division I level last year. Hanawahine hit .310 in his first season at USD but dipped to .217 as a sophomore and hasn’t played in nearly two years.
OF
BY THE NUMBERS
4
Hits in a single game last season by Kaeo Aliviado, who reached base six times (four singles, two walks) in a win over Wagner College on Feb. 26.
110
Combined starts in the outfield last year between Zack Swasey and Breland Almadova. Swasey graduated and Almadova turned pro after he was picked in the 37th round of the draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
10
Home runs hit last season at Rio Hondo (Calif.) College by JC transfer Adam Hurley, which led his league. He also was first in the league in slugging percentage (.619) and second in doubles (16).
634
Days between Division I games for junior Kalei Hanawahine, who is expected to start Friday’s opener against Oregon in centerfield after transferring from San Diego and sitting out the entire 2012 season.
|
