The scarcity of prominent baseball history in Hawaii leads many to believe that the sport is almost non-existent in the Aloha State. However, Levi Maddela is looking to be at the forefront of the baseball studs coming out of Hawaii. 

Wailuku, Hawaii, where Maddela is from, is one of the bigger cities on the island of Maui with almost 17,000 residents, but it is still a small, “laid back” town, according to the Saints’ first baseman. 

The Wailuku-made Maddela is who he is because of where he came from; he loves the relaxed setting of his hometown, particularly its proximity to the beach. Do not be mistaken, however; he is a well-known presence on the diamond, thanks to his time spent on Wailuku’s baseball fields. 

“I grinded baseball my whole life,” said the Saints’ everyday first baseman. “The competition [in Wailuku] is not like it is in the states, but we have some ball players out there.” 

As Maddela navigated his way through his youth baseball days, he formulated many relationships and ideals, leading him to enter the high school ranks at Baldwin High School.  

“[There was not a lot] of competition on our island,” mentioned Maddela. “Once you got to the state tournament [however], there were always competitive games against other people from different islands.” 

At Baldwin, Maddela played with Kuhio and Wehiwa Aloy, notable collegiate standouts at the University of Arkansas. Wehiwa earned the 2025 Golden Spikes Award for this past college baseball season and was drafted with the 31st overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2025 Major League Baseball draft. 

“We still talk, we still will hit each other up,” said Maddela when asked about his present-day relationship with the Aloy brothers. “We hang out with each other during the breaks and make time to get some work in.” 

Maddela’s success and triumphs at Baldwin High School led to multiple collegiate offers and even a few interactions with professional baseball scouts. Ultimately, he would go on to commit to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, thanks to dialogues both internally and with his family. 

Family plays a huge role in traditional Hawaiian culture, and Maddela is no exception to this tradition. His family has taught him a lot, but his relationship with God is arguably the biggest thing Maddela has taken away from his familial encounters. 

“[My faith] has grown a lot throughout the years,” Maddela explained. “I have been through some struggles, but God has stuck with me throughout these years; He has definitely been the reason why I am being put in [these situations]. I am thankful and blessed to have Him in my life.” 

As Maddela mentioned, he has been in many situations throughout the last couple of years that have contributed to where and how he is today. He spent one total semester as a Rainbow Warrior in Manoa, saying that his time at the University of Hawaii “unfortunately did not work out as planned.” 

After his brief stint in Manoa, Maddela wound up at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia for his freshman baseball season.  

“My brother had the opportunity to play [at Shorter] after JuCo ball,” said Maddela when asked why he committed to Shorter University after his short time at Hawaii. “They offered me a full-ride [scholarship], and I thought it was a great opportunity for me and my family; I think I was meant to be there [at the time].” 

After Maddela overcame the “culture shock” that occurred when he moved from Hawaii to Georgia, he began to accumulate solid numbers at Shorter. During his 2024 collegiate baseball season, Maddela started 33 games for the Hawks, totaling 32 hits (including five home runs) and 27 RBIs. Additionally, the Saints’ first baseman posted a .260 batting average. 

Unfortunately, injuries derailed Maddela’s true sophomore year, forcing him to redshirt his second season of college baseball. 

At the conclusion of this year’s college baseball season, Maddela decided to enter the Transfer Portal for the second time. 

“I did not think Shorter was the right fit for me going into this next season,” mentioned Maddela in response to why he is looking for a new home for his redshirt sophomore year. “Right now, I am probably looking for a JuCo spot to play at for one year, and then hopefully go to a pretty good D1 [program].” 

In the meantime, Maddela has ventured to the Arroyo Seco Saints’ organization, thanks to Dan Cox, one of his former Hawaii coaches. So far, Maddela has become one of the most integral bats in the Saints’ lineup, batting an impressive .304 average and driving in 16 RBIs. 

“I love it out here,” stated Maddela. “My teammates are good, and we get to stay [in apartments]. It is just living [the] life, I cannot complain.” 

As time has gone on, some Saints players have been away from the team for various reasons. With these lineup inconsistencies, Maddela has been called upon to step up, and he has. 

“[I have been] sticking with my approach and playing to win,” said Maddela when asked why he has been so successful this summer. “I have prioritized not striking out as much and staying consistent [in] trying to make contact. My eye discipline has grown a little more [as well].” 

Even as Maddela has grown and succeeded in continental America this summer, he still has plans to visit his hometown of Wailuku for a quick refresh before he goes back to the grind of college baseball. 

Maddela’s grounded mind and passionate spirit have served him well up to this point and, if he remains steadfast in his ways, should point him in the right direction during his search for his 2026 collegiate baseball destination. 

Contributors:

• Story and graphic by Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)