Dallas Correa, a senior at St. Louis High School, signed his National Letter of Intent to attend and play baseball at the University of the Pacific, Saturday following his confirmation at the Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo. “I could’ve signed
Dallas Correa, a senior at St. Louis High School, signed his National Letter of Intent to attend and play baseball at the University of the Pacific, Saturday following his confirmation at the Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo.
“I could’ve signed at St. Louis School on O‘ahu, but there was only one place I felt I should do this,” Dallas said in an email. “It had to be on the island of Kaua‘i with my family, friends and coaches.”
Dallas said when he joins the UOP Tigers camp in the fall, he’ll be one of four catchers battling for the job. He was the only catcher UOP recruited during the year.
“I have so many coaches to thank, especially Coach and Uncle Larry Ephan, Carl Tashima and Micah Furtado,” Dallas said. “But first and foremost, I must thank the Lord for all the blessings he bestowed on me and for leading me on this path this far in my life.”
Dallas started playing at Kalawai Park under coach Steven Perreira and his dad, Kirk, starting at 4 years old.
“My parents, Kirk and Michelle Correa, have supported me from Day One,” Dallas said. “My dad is my drive to get better and do the little things, and my mom is my support, both mentally and spiritually.”
Dallas also thanks his many friends and supporters as well as teachers from Island School, Waimea Canyon School and St. Louis High School for their support.
“Thank you to Coaches Don Barbara and Keith Komeji for recruiting me and allowing me the opportunity to play college ball,” Dallas said. “My parents stressed my college choice should be based on a school which offers strong academics and location, then baseball. What is so funny is that in every college camp and showcase I attended, they said the same thing.”
That led him to UOP located in Stockton, Calif. where he plans on majoring in Biochemistry with plans to earn a doctorate degree in Pharmacy.
“UOP has one of the top Pharmacy programs in the country,” Dallas said. “Playing baseball is a bonus for me and has always been one of my goals.”
The University of the Pacific is a Division 1 program in the Big West Conference, which in 2012 will include Cal State Fullerton, University of California Irvine, Cal Poly, University of California Riverside, Long Beach State, University of California Davis, University of California Santa Barbara, Cal State Northridge and the University of Hawai‘i.
“I look forward to the opportunity to play under UOP Head Coach Ed Sprague, a former major league catcher, and plan to make the most of it,” Dallas said. “I want to make my family, friends and Kaua‘i very proud.”
