University of Hawaii pitcher Dylan Thomas woke up to a dream.
Thomas was awakened from a nap Wednesday to learn he had been named the Big West Conference’s Freshman Pitcher of the Year.
“It’s a huge honor to wake up to that,” Thomas said. “It feels great, honestly. I have no words to express it except ‘thankfulness.’ Everyone has been huge in my life to get me to where I am right now.”
Thomas’ struggles with his pitch command led to redshirting in 2016. This past season, he relied on a fastball and slider to go 9 for 9 in save opportunities. He had a 2.01 earned-run average in 17 appearances.
“To go from one extreme to the other was pretty impressive,” coach Mike Trapasso said of Thomas.
Right-handed pitcher Brendan Hornung and third baseman Josh Rojas were named to the All-Big West second team.
Hornung finished his senior season with a 6-6 record and a Big West ninth-best 3.25 ERA, ranking third in the league with 108 innings and fifth with 89 strikeouts.
His five complete games are the most for a UH pitcher since 1994.
Batting .294, Rojas tied for the team lead with five home runs and his six triples were the most for a Hawaii players since 1997.
The senior paced the Rainbow Warriors with 25 RBIs, 36 runs and a .404 on-base percentage
Thomas, outfielders Adam Fogel and Dylan Vchulek, and reliever Casey Ryan received honorable mention.
“I was hoping a couple guys wold be on the first team, but I’m happy for all our guys,” Trapasso said. “All the guys deserve all the credit.”
Thomas is the first player for UH to earn a major conference award since the Rainbow Warriors joined the Big West. The last major conference award belonged to Kolten Wong, who earned Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2009.
Saint Louis QB issues verbal
The University of Hawaii football team found a future investment a mile away.
Saint Louis School quarterback Chevan Cordeiro told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he has made an oral commitment to play for the Rainbow Warriors in 2018.
Cordeiro will be a senior this coming academic year.
Cordeiro was the primary understudy to All-State quarterback Tua Tagovailoa the past two seasons. Tagovailoa enrolled at Alabama in January and competed in the Crimson Tide’s spring practice.
“He probably could have started anywhere else,” Saint Louis quarterbacks coach Vinny Passas said of Cordeiro. “He dedicated himself to getting bigger and stronger and faster.”
Passas said Cordeiro is 6 feet 1, 180 pounds and can clean 275 pounds. Passas said Cordeiro is benefiting from a weight-training program that widened his shoulders and added oomph to his passes.
“He can make all the throws — the short ones, the intermediate routes, and the deep balls,” Passas said. “He has the opportunity (this season) to really showcase the type of talent he has.”
Saint Louis coach Cal Lee said: “I like his arm. He’s got good zip on his ball.”
But Lee added that Cordeiro also displays elusiveness.
“I like the way he runs,” Lee said. “We don’t like our quarterbacks running all the time, but he’s got good speed. Let me tell you, he can giddy-up. He has to be smart and not try to run over anybody. I have no doubts about him running. If they ask, he’ll run.”
Lee said Cordeiro draws comparisons to Jason Gesser, a former Saint Louis and Washington State quarterback.
“He’s quiet but effective,” Lee said. “Jason was like that, too.”
Passas said Cordeiro “leads by example. He tries to be the first one out there (on the field). He wants to be the first one in conditioning sprints. … He’s always physical in the weight room.”
Passas praised Cordeiro as a “great decision maker” and diligent student.
“He always sits in the first row when we have film (sessions),” Passas said. “He plays within the system really well. He can make plays with his arm and legs. He has a great understanding of what we’re doing. He’s a great fit for the University of Hawaii and what they do.”
Passas said Cordeiro is part of a prayer group that assists others on the Saint Louis campus.
“He’ll give the shirt off his back,” Passas said.
Lee said: “I like his attitude. He has a great attitude. He’s all about the team. He works hard to help the team.”
Sailors 12th
The University of Hawaii’s coed sailing squad finished in 12th place in the national semifinals on Cooper River in Charleston (S.C.) Harbor.
Earlier, UH finished 11th in the women’s semifinals and 12th in the team race championship. This year marked the first year since 2013 that the Rainbow sailors qualified for all three national championship events.
