Thursday, May 7, 1998
Long-shot ’Bows
need a sweep, and
then some
Taking three from
By Al Chase
San Jose State might not be enough
to earn UH a spot in the WAC
baseball playoffs
Star-BulletinThe University of Hawaii and San Jose State know what's at stake in their three-game Western Athletic Conference baseball series, which begins tomorrow at Rainbow Stadium.
The Spartans, with a half-game lead in the race for the final WAC playoff berth, know if they sweep UH in the final regular-season series for both teams, they capture the final playoff spot.
The Rainbows know they must sweep and get a lot of help to make the playoffs. They're 212 games out in the battle for the last playoff spot.
"We've kind of been in and out of the sixth spot all season long. We understood it might come down to the last series," SJSU head coach Sam Piraro said. "We just wish we were playing at home this week. But we're also smart enough to know this is a tough venue to play in. We know what we have to do and it will be quite a challenge."
Tomorrow's 6 p.m. opener will match two left-handed pitchers. Senior Steve Carrieri (2-2, 5.16 ERA) starts for SJSU (30-20 overall, 12-14 WAC) and sophomore Jamie Aloy (4-0,, 2.61) for the 'Bows (32-21, 10-17).
Piraro will go with Javier Parmus in Game 2 Saturday. Parmus leads the nation with 13 victories (against two defeats) and averages a strikeout an inning. Joey Baker (5-2, 5.46) will start for SJSU on Sunday.
UH head coach Les Murakami hasn't decided who will start for the Rainbows after Game 1.
Saturday it could be Ken Mackenzie (1-2, 4.50) or Randon Ho (5-6, 5.57).
Lefty Troy Yoshimasu (2-2, 4.85) might be available Sunday. Yoshimasu, recovered from a bout with vertigo, suffered a bruised thumb on his pitching hand when he was hit with a ball while throwing batting practice last week.
The Spartans won two of three games from Fresno State last weekend and have won four of their last five. Cal State Northridge transfer Casey Cheshire leads the SJSU regulars with a .353 batting average, 21 doubles and 57 RBIs.
Like Murakami, Piraro likes the running game and has three players with 10 or more steals. Scott Lewis is 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts, Brian Forman 23-for-27 and Tony James 11-for-12. All three played on SJSU's West Division championship team last year.
UH catcher Kramer Aoki, who did a good job controlling San Diego State's running game last weekend, can expect to be tested by the Spartans. Opponents have stolen only eight bases in 24 attempts against Aoki this season.
Aloy is UH's top regular hitter with a .374 average. His 42 RBIs are second on the team to Matt Wheeler's 44. Neal Honma is second with a .358 average and is third in RBIs with 40.
Two part-time players have made considerable contributions for UH: freshmen Joe Whitsett (.400) and Brandon Martin (.357).
INJURY REPORT: Neither catcher Lars Hansen nor third baseman Wheeler practiced yesterday because of back injuries. Wheeler is expected to play this weekend. Hansen is day-to-day, but is doubtful. Rory Pico (groin pull) also is doubtful and might be done for the season. See: Jim Leahey back
THE SERIES: The Rainbows lead the series with SJSU, 18-7, although the Spartans have won four of the last seven games between the two teams.
SIGNINGS: The Rainbows signed two more recruits to letters of intent last week, bringing the total to eight.
The new signees: pitcher Chad Giannetti (Punahou) and outfielder Evaristo Torres (George Washington High School, Harlem, N.Y.).
Torres was on Baseball America's list of the top 50 high school major-league draft prospects.
WAC baseball
Tomorrow San Jose State vs. Hawaii, 6:06 p.m.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
