Horner-Villa Pursues College Baseball

Photo by Lauren Palmer-Villa

Levi Horner-Villa is a 2016 Alumni of Molokai High School and is playing his freshman baseball season at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. His Wildcats recently won the Northwest Conference with a 24-10 overall record. Horner-Villa played in 22 games, mostly as the designated hitter, and batted .270 with 3HRs and 11 RBIs.

While at Molokai High, he was named The Maui News Maui Interscholastic League Division II Player of the Year as a senior in 2016 and was team captain for the Farmers Baseball team for three years. His parents are Nathan and Rethysia Horner.

Linfield Head Coach Scott Carnahan had nothing but praise for the freshman player from Molokai.

”Levi has been an integral part of our success this season,” he said. “He is a dedicated player with a great work ethic. He has the potential to be a premier player here.”

The Molokai Dispatch connected with Horner-Villa to ask him some questions and update the community on his college baseball experience.

Dispatch: How is baseball in college compared to in high school? What have you noticed being a freshman?

Levi Horner-Villa: Baseball at the college level is a much different game compared to baseball in high school. Everyone in the game is much quicker, stronger and smarter. It is much more competitive at this level and it is expected of us to perform when we need to. As an individual it is a must to work extra, whether it is in the gym or out of practice every day, and that is something I enjoy. As a freshman, I noticed how much sacrifices that has to be made when playing a sport and it can be hard at times but having a plan always helps through the week.

Dispatch: How do you feel you have adjusted to life in the mainland and away from your home island of Molokai?

LHV: I feel like I have adjusted perfectly and quicker than I would have thought. When I first came into college, I had the plan to make as many friends as possible and I did so. Meeting new people was the biggest and I believe the most important thing for me when I came to college because they would help and answer any questions that I had to ask. I also made sure that I would meet people from Hawaii so that I would have the sense of being home again and that alone helped me adjust faster.

Dispatch: What are some of your long-term goals and what do you have planned for the near future also?

LHV: My long-term goal for my future is to beat the home run and base hit records for this school. Another goal of mine is to be an All-American as many times as I can achieve it.  In the future, I plan on staying at Linfield to major in psychology and minor sports management while continuing my baseball career.

Dispatch: What are your thoughts on Linfield baseball?

LHV: I am having an absolute grand time at Linfield and I enjoy playing baseball every day and seeing my friends around. In baseball we always work hard on and off the field and we always have fun. The thing that I like about this program is the coaches let each player be who we are as individuals. The coaches, players, teachers and faculty members are all very friendly and caring and I am really glad that I chose this college.