By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
University of Hawaii's David Perreira slides hard into second,
but Hawaii-Hilo's Geoff Hirai had already made
his relay throw to first for a double play.
The problem with preaching from the dugout steps minutes after losing a series to the UH-Hilo Vulcans for the first time since the sun shone on the Earth is shutting out the racket that accompanies celebration.
The Hawaii players turned their backs on the Hilo dugout, but they couldn't turn down the noise. Yesterday's was a big 10-4 victory for Hilo and the loudest wake-up call for Les Murakami since he donned a UH uniform.
Murakami feels this weekend's opening Western Athletic Conference series at San Jose State is the start of the second season. But this new beginning will be just a theory if the Rainbows continue their present course.
Hawaii managed only a 5-14 record in the comforts of Rainbow Stadium, so what does going on the road in WAC play promise? More of the same?
More than likely, considering San Jose State is fresh off taking two of three from Fresno State. The Spartans are not only 12-4 overall, but a stellar 8-1 at Municipal Stadium.
They were picked to finish last in the West Division, but at this point, it's hard to imagine anyone going any lower in the standings than Hawaii.
Even at their best, the Rainbows have struggled on the road. Since 1990, they are 8-15-1 in their opening WAC road series. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for a team off to its worst start in history.
"We tried to tell our kids that the first part of the season is over and that we can't be worried about it anymore," Murakami said. "We've got to worry about the WAC. If we want to go anywhere, we have to do well in the WAC.
"This whole series, I don't think we played well. And whether it's emotion or not, they played well. You have to give them credit. They came all the way back on Saturday night after they were seemingly out of it.
"Today, they hit in the clutch. They are a veteran team and it shows. They know what they are doing and they definitely deserved to win this series."
Hilo has won five of the last 13 meetings under the guidance of veteran head coach Joey Estrella.
These wins are rewarding for the former UH player, but it's not always easy knocking off the master. He credits Murakami for part of his own success.
"This is a special relationship because coach Les has done so much for our program," Estrella said. "We're very happy to finally win a series against these guys."
Hilo wasted little time getting a run off starting and losing UH pitcher Dusty Bergman in the first. Adam Cancellieri opened the inning with a single to right. He went to second on a sacrifice and scored on a booming double to left-center by Felipe Caoili.
The Vulcans came back with a five-spot in the second. Clinton Vaughn got things started with a one-out double to left. Bergman then walked Geoff Hirai and hit Ronald Ramirez to load the bases.
Cancellieri brought two in with a single to right, Ramirez scored on a wild pitch and Keiki Mattson cleared the bases with a two-run homer over the wall in right. It was all the Vulcans would need.
"We lost this game in the first two innings," Murakami said. "If we had started (Jamie) Aloy, instead of Bergman, maybe we would have won."
Aloy pitched 7-2/3 innings of solid relief, yielding two earned runs on eight hits. Bergman, who fell to 0-3, wasn't nearly as effective.
As a result, Murakami said he would go with Andrew McNally, Robby Robinson and Aloy in the opening WAC series at San Jose.
Bergman, who on Friday was given a clean bill of health by doctors following a 20-pound weight loss, will join Daven Hermosura, Troy Yoshimasu, Ken Mackenzie and Jay Spurgeon in the bullpen.
"I've been watching San Jose State closely and they appear to have a quality team," Murakami said. "We have to put this start behind us and try to go to San Jose State with a positive outlook. What else can we do?"
Hawaii-Hilo Hawaii ab r h bi ab r h bi Cancellieri rf 5 2 3 3 Honma cf 3 1 1 0 Mattson cf 4 1 1 2 Masanda 2b 4 0 1 0 Caoili dh 5 0 2 1 Medeiros lf 3 0 0 1 Meguro pr 0 1 0 0 Millichap rf 3 0 1 1 McDonnell 1b 5 0 2 0 Nakano dh 4 0 0 0 A. Jackson 3b 5 1 1 0 Takamori pr 0 0 0 0 Checketts lf 4 0 1 0 Voshell 1b 4 0 0 0 Takahashi lf 1 1 1 1 Perreira c 3 1 2 0 Vaughan c 5 2 2 0 Murphy 3b 4 1 1 1 Hirai 2b 1 1 0 0 Dartt ss 3 1 0 0 Ramirez ss 3 1 0 1 Totals 38 10 13 8 Totals 31 4 5 3 Hawaii-Hilo 150 200 022--10 Hawaii 003 000 010-- 4E-Ramirez, Millichap, Murphy, Dartt. DP-UHH 2 (A. Jackson-Hirai-McDonnell, Ramirez-Hirai-McDonnell). LOB-UHH 6, UH 5.
2B-Caoili, McDonnell, Vaughan, Millichap. 3B-Perreira. HR-Mattson (3). SH-Mattson, Hirai 2.
IP H R ER BB SO Nakaahiki (W,2-2) 9 5 4 4 4 3 Bergman (L,0-3) 1-1/3 5 6 6 1 0 Aloy 7-2/3 8 4 2 0 2WP-Nakaahiki 2, Bergman. HBP-Ramirez (by Bergman), Perreira (by Nakaahiki).
T-3:05. A-1,130 (turnstile), 2,746 (distributed). Umpires-Leonard, Tomaszewski.