The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour rolls into the Aloha State of Hawaii in the city of Kapolei on Sunday August 9th at Kapolei High School. Kapolei, Hawaii is on the island of Oahu and known as the “second city” of Oahu, in relation to Honolulu.

Let’s take a look at some recent Baseball Factory players who have come to a tryout in the state of Hawaii or who are currently playing in the state.

Ka’iKepono (Pono) Anderson – Anderson, who goes by ‘Pono’, is a senior at Saint Louis High School in Pearl City and has committed to play in-state at the University of Hawaii next year. Saint Louis School is a private all-boys Catholic School in Hawaii.

The pitcher and infielder pitched well this season, going 5-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched for the Crusaders.

Pono first attended an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in Kapolei back in January of 2012 and was then invited to participate in the Omaha National World Series in June of the same year. He was a hard worker during the event, showing good skills defensively showing a solid setup with good, strong throws. On the mound, he showed loose-arm action with a long and loose finish. With the bat, he showed good gap-to-gap power during his chances at the plate.

Continuing to work on his skills, Anderson attended a Premium Video Program in Kapolei in January of 2013 and while his arm on the mound continued to develop, he showed well at the event in the infield. It was his arm on the mound that continued to project at the next level. His delivery was sound and his quick arm action allowed for his fastball to have good downward action.

Jaryn Nakamoto – A senior at Aiea High School in Aiea, a town in Honolulu county, Nakamoto has committed to Southwest Oregon to play baseball after graduation.

The 5’6″ pitcher/infielder hit .372 this season with four doubles, a triple, 10 RBI and 17 runs scored in 43 at-bats for Aiea who went 14-1 overall and 10-0 in league play, advancing to the Division II Baseball Championship in 2015.

Nakamoto participated in a Premium Video Program in Kapolei in January of 2013 and began developing the skills on the mound that allowed for his potential to show, projecting a certain skill set on the mound. He showed a high-level of command and control and threw strikes with all his pitches, locating to both sides of the plate. Later, at the 2013 Omaha National World Series, Jaryn was a strike-throwing machine, pounding the zone with both his fastball and curve while getting swings at his change-up low in the zone.

Beau Branton – Branton graduated in 2014 from Punahou School in Honolulu as captain of the team and started the next level of his baseball journey, playing at Stanford University.

This season as a freshman, Branton knocked in 23 runs, hit four doubles and a triple and started 28 games overall, making the majority of his starts (14) at third base, but also playing shortstop and second base as well. He had a knack for getting the big hit this season, leading the team with 12 two-out RBI’s. 

Beau went to a National Tryout in Kapolei in January of 2012 and later that year in July, participated in an Under Armour Baseball Factory Team One West Showcase, displaying his athletic skills at short, a lively bat that drove the ball all over the field and foot speed that was above-average at 7.04 in his 60-time.

The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour will be rolling into a town near you! Visit our tryout page to register and receive more information.