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Friday, May 5, 2000
Vulcans learn valuable
By Al Chase
lessons in WAC
Star-BulletinNew ballparks, tougher competition and more and longer road trips contributed to the University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcans' experiences in their first season in the Western Athletic Conference.
Unfortunately, much of the excitement of being able to play for a conference championship was dulled considerably last weekend when the WAC athletic directors voted to end UHH's baseball association with the league after the 2001 season.
Interviewed before the crushing announcement, Vulcan head coach Joey Estrella said, "It's been rather exciting and disappointing. I thought we could have finished a little higher than where we are right now.
"But I learned that the WAC is a good conference. For us to compete at this level we have to bring in more better players."
Now Estrella has to inform players being recruited for next season of Hilo's situation. That could cause some recruits to consider other options while UHH athletic director Bill Trumbo explores another conference affiliation for the Vulcans.
Estrella had two accomplished starters returning, left-hander Thomas Ford and right-hander Kaholo Rickard. The starting rotation was completed with freshman right-hander Luke Holscher.
The 24-year head coach also knew he had to improve his outfield. He did it with junior college transfer Brian Rooke in center field and Western Oregon transfer Ryan Petersen in right.
"They have made the outfield really solid. Anything from left center to right field, we're confident they are going to track it down," Estrella said.
The pair, along with shortstop Brandon Chaves, have provided the Vulcans with excellent speed on the base paths. Rooke, who Estrella says creates a lot of havoc for opposing pitchers, leads the WAC with 23 stolen bases. Chaves is next with 20 and Petersen is fourth with 14.
This has helped the Vulcans be more aggressive, something Estrella knew was necessary coming into the season. This is especially true with 15 road games where the visitor has to play for the win, not just a tie, in the late innings.
Ken Morimoto, a volunteer coach after several seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, is responsible for the Vulcans improvement on the base paths.
"I have young coaches who want to create and our guys have responded really well. It's a tribute to our guys. Overall, I'm totally pleased," Estrella said.
Budget concerns keep the Vulcans from scouting opponents, so Estrella made a change in his pitching rotation early in the conference season to counter the lack of scouting reports.
Holscher would start the first game of a series, usually against the opponent's No. 1 pitcher, followed by the more experienced Ford and Rickard.
"It allows us to see an opponent one more time, get one game under our belts and maybe that will help," Estrella said. "We're going to have to throw three pitchers anyway."
In WAC play, the Vulcans are 4-4 in one-run games and 0-5 in two-run games. They rarely were blown out, but losing close games isn't much consolation. Estrella recognizes the shortcomings.
"We needed one guy with some more power. We needed a reliever who could really shut it down," Estrella said.
"We used Ben Siff as our closer, but he's more of a finesse guy. He has done as well as he could."
Overall, the Vulcans improved defensively this season although they have gone through a stretch where the outfielders have found it difficult to hit the cutoff man. Not keeping the double play in order by holding a hitter to one base is crucial in close games.
Budget constraints also limited the Vulcans to 22-player traveling squads, three less than the WAC allows, and UHH could not afford to send tutors on the road.
"The one thing that was tough was the academics, the kids missing all that school," Estrella said. "But they have weathered the storm. We've had positive feedback from most of the professors and they have been very understanding."
Estrella has had to proctor some tests and quizzes on the road and fax them in.
"We've learned how to create the team concept on a road trip. We know we now have to coordinate more because all the games mean so much more. I think we tend to be really aware of every detail," Estrella said.
Hail, farewell:
UHH will honor nine seniors and one junior after tomorrow's 1 p.m. game.The seniors are Thomas Ford, Kaholo Rickard, Jason Lippert, Paul Yap, Shaye Miura, Dana McCracken, Kevin Yee, Patrick Lynch and Brad Sanchez. The junior is Ian Robbins, who graduates this semester.
WAC STANDINGS
Conference Overall W L Pct. W L Pct. San Jose State 17 7 .708 34 16 .680 Fresno State 15 10 .583 35 15 .694 Rice 13 10 .565 31 19 .620 Texas Christian 11 13 .478 20 29 .417 Hawaii 10 14 .417 23 27 .460 Hawaii-Hilo 6 18 .250 16 29 .356 Yesterday's result
Fresno State 9, Texas Christian 6
Today's games
Hawaii at Hawaii-Hilo, 6 p.m.
Texas Christian at Fresno State
Tomorrow's games
Hawaii at Hawaii-Hilo, 1 p.m.
Texas Christian at Fresno State
Sunday's game
Hawaii vs. Hawaii-Hilo, 1 p.m., Kailua-Kona Field
U.H. Hilo
