Two sons of former players from the University of Hawai'i system are among eight who signed letters of intent to play baseball for the Rainbows, UH-Manoa announced yesterday.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i senior catcher Kolten Wong, son of former UH-Hilo and USC Trojans first baseman Kaha Wong, and corner infielder Colby Ho, son of former Rainbows catcher Peter Ho, will be joining the Rainbows for the 2009 season.

Another player with ties to Hawai'i, 2006 'Iolani graduate Christian Johnson, also signed.

Others signing are: catcher Nick Croce and infielder Jesse Moore, both of Mission Bay High in San Diego; outfielder Chase Koissian and pitcher Matt Sisto, both of Cypress (Calif.) High; and pitcher Lenny Linsky of Peninsula High of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.

"It's not a huge class, but it's a very athletic class," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "We didn't need to sign a lot of pitching because we did last year. But two of the pitchers (Linsky and Sisto) are very high profile and draftable."

Sisto, who is listed as 6 feet 5 and 220 pounds, was a Division II all-county selection by the Orange County Register. Linsky, who is 6-2 and 195, was reported to have clocked in at 91 mph at the World Wood Bat Association Fall Championship in Florida last month. Both are right-handers.

The left-handed hitting Kolten Wong was an Advertiser All-State selection as a catcher last season. However, the athletic Wong, a running back on the football team, is being projected to play second base and the outfield for UH. Trapasso said Wong is a valuable commodity because of his versatility, speed and that he bats left-handed.

Ho was an All-State third baseman for Kaiser in 2006, when he also was a 48th-round selection of the Kansas City Royals. He played at Merced College last year, but will be at Palomar JC this season.

"That was his decision," said Peter Ho, Kaiser's baseball coach. "He wanted to play for the hometown, for grandma and everybody. He wanted to come home."

The elder Ho, who played for the Rainbows from 1981 to 1984, said his son changed JCs because he liked the Palomar area, which is about 30 miles north of San Diego.

Johnson, an All-State outfielder in 2006 for 'Iolani, batted .320 with 13 doubles, three triples and a home run with 35 RBIs at Central Arizona College last spring. He was second on the team with 17 stolen bases in 21 tries. Junior colleges also play during the fall.

"I've always wanted to play in front of the home crowd," said Johnson by telephone from Arizona. "My family can watch me now."

Johnson said he also had offers from Pittsburgh, Loyola Marymount and Michigan State. He said that Oregon, which is reviving its baseball program under former Cal State Fullerton coach George Horton, also showed an interest.

"I sat down with Coach Trapasso with my mom and dad," Johnson said. "He said he would take care of me and he's going to be looking out for the Hawai'i boys. He seemed like a real genuine guy."

Besides Punahou pitcher Jeeter Ishida's signing with Arizona State, Mililani outfielder Ty Morrison, a transfer from Virginia, signed with Oregon, the Ducks announced in a press release.

The left-handed hitting Morrison (6-2, 170) was a second-team all-Tidewater (Va.) selection, according to The Virginia Pilot.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.