University of Hawai`i Hilo head baseball coach Kallen Miyataki has announced the signing of 13 newcomers to the Vulcan program, which began practice yesterday (Oct. 2), joining 26 returnees from the 2018 team.

Four transfers are a part of the newcomers list, which actually totals 18 new players when you include walk-ons that are in the process of trying to make the team.

The freshmen class includes Garrett Gladney (Huntington Beach, Calif./Bellflower HS), Nicholas Lugo (West Covina, Calif./South Hills HS), Johnny Mitchell (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park HS), Jacob Morales (Arcadia, Calif./Arcadia HS), Michael Ortega (West Covina, Calif./South Hills HS), Trayden Tamiya (Hilo, Hawai`i/Waiakea HS), Zachary Vander Hoek (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue HS), Keanu Yamashiro (Torrance, Calif./Torrance HS) and Casey Yamauchi (Hilo, Hawaii/Waiakea HS).

The infield tandem of Tamiya and Yamauchi didn't have to go far to register for classes. Waiakea High School, located across the street from the UH Hilo campus, won a pair of BIIF championships and had back-to-back appearances in the HHSAA D-I state title game with Tamiya and Yamauchi holding down the middle of the diamond. Both were All-BIIF and all-state selections multiple times.

Ortega and Lugo come from South Hills High School, a powerhouse program in southern California that was ranked as high as No. 7 nationally last spring by USA Baseball. Gladney brings size to the pitching mound for the Vulcans, at 6-3 and 210 pounds, and touches 90 on the radar gun. In all, five players from southern California are part of the 2019 signing class.

Players coming to Hawai`i Hilo this fall from other college programs include John Bicos (Arcadia, Calif./Pasadena CC), Alexander Bryner (Graham, Wash./Olympic CC), Race Gardner (Glendora, Calif./Pasadena CC) and Rustin Ho (Waipahu, Hawai`i/Pierce JC).

Gardner went 5-1 with a 3.80 ERA last year at Pasadena City College. The right-hander gave up just 39 hits in 45 innings of work as a starter and reliever. He was a First Team All-South Coast Conference selection as a freshman. Trojan teammate Bicos started in the outfield, hitting .265 and scoring 25 runs. Bryner adds speed, stealing ten bases last season at Olympic College, while Hawai`i native Ho returns to the state after two seasons at Pierce JC in the state of Washington.

Miyataki's roster features six players that red-shirted last year, including Kobie Russell, a 17^th round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2017. Hawai`i native (Kalaheo) and former Bryan College/Feather River CC standout Mikey Rita is a part of that group, along with Miguel Valadez (Simpson College), and local standouts Jamieson Hirayama (Hilo/Waiakea), Brett Komatsu (Hilo HS/Simpson), and Jaron Sugimoto (Waipahu).

The Vulcans finished 21-27 last season under Miyataki, their best season since 2011. Four of those losses came to Division II national champion Augustana, and they split four-games series with Point Loma and California Baptist, teams that went on the NCAA tournament.

"We are excited about this class and what they bring to our program," Miyataki said. "We are excited to get to work."