Punahou pitcher Ishida will play for Arizona State
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
Punahou School senior right-hander Jeeter Ishida said he has accepted a baseball scholarship from Arizona State.
Ishida was named The Advertiser's State Player of the Year as a junior last season, when he compiled an 8-0 record with a 1.55 ERA with 13 walks and 50 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings.
He helped lead the Buffanblu to their fourth consecutive state title.
"This summer I went to a showcase camp at Arizona State," Ishida said. "They're one of the best teams in the country for baseball."
The Sun Devils, who advanced to the College World Series last season, finished 49-15, and were ranked No. 5 in the final Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper polls.
Ishida said he committed during a recruiting trip to the Tempe, Ariz., campus about a month ago.
"They offered me a scholarship and I jumped on it," he said.
According to a Sept. 25 article on the school's Web page, which doesn't list Ishida, Arizona State has the No. 8 recruiting class in the country for 2008.
Ishida, who also plays third base, said he also was recruited by Kansas, Cal State Northridge, Hawai'i, and a few Ivy league schools.
He is currently playing for the Buffanblu's water polo team.
Ishida will start his senior season on the diamond in early March.
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.