Former Capitols shining on Division I stage

Several former Carson Capitols are becoming collegiate stars in their sophomore seasons.

Dustin Pedroia, who played two years with the Caps, leads Arizona State in hitting with a .427 average, which ranks second best in the Pac-10. The Woodland, Calif., native was a member of the 2002 USA Baseball National Team last summer and is the only Sun Devil to start in all 42 games this season. Arizona State (35-7) is currently ranked No. 7 by Baseball America.

J.P. Howell, who played one year with the Caps and is also from the Sacramento area, has become the University of Texas' ace since transferring from the University of Southern California following his freshman season. Howell currently has a 2.34 ERA and has thrown a team-high 45 strikeouts for the 26-11 Longhorns, who are ranked No. 9 in the nation.

Joe Jacobitz, another Northern Californian who played summer ball in Carson City, is hitting .270 with 24 RBI and four homers for the University of San Francisco. The Dons have struggled to a 13-23 record this season.

Two former Capitols and Galena High graduates, Billy Paganetti and Joey Hooft, are also playing significant roles for their respective schools. Paganetti, a sophomore at Stanford University, has pitched 9.1 innings in relief this season and has an ERA of 4.82. Recruited as a hitter but his professional potential is most likely as a pitcher, Paganetti has struck out 10 batters. The Cardinal are 22-10 and ranked No. 4 in the nation.

Hooft is batting .421 for the University of Miami, which is ranked No. 12 with a 25-6 record. Hooft has played in 19 games and started two for the Hurricanes.

Dustin Hahn, another Galena High graduate, is no longer with the Louisiana State University program, according to the school's official athletic website. Hahn played sparingly as a freshman for the Tigers but wasn't in the team's 2003 overall season statistics. LSU is ranked No. 11.

Other local baseball players at Division I schools are 2002 Galena High graduate Chuck Sindlinger and 2001 Galena graduate Mark Folgner.

Sindlinger has started 18 games and is hitting .238 for the 21-11 Long Beach State 49ers, who are ranked No. 10. Folgner, meanwhile, has only played eight games for Santa Clara University and is batting .100 for the 16-20 Broncos.