Hard-throwing King Kekaulike senior Ryley Widell — his fastball has been clocked at 89 miles per hour — has signed to play collegiately at Washington State University next year, but his ultimate aspiration is to become a big leaguer. Brien Ing | SL

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While much of the spotlight has been focused on Campbell ace Ian Kahaloa this season, another pitcher has been hard at work honing his craft on the Valley isle.

King Kekaulike senior Ryley Widell is one of Hawaii's top propects, but remains a relatively unknown commodity for most prep baseball fans across the state. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound left-hander has been nothing short of dominant in the Maui Interscholastic League for Na Alii this year and is hoping for a chance to show his stuff at next month's Wally Yonamine Foundation/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I state tournament at Les Murakami Stadium.

The hard-throwing Widell — his fastball has been clocked at 89 miles per hour — has signed to play collegiately at Washington State University next year, but his ultimate aspiration is to become a big leaguer.

"After I committed (to Washington State), I've been working extra hard, so hopefully I can be in the (Major League Baseball first-year player) draft in June or even after college, to be one of the top draft picks," Widell said. "That's my goal in life."

Widell, who plays first base or centerfield when he's not pitching, has notched several double-digit strikeout games this season, including 12 punch outs in his last outing, a complete-game effort in a 5-0 win over Kamehameha-Maui on Apr. 8.

"He's probably one of the toughest pitchers I think there is — definitely in the MIL right now — and even with the rest of the state," Baldwin coach Jon Viela said. "I've seen him come up through the years and from his sophomore year we knew that he would potentially be a force that we would have to reckon with. He's a big kid and with his throwing motion, we knew that potentially he would be able to throw hard and that's something that we've seen evolve right before our eyes."

Viela said Widell's velocity is made even more effective due to his curveball and change-up, as well as a tailing two-seam fastball.

"A hard-throwing lefty is hard to come by, but when you get somebody that throws hard and has a good off-speed pitch, that just adds to his repertoire and makes him tougher," Viela said. "He hits his locations, he has good control and he's a very good athlete in general, not just a baseball player."

Widell, who also throws a four-seam fastball, a cutter and a slider, started playing baseball at the age of five and also played soccer as a youngster and football until his junior year at King Kekaulike. He played quarterback for Na Alii, but passed up his senior season on the gridiron to focus on baseball.

"Once I started getting noticed I was working on baseball year-round, doing my band work, running when I had time, putting 100 percent into my practices," Widell said. "It took a lot of sacrifices to get where I am. I wasn't here all of last summer because I was on a traveling team trying to get seen and get these opportunities, so I've worked extra hard to get to this point."

The sacrifices paid off for Widell, who starting gaining more and more attention during his junior season. He played on Team Hawaii — with the likes Kahaloa, the state's top prospect — the past two years and participated in a showcase in Arizona, where he drew further interest.

"That was a wake-up call," Widell said. "I learned that it's a lot different than it is here. The way of playing baseball is a lot different and I had to adjust to how they play and how they go about the situation. It was different, but a great experience and an honor. I really loved playing with those guys."

Mark Makimoto, Widell's high school coach at King Kekaulike, first met the Haiku-native as an eighth-grader when he was student in his class at Kalama Intermediate. He said always believed Widell had the potential to become a standout on the mound.

"He was kind of tall, kind of lanky and was still growing into his body, but you could tell he had the tools." Makimoto recalled. "He already had the height, he's left-handed and he had a good work ethic from when he came in. He's always been a good student and a good teammate and now he's a leader and a captain for us, so he's matured and gotten better every year as he came through our program."

Maui High coach Chase Corniel said Widell's success goes beyond what one sees when he toes the rubber.

"First of all, what jumps out at you is his size," Corniel said. "He has good mechanics and can repeat the delivery pretty good, but he also has a good understanding of the game, he has a good work ethic — and not to mention his stuff is good, too — so all of that just builds upon him as a player."

Corneil praised Widell's "mental makeup," as well as his competitiveness.

"I've never seen him lose his composure and that's hard to teach as a coach," Corniel said. "He's always going to give you a battle, no matter what, and his physical traits are going to be there, but put that upon his mental skills and he's a tough pitcher in any shape or form."

Back in November of last year, Widell committed to Washington State, spurning offers from baseball-powerhouse Cal State Fullerton and the University of San Francisco, which was his first choice in schools.

"I really wanted to go to USF and at first, Washington State wasn't in my mind and I thought I would just check it out, but end up committing to USF or Fullerton, because I really liked both of them," Widell said. "But, just something there — I don't know what it was — but, I didn't feel like it was me and when I went to Washington State there was something about that place, the people, the players that felt like it was me and I thought it would be the right place for me."

The Cougars, who compete in the rigorous Pac-12 Conference, have 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, but none since 2010. They are 20-18 this season, 5-10 in conference play.

"I want to do good there and I want to start a dynasty there, not join one," Widell said. "I want to be the reason that people want to go to Washington State; because of how I perform there and how good of a program it is."

Pressure, it seems, doesn't rattle Widell, but rather inspires him.

"When scouts come to watch me I feel honored and I feel like I have to perform," Widell said. "I feel like I have to rise to the occasion because they are there to see me. It's really humbling to know that they came that far to see me and that they are interested in me or want me."

Growing up on Maui, Widell said he always looked up to current-big leaguers Shane Victorino, of the Boston Red Sox, and Kurt Suzuki, of the Minnesota Twins.

"I always watched them play when I was little and always thought it was pretty cool that they're from Maui — the same place where I'm from — so it gives me hope as well," Widell said.

Widell had the chance to meet Suzuki on his recruiting visit to Cal State Fullerton.

"I guess he was in the area and they called him over and he ate lunch with me," Widell said. "He was a really nice guy."

One day, Widell wouldn't mind being in the shoes of Suzuki or Victorino.

"Ever since I started playing the sport I've always wanted to be a professional baseball player," Widell said. "I want to be a role model to the younger generation here and show them that if you work hard enough, you can do whatever you want. I want to be one of those people that others look up to."

Makimoto said the sky is the limit for Widell.
 
"I think he could make it up to any level he puts his mind to, just because that's how he is," Makimoto said. "He has the motivation, he has the work ethic, he has the discipline to get up to wherever he wants to get up to. I look at his tools and see him pitching easily at Division-I level, and then maybe taking it to another level. I see him going as far as want to go."

Despite the success and attention, Makimoto said Widell hasn't changed one bit over the years.

"He's still that same guy," Makimoto said. "He really hasn't changed in that sense. He's still humble, but he's just matured as a person."

Widell credited his parents, Eric and Lisa, as well as his sister, Chelsea, for always providing him with the best.

"They've supported me 100 percent," Widell said. "My dad really pushed me, but both of my parents have given me a lot of great opportunities and put in the right spots to get seen and get noticed by all these colleges. My dad saw something in me when I was little and he believed that I could go far in life. They've been right by my side 100 percent of the time."

Of course, what good is a pitcher without a catcher behind the plate?

"I have to thank my high school coaches, who have given me a lot of good opportunities, along with all of my friends, but most importantly, my catcher, Reid Yonamine, who has worked hard with me, doing long toss and bands when everybody is at the beach," Widell said. "He's really helped me and I love him."

As for the MLB Draft in June?

"I'm just playing baseball and hopefully whatever happens, happens," Widell said. "To me, I think that I need more experience and a couple more years and for sure I'll be in the draft by three years. I'm not quite there, but I'm almost there."