Kurahashi-Choy Foo’s journey to D-I ball went from Hawaii to Kansas to Texas

Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo might need believed rising up he would play baseball within the Western Athletic Convention someday.

He actually didn’t assume it will occur this manner.

The 2018 Kailua alumnus performed at Hawaii Pacific for a yr after which went to junior faculty in Kansas for 2 years.

His first collegiate recreation in Division I got here final season when he suited up for Tarleton State, a college in Texas with greater than 14,000 college students.

It reclassified from a Division II college to Division I in 2020 and is now a part of the WAC, which as of late contains faculties from California, Utah, Washington, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico … however not Hawaii.

“Hawaii’s previous convention is unquestionably not simply Western athletics,” Kurahashi-Choy Foo mentioned in a telephone interview after apply on Tuesday. “It’s been a bizarre journey for me from Hawaii to Kansas to Texas. For certain, although, I’m proud of the best way every little thing has turned out.”

The senior infielder has began 68 of 72 video games over the previous two seasons with the Texans and is hitting .277 with 12 doubles, seven homers and 57 RBIs.

By means of 20 video games this yr, he’s raised his batting common 40 factors from final season to .306, rating third on the group. He’s second in RBIs with 25.

“Issues are undoubtedly approach higher than final yr. These guys I really feel like care far more than the fellows from final yr, and it’s why I really feel like this group goes to do one thing particular,” Kurahashi-Choy Foo mentioned. “I simply need us to win. That’s actually the primary factor, and I really feel like it is a good group to do it.”

Of their first two years within the WAC, the Texans went 37-71. This season, Tarleton State is 14-8 after having two of its three video games canceled over the weekend towards Utah Valley.

The one recreation they obtained in was performed in St. George, Utah, at Utah Tech’s residence area. There was an excessive amount of snow on the bottom to play on Utah Valley’s campus.

“We obtained there and it snowed like 10 inches or one thing,” Kurahashi-Choy Foo mentioned. “It was ridiculous. It felt like we had been within the North Pole.”

His enjoying profession contains extra than simply enjoying junior faculty, Division II and Division I.

Final summer season, he performed near 60 video games with the Savannah Bananas, an exhibition baseball group identified for his or her entertaining antics and eccentric guidelines they play by.

Video games are bought out months prematurely. Gamers would present as much as the sector two hours earlier than the sport to organize their skits. The Bananas are principally baseball’s model of the Harlem Globetrotters.

“I assume the weirdest factor I did was that they had me go on prime of the dugout and take my shirt off and maintain up a ninth inning signal for the followers,” Kurahashi-Choy Foo mentioned. “There’s far more stuff that they had us do — we must dance in the course of an inning. If I did that stuff at residence I’d undoubtedly get teased.”

Taking part in for the Bananas stored Kurahashi-Choy Foo from coming residence for the summer season however supplied recollections that may final a lifetime.

He took a leap of religion 4 years in the past to comply with a good friend to junior faculty in Kansas and depart residence. He had by no means heard of Tarleton State till he obtained a telephone name from one of many coaches.

Each step of his journey has begun with a leap of religion, and he wouldn’t change a factor.

“When you informed me 10 years in the past I might be right here I by no means would have believed you,” Kurahashi-Choy Foo mentioned. “I took an opportunity as a result of I believed it will assist. I believed this may be a greater path for me. Particularly with me getting my diploma and the individuals I met right here, I’m proud of the best way every little thing panned out.”