Quiet WAC opener for Rainbows
By Paul ArnettStar-Bulletin
Don Robbs, the longtime voice of the Rainbows, said last Sunday that this is the first time the UH baseball team isn't involved in a road radio broadcast since 1978.
KCCN (1420-AM) opted to do the UH men's volleyball match at UCLA, something that speaks volumes about both programs. Tomorrow's and Sunday's games at San Jose State will be on the air at 11 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively.
UH head coach Les Murakami has far more to worry about than radio broadcasts. His team enters tonight's opener of a three-game series against San Jose State with only five wins in 19 games.
"But what we've been trying to tell our guys is this is the second season and the one that counts the most," Murakami said. "We've got to raise our level of play because this is the WAC opener for us."
The Spartans already have played three Western Athletic Conference games against preseason West Division favorite Fresno State. They took two of three at Municipal Stadium to give them a 2-1 league mark. San Jose State is 12-5 overall.
Unlike the Rainbows, pitching has been the name of the game for the Spartans. They start three junior college players who have helped them post a team earned run average of 3.10.
The likely Spartan starters this weekend are Christian Cooper (1-1, 3.54), Javier Pamus (2-2, 3.18) and Jason Jimenez (1-0, 4.91). Their top relievers are Ryan McDermott (4-0, 1.20) and Justin Farias, who is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA and has the Spartans' two saves.
Hawaii counters with Andrew McNally (1-0, 6.75), Robby Robinson (1-3, 7.75) and Jamie Aloy (1-4, 6.17). McNally, who has been bothered by a nagging groin pull, worked out yesterday in the chilly San Jose, Calif., air. The temperature never got out of the 50s.
"I'm glad this isn't the first time he has pitched in two or three weeks," Murakami said. "He didn't pitch that well against (UH-Hilo), but at least he pitched a few innings. Hopefully, he'll be ready."
Hawaii certainly needs the senior from Australia to pitch at least six or seven strong innings because of weak bullpen play. The team ERA is a startling 8.42.
The Rainbows need to win at least one to avoid getting off to another bad start in WAC play. Since 1990, UHis only 8-15-1 in its opening league road series.
It's up to seniors Robert Medeiros and Daren Masanda to show the way at the plate and in the field. Medeiros is hitting a solid .315 with a team-leading 17 RBIs. Masanda has yet to commit an error in 19 games.
The Spartans have some solid position players of their own. They have four players hitting .300 or better, including Robert Berns and Todd Duncan.
Berns leads the team in hitting with a .373 average. He has two homers and 18 RBIs. Duncan is second to Berns in RBIs with 16. He leads the team in homers with four. His average is a steady .303.