Punahou's Dylan Combs throws a pitch to the plate in a game against Mid-Pacific on April 26, 2013. Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou's Dylan Combs throws a pitch to the plate in a game against Mid-Pacific on April 26, 2013. Evan Asato | SL

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By Wes Nakama
HHSAA

Punahou senior Dylan Combs has made a verbal commitment to play baseball for Harvard University.

Combs, a 6-foot, 173-pound left-handed pitcher, also was being recruited by Arizona, Creighton and Kansas. was one of four Hawai'i players to compete in last week's prestigious New Balance Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif.

"It was a hard choice," said Combs, who noted the commitment made Monday morning is non-binding and is pending the Harvard admission process. "I had to choose between good baseball schools and (Harvard's) strong academics, and their baseball. It came down to Harvard since it is one of the best schools in America and no matter what happens with baseball, ultimately it will be a big advantage going to Harvard. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Combs finished last regular season 2-2 for Punahou, with a 1.37 earned run average and 31 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.

He said Harvard coaches watched him at a Stanford baseball camp and took interest.

"A lot of Ivy League schools were at that camp," Combs said.