HAWAII COLLEGIATE LEAGUE
TOP 15 PROSPECTS, 2008

Compiled by Allan Simpson; Written by David Rawnsley
In Association with League Managers and Scouts

Official League Website: www.hawaii-cbl.com

The Kauai Menehunes (“Menehunes” are a mythical Hawaiian forest people, often compared to dwarfs or trolls) won the 2008 Hawaii Collegiate League championship, defeating the Oahu Paddlers 11-2 in the championship game. The Menehunes had finished second the past two years before breaking through this summer.

Outfielder Kaohi Downing, a native of Hawaii who plays at California NAIA power Point Loma Nazarene, was named the HCBL most valuable player in his second year of playing for the Menehunes. Righthander Scott Holstein of the Waikiki Surfers, a New Orleans native who pitches at McNeese State, was named the league’s top pitcher. Another Surfers pitcher, righthander Robert Whitenack from SUNY Old Westbury, a Division III school, was selected the HCBL’s top prospect.

The diversity of where the four-year-old HCBL draws its players from is noteworthy. Nine different states were represented in the 15-deep PG Crosschecker Top Prospect List, including players from such high-level academic institutions as Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Stanford and Emory (Ga.). Spending the summer playing baseball in Hawaii seemed like a pretty smart thing to do.

FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 2005.
States Represented in League: Hawaii.
Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale): 4.
No. of Teams in League: 6.
Regular-Season Champion: Oahu Paddlers.
Post-Season Champion: Kauai Menehunes.
Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 16/Final Ranking: None.
No. 1 Prospect, 2007 (per PG Crosschecker): None selected.
First 2007 Player Selected, 2008 Draft: Edwin Quirarte, rhp, Hawaii Aliis (Cal State Northridge; Giants, fifth round).

Most Valuable Player: Kaohi Downing, of-rhp, Kauai Menehunes.
Most Outstanding Pitcher: Scott Holstein, rhp, Waikiki Surfers. Bryce Shafer, rhp, Springfield Sliders.
Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected.

BATTING LEADERS
Batting Average: Steve Bralver, 1b, Hawaii Aliis (.396).
Home Runs: Three tied at 3.
RBIs: Mickey Brodsky, 1b, Oahu Paddlers (31).
Stolen Bases: Tim Deering, 2b, Oahu Paddlers (18).

PITCHING LEADERS 
Wins: Frank Duran, lhp, Oahu Paddlers; Scott Holstein, rhp, Waikiki Surfers (5).
ERA: Scott Holstein, rhp, Waikiki Surfers (1.27).
Saves: Mike Frongello, rhp, Waimea Waves (7).
Strikeouts: Chris Finneran, rhp, Kauai Menehunes; Scott Holstein, rhp, Waikiki Surfers (42).

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter: Kaohi Downing, of Kauai Menehunes.
Best Power: Mickey Brodsky, 1b, Oahu Paddlers.
Fastest Base Runner: Matt Sanford, of, Kamuela Paniolos.
Best Defensive Player: Randy Wells, ss, Waimea Waves.
Best Velocity: Joey Donofrio, rhp, Hawaii Aliis.
Best Breaking Ball: Joey Donofrio, rhp, Hawaii Aliis.


TOP 15 PROSPECTS

  PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2009 SCHOOL
1. Robert Whitenack RHP Waikiki Surfers R-R 6-5 180 Jr. SUNY Old Westbury
SCOUTING REPORT: How Whitenack, a Division III pitcher from Massapequa, N.Y., made it out to the Hawaiian League would probably make a good story but the league is certainly glad the long and slender righthander did. You can imagine the Waikiki Surfers staff wondering exactly what they were getting, although Whiteneck posted very respectable 4-4, 2.28 numbers in 71 innings as a sophomore on a 13-27 team. What they got was the top prospect in the league, although Whitenack’s 0-2, 2.15 record in 37 innings hardly was representative of his stature. Whitenack has a long, loose arm action that projects easily and he pitched at 88-90 during the summer. He showed command of a curveball and changeup, as well. League coaches were generally in agreement that Whitenack was just scratching the surface of what he could do if he dedicates himself to becoming stronger.
 


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