Thursday, February 26, 1998
’Bow Barometer
UH baseball team will find out
By Al Chase
how it measures up against
San Jose State
Star-BulletinThe University of Hawaii baseball team opens its Western Athletic Conference schedule with a three-game series at San Jose State this weekend.
The Spartans (8-5) are the defending West Division champions. And so far this season, they have had seven games postponed or canceled by rain.
The Rainbows (16-3), ranked No. 19 by Collegiate Baseball, opened their WAC season at SJSU a year ago, too, and were swept. However, the UH pitching staff was plagued by injuries and the 'Bows were just 5-14 at the time.
"It is going to be a matter of how well we have grown up in a year," UH head coach Les Murakami said.
Unlike last year, Murakami won't have to pick names out a hat when naming his starting rotation for the series.
Randon Ho (3-1, 3.61 earned run average) will start tomorrow's opener. Dusty Bergman (3-1, 3.51) will follow Saturday and Patrick McNair (2-0, 1.42) Sunday.
The lineup remains the same with Lars Hansen catching, Jamie Aloy at first, David Perreira at second, Michael Dartt at short and Matt Wheeler at third. Joe Whitsett or Brandon Martin will start in left field, depending on who starts on the mound for SJSU, and Darren Blakely and Neal Honma will be in center and right, respectively.
"It's been known that Hawaii teams have hard times winning on the road, especially against good teams," Murakami said. "We're not going there for pleasure. This is a business trip. We're playing a team that has men, not boys. It's a JC-orientated program and they have a lot of people back."
Including senior right-hander Javier Pamus (4-0, 2.55), who has half of the Spartans' wins and will start tomorrow. He has fanned 18 and walked just four in 2423 innings.
Spartans coach Sam Piraro will start senior left-hander Steve Carrieri (0-2, 6.92) Saturday and senior right-hander Christian Copper (0-1, 5.40) on Sunday.
The Spartans are hitting .303 as a team, with senior shortstop Brian Forman leading the way with a .436 batting average.
Junior left fielder Casey Cheshier (.326) and senior second baseman Tony James (.275) top the Spartans with 14 RBIs apiece.
Outfielder Greg Millichap might be back for UH, but only in a pinch-hitter's role, according to Murakami. Also, second baseman Rory Pico has been cleared to make the trip, although he isn't fully recovered from a groin pull. Left-handed starter Troy Yoshimasu is still battling vertigo and won't make the trip.
When Millichap is healthy enough to play in the field, one of the problems confronting the coaching staff -- having a true No. 4 hitter -- will be solved.
Murakami wants Millichap's bat and experience in the lineup full time. At the same time, the UH skipper said he is happy with the production of Martin and Whitsett, who have filled in for Millichap.
"They are doing much better than we felt they would. We've been lucky they have played so well," Murakami said. "The playing time they are getting this year is only going to help them next year."
The Spartans won four of six from the 'Bows last year, but UH holds a 17-5 all-time advantage.
Attack on the WAC
Friday: Hawaii (16-3) at San Jose State (8-5), 4:50 p.m.
Rainbow Men Baseball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
