KEA‘AU — Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i senior Liwai Correa announced Wednesday his commitment to play baseball for Utah Valley University.
The Wolverines play in the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference, which they share with programs such as New Mexico State, Sacramento State, Grand Canyon University and Utah Tech.
Utah Valley finished the 2023 spring season at .586 (34-24) and made it to the WAC championship finals, where the Wolverines were swept 2-0 by Sam Houston.
UVU is located in Orem, Utah — roughly five miles north of Provo and less than 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.
“I like (UVU’s) location and surroundings,” Correa said. “The coaching staff treated me super well. It looks like their program is on the rise right now.”
Correa spent his junior season as a leadoff batter and shortstop for the Warriors, and was an All-BIIF DII Second Team selection for the 2022-23 season. KSH swept Konawaena during the BIIF DII championship, finishing the regular season with a 10-3 record.
Correa’s step up to the next level in baseball is the newest chapter in his family’s multi-generation legacy in the sport. Liwai Correa is the cousin of San Francisco Giants bench coach Kainoa Correa. Both Liwai and Kainoa are grandsons of legendary coach Jimmy Correa, who has been called “the father of Hilo baseball.”