Thursday, April 2, 1998
’Bows have high hopes
against Falcons
Baseball coach Les Murakami
By Al Chase
expects a lot of runs in the series—
most, he hopes, by Hawaii
Star-Bulletin"To guarantee us making the WAC playoffs, we have to go 14-4. It's not impossible, but we're going to have to play well," said University of Hawaii head baseball coach Les Murakami.
The UH skipper was referring to the Rainbows' final 18 regular-season games, all in the Western Athletic Conference.
The 'Bows have nine road games, starting with three at the Air Force Academy tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.
UH returns home for three-game series against Texas Christian (April 10-12) and Grand Canyon (April 17-19).
What Murakami called the "make or break" road trip at the start of the 1998 season follows with series at Fresno State (April 25-27) and at San Diego State (May 1-3).
Then it's home for the final regular-season series against San Jose State (May 8-10).
This past weekend WAC West Division teams dominated in games against foes from the North and South divisions. That indicates the Rainbows also will have to dominate teams from outside of the West if they are to starting climbing in the standings.
Hawaii (26-12 overall, 4-8 WAC) is making its third trip to Colorado Springs, Colo., where it holds a 4-3 advantage over the Falcons (8-23, 2-10). The previous trips have been adventures.
"I remember one game where we were leading, 17-1, and lost 18-17 on a grand slam. No lead is safe there," Murakami said.
That was in 1989 when the Falcons won three of four games.
In 1991, UH won the three games played (3-0, 14-13, 12-11) with a fourth being snowed out.
"What worries me is the field is so small," Murakami said. "We'll score a lot of runs, but I'll be unhappy and surprised if our pitching does not hold them."
Murakami hadn't decided on a starting rotation but it will come from Patrick McNair, Dusty Bergman, Randon Ho and Troy Yoshimasu, who is battling yet another blister on his pitching hand.
UH third baseman Matt Wheeler is expected to play after straining his left hip abductor muscle in Sunday's game against Nebraska. Second baseman Rory Pico also should see action.
Jamie Aloy (.366), Neal Honma (.362), Wheeler (.333) and Michael Dartt (.309) are the UH regulars hitting over .300. Joe Whitsett, who shares the designated hitter role with Tracy Nakano, leads the 'Bows with a .446 batting average.
Wheeler (34), Aloy (32) and Honma (30) are the top run producers.
The Falcons' pitching has been the bright spot in a season that has seen the offense and defense struggle.
Offensively, Air Force has a .248 team batting average, well below the lowest average in the aluminum bat era (.274 in 1981). The defense has allowed 67 unearned runs in 29 games.
The Falcons have been in 11 one-run games, winning five. They have managed to hit double figures in runs scored just twice in seven games at hitter-friendly Falcon Field.
The scheduled starting pitchers for the UH series are Travis Lauritsen, a 6-foot-3 senior right-hander (3-6, 5.02 ERA), 6-2 senior right-hander Ryan Johnson (1-3, 7.71) and Chris Jessop, a 6-5 freshman right-hander (1-0, 4.64).
Despite their record, UH pitching coach Carl Furutani still gives the Falcons one advantage.
"You are playing individuals who are mentally tough, well disciplined. That means a lot in college baseball," Furutani said. "They will do what they are taught well. I expect a battle."
SERIES NOTES: UH leads the all-time series, 15-4. Honma leads the Rainbows in hitting with runners in scoring position (.532). Wheeler is next at .478. Darren Blakely is hitting .833 with a runner at third and less than two outs.
McNair has pitched the most innings (56) for UH this season. He and Ho are tied for the strikeout lead with 41. Air Force head coach Eric Campbell is 67-119 in his fourth season at the Academy.
WAC
West Division
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Fresno St. 8 4 .667 -- 17 17 .500 San Diego St. 7 5 .583 1 16 14 .533 San Jose St. 8 5 .545 11/2 21 11 .656 Hawaii 4 8 .333 4 26 12 .684
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Gr. Canyon 6 4 .600 -- 18 12 .600 Brig. Young 4 8 .333 3 18 14 .563 Air Force 2 10 .143 5 8 23 .258 Utah 1 9 .100 5 11 21 .343
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Rice 14 1 .933 -- 26 11 .703 Texas Christian 8 3 .727 4 21 13 .618 Nev-Las Vegas 6 6 .500 61/2 23 13 .639 New Mexico 5 8 .385 8 15 18 .441
Hawaii at Air Force, noon
New Mexico at Nevada-Las Vegas
San Diego State at Grand Canyon
San Jose State at Fresno State
Texas Christian at Rice
Utah at Brigham Young
Hawaii at Air Force, 9 a.m.
New Mexico at Nevada-Las Vegas
San Diego State at Grand Canyon
San Jose State at Fresno State
Texas Christian at Rice
Utah at Brigham Young (2)
Hawaii at Air Force, 8 a.m.
New Mexico at Nevada-Las Vegas
San Diego State at Grand Canyon
San Jose State at Fresno State
Texas Christian at Rice
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
