Even after two seasons as one of the state's top baseball players, pitcher Jared Pate accepted what he says in self-deprecation a familiar role of benchwarmer at UC Irvine.

Pate, a 2005 Punahou graduate and two-time Advertiser State Player of the Year, watched his teammates from the dugout after undergoing arthroscopic surgery last year.

"It gives me inspiration to work hard," Pate said.

But sitting out this season meant missing Irvine's run to its first College World Series.

"It's hard to just have to watch and not be able to play because you're injured," Pate said. But he added that unlike players who were superstars of their teams, from the seventh through ninth grades, "I didn't get to play a lot, so I'm pretty used to sitting on a bench. It's not a shock for me."

Pate is one of three players with Hawai'i ties in the World Series. Oregon State outfielder Koa Kahalehoe was born in Honolulu, and OSU infielder Joey Wong is the son of Damien graduate David Wong, who played football and baseball for the Monarchs.

UC Irvine defeated Wichita State in the Super Regional to reach World Series. Although Pate says he feels part of the team, he does not travel with them because of roster limits. "I don't think I had anything to contribute," he says. "I just want to be able to throw again."

He watched the Anteaters' super regional games on television, catching glimpses on TV at the California Pizza Kitchen, where he works.

He brought the shoulder injury to college from high school, even after paring down his innings his senior year at Punahou.

"Just making the jump from high school to college made it worse," he said.

"Plus, my build is not the strongest, so it doesn't help," said Pate, who is 5 feet 11 and 155 pounds.

He spent the season rehabbing his right throwing shoulder after having surgery Nov. 28 to repair "wear and tear" damage.

"I couldn't throw. My arm had problems since my junior year of high school, and I guess I didn't keep up with my rehab," he said.

The baseball team hopes to follow the lead of the Anteaters' men's volleyball team, which won its first national championship earlier this year.

Pate's roommate is Irvine libero Brent Asuka, an all-conference player and 'Iolani graduate.

"It's cool to be around so many good athletes," Pate said.

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