Hawaii's Ken Wakakuwa slides into second base trying to disrupt
the throw to first by Cal Poly's Tabor Maeier.
Photo by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

The five seniors for the University of Hawaii baseball team didn't really think about it being their final game here until they belly-flopped in unison at home plate.

Tears of reality flowed freely over their grubby faces as they stood and brushed off the Rainbow Stadium dirt for the last time.

The traditional run around the base path is the closing act for seniors at Hawaii. But unlike past years, they decided to do it as one.

The fivesome ran together to first, leap-frogged over each other to second, did individual slides at third and dove head-first together across home plate.

It was a bittersweet moment for pitcher Paul Ah Yat, outfielder Keoni Hansen, and infielders Chris Garnett, Jody Napuunoa and Jaime Ahu.

Not only will their careers officially end later this week in the unfriendly confines of Fresno State's Bulldog Stadium, it also marks the first time a senior class has missed making an NCAA Regional appearance three consecutive seasons since Hawaii joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1980.

During their freshmen campaign in 1993, Ahu, Napuunoa, Garnett and Hansen took part in the Central Regional at Texas A&M University. Ah Yat sat out that year after transfering from the University of California.

Little did they realize that they would not return again to the postseason parade, thanks to a string of three average seasons.

That point was hammered home hard yesterday afternoon as Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo did the unthinkable - the Mustangs swept the Rainbows at home.

They punctuated their late-season turnaround with a thorough 11-3 whipping of the Rainbows that further demonstrates how far the once mighty have fallen.

San Luis Obispo is only the second team in WAC history to sweep Hawaii at Rainbow Stadium. Fresno State has done it twice, including earlier this year.

The two teams entered the series last Friday tied for fourth in West Division play. Now the Rainbows find themselves entrenched in fifth place with a league record of 12-15 and overall mark of 29-23.

Coming into the final weekend, Cal State-Northridge is in first with an 18-9 record. Fresno State is one game back at 17-10, San Diego State is third at 16-11 and San Luis Obispo is fourth at 15-12.

The Rainbows may not be playing for the title, but they could have a hand in deciding who wins it. They travel to Fresno State for a league series that begins Thursday.

San Diego State plays San Luis Obispo and Northridge meets last-place Cal State-Sacramento. The winner of the West Division travels to the site of the East Division champion to play in a best two-out-of-three series.

That winner then must travel to the home of the West Coast Conference champion to play another two-of-three series to see who receives the automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals in late May.

But unfortunately for veteran head coach Les Murakami, it won't be the Rainbows. They will finish in the second tier of the West Division for the third time in a row.

"I can't explain why we played the way we did this weekend," Murakami said. "We just didn't seem to be into it in any of the three games.

"We didn't field and we didn't hit. Robby (Robinson) pitched a good game because most of the runs he gave up were unearned. But you watch, we'll play well at Fresno State."

The Rainbows certainly haven't played well here. They finished 6-10 in WAC play at Rainbow Stadium, but have the opportunity to win three road series in one season for the first time since 1987.

Ah Yat also has a chance to show major-league scouts at Fresno State that he can pitch at the professional level. Ahu and Napuunoa also have outside shots at being drafted, but they need to play well in front of the scouts.

"I think we all know how important it is from that standpoint," Ah Yat said. "I've been told I need to pitch well, and that's what I plan to do."

Said Ahu, "I want to play at the next level, but if it doesn't work out, I'll come home, finish my degree and go to work. I've had a good run."

So have Napuunoa, Garnett and Hansen. Napuunoa was having a hard time believing his playing days at Rainbow Stadium were over, as was Garnett.

"I didn't think about it until I woke up today," a teary-eyed Garnett said.

"It really hit me when we finished the senior run. We didn't accomplish what we wanted to, but I wouldn't trade my experience here with these guys for anything."

Brodhead wins award

Bobbie Brodhead is the recipient of the Charles Ushijima Memorial Service Award for her volunteer efforts. She has been a fan of UH sports since the early 1970s.