The UH-Hilo baseball team will soon begin the 2024 season with 22 new faces added to the roster.
The newcomers are split down the middle with 11 transfers and 11 freshmen — six players from Hawaii, 11 from California, three from Arizona and two from Washington.
The Vulcans replaced 18 departed players — nine to graduation/eligibility exhaustion — from a season ago.
Kallen Miyataki enters his 11th season as head coach at his alma mater.
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LOGAN WILSON: Sophomore transfer Logan Wilson is the Vulcans’ only new player who grew up on the Big Island.
Wilson graduated from Hilo High in 2020, and played on the Vikings’ 2019 BIIF Div.-I champion team alongside the likes of Micah Bello, Maui Ahuna and Puukani De Sa.
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HAWAII PLAYERS: Of the five remaining Hawaii-raised players, four are from O‘ahu and one is from Maui.
Brandon Wada is a catcher, freshman and 2023 ‘Iolani School graduate — who played three years of varsity for the Red Raiders and earned All-ILH honors.
Kaydenn Uyeda is a freshman outfielder and 2023 grad of Roosevelt High.
Dane Palimo‘o is a freshman first-baseman who played on Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama’s 2023 HHSAA DI state champion team. He also played club baseball for HBG, Hawaii Rockies and Salty Crew.
Noah Nakaoka is a freshman outfielder and 2023 grad of Maryknoll High.
Haokea Kekahuna is a freshman pitcher hailing from Maui’s Wailuku High. There, he played three years of varsity baseball and was part of two MIL champion teams.
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ARIZONAN TRANSFERS: Kyle Casados is a junior transfer and infielder who played two-and-a-half seasons at Phoenix College (NJCAA), where he played in 95 games for the Bears — totaling 52 hits, 49 runs, 21 stolen bases and finishing with a .883 fielding percentage on 82 putouts and 115 assists.
Also hailing from the Grand Canyon State is Luke Dickson, a junior transfer pitcher. Dickson spent two years playing for Paradise Valley Community College (NJCAA), where he made 33 mound appearances — totaling 50.0 innings, finishing with a 5-0 record and one save and posting a 2.34 ERA.
Dickson’s teammate from PVCC, Connor Dougal, will also join him on the Vulcans’ roster. Also a pitcher, Dougal made 31 total appearances on the mound for the Pumas, totaling 39.2 innings with a 2-2 record.
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CALIFORNIAN TRANSFERS: Dane Flashberg is a catcher and junior transfer who most recently played for College of the Canyons (California Community College Athletic Association). There, he appeared in 36 games for the Cougars, batting .283 with a .979 fielding percentage on 209 putouts and 21 assists.
Sebastian Garcia is a junior transfer and pitcher, who played two seasons at Ventura College (CCCAA). He made 31 appearances over two seasons with the Pirates, totaling 28.1 innings and finishing with a 1-2 record with three saves.
Another pitcher and junior transfer, Collin Gunn, will join UH-Hilo. Gunn played three seasons at Modesto Junior College (CCCAA) — where he made 30 appearances with one start over two seasons, totaling 48.2 innings and finishing with a 4-2 record.
Noah Lane is a center fielder and junior transfer. He spent two years at Grossmont College (CCCAA) — where he appeared in 72 games for the Griffins, batting .266 (71 hits, 42 RBI) with a .983 fielding percentage (163 putouts, nine assists).
Arthur Soto is a junior transfer and infielder who spent three years at CSU Monterey Bay (NCAA DII) — where he played in 35 games with 18 starts, finishing with a .288 batting average and .933 fielding percentage. He also helped the Otters claim 2022 CCAA Regular Season title and 2023 CCAA Tournament Championship.
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WASHINGTON TRANSFERS: Ethan Salscheider is a junior transfer and pitcher who spent two seasons at Pierce College (NJCAA) appearing in 18 games with 13 starts for the Raiders, totaling 98.2 innings and a 2.83 ERA with a 4-5 record and four complete games.
Bryce Lindberg is a junior transfer outfielder. He spent three years playing baseball at Shoreline Community College (NJCAA).
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OTHER FRESHMEN: Michael Bonenfant (P from Moreno Valley, Calif.), Mark Fedro (INF from Irvine, Calif.), Dylan Montague (P/1B from Fremont, Calif.), Noah Pang (UT from Santa Clara, Calif.), Carlos Perez (C/INF from Antioch, Calif.) and Caden Sta. Maria (1B from Milpitas, Calif.).