Photo courtesy of Eldredge ohana
Punahou baseball coach Keenan Sue wrote this letter of recommendation on behalf of two-sport student-athlete Koa Eldredge when Eldredge applied for a Hawaii Hall of Honor scholarship.
It is published here with Coach Sue’s permission.
“Koa’s athletic abilities are well-documented and undeniable. He is a once-in-a-generation athlete on both the football and baseball fields and has been integral to the success of both programs during his tenure. His skills have earned him a football scholarship at BYU and he is one of the best centerfielders our school has ever seen. In the abbreviated spring season of 2020 his pure athleticism on the field, dominance on the pitching mound, and knack for always being at the heart of a rally, garnered interest from MLB scouts. He is versatile, strong, intuitive, and explosive. None of these, however, are among his best attributes.
“Koa’s most enduring quality is his discipline - the discipline to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, especially in the face of adversity or apathy. When other players have taken their preparation lightly, Koa has exercised discipline over motivation. He works relentlessly in the weight room, far from the lights and fanfare and friends at the beach. He sprints all the way to second base on a pop fly to the pitcher, just in case. He picks up his teammates when they are down. His energy and competitive fire are consistent whether down 1 run, or up by 10. He is respectful and kind and supportive of others’ successes. His discipline for doing things the right way, every pitch of every day, has helped forge authentic confidence and earned him the respect of this teammates, competitors, and younger players in our program. This unwavering effort and attitude have served as a model of leadership for our younger players in the program. His deeds will ripple and impact our continued success long after he is gone.
“Every so often a player comes along that teaches a coach far more than that coach could ever teach him. Koa has been a bright light and exemplifies the qualities we all should aspire to. He has made me a better man and a better coach through his authenticity, kindness, and competitive spirit. We are all so proud of him and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of his journey. I'm sure he will pay forward all the gifts he's been bestowed and make a positive impact on many other lives.”
On the diamond last spring, Eldredge was the center fielder for the state-champion Buffanblu. Hitting for average, for power, speed on the base paths, field coverage and arm strength — all made him an elite contributor. The center fielder batted .370 overall in the brutally tough ILH, as well as preseason and post-season. He had an on-base percentage of .460, slugged .481 and finished with 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
In the Division I state tournament, he had an OBP of .444 and slugged .571. Coaches and media voted him to All-State second-team honors.
On the gridiron, Eldredge hauled in 70 passes for 808 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. That came on the heels of a big-play junior season: 41 receptions for 734 yards and 10 TDs. He was voted to the Star-Advertiser All-State second team in both 2018 and ’19.
He is one of the few in the Class of 2020 to reach All-State second-team status in two major sports in the highest division.
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