RAINBOW BASEBALL
Hawaii losing ‘special class’
The Rainbows' 7 seniors will play at home for the last time this weekend
Luis Avila, Justin Costi, Matt Inouye, Esteban Lopez, Adam Roberts, Dean Turner and Robbie Wilder conclude the home portion of their Hawaii baseball careers this weekend.
Rainbow Baseball
Who: Sacramento State at Hawaii
When: Today and tomorrow, 6:35 p.m.; Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Where: Les Murakami Stadium
TV: KFVE, Channel 5, live
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM, live
Tickets: $3-$7
Parking: $3
Note: Senior day is Sunday. The first 1,000 fans entering the stadium receive UH baseball team photographs.
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The seven seniors have experienced many highlight moments, but also shared ups and downs and injuries. They will be honored following Sunday's Western Athletic Conference game against Sacramento State.
"If you look at what they have contributed, it is a pretty special class," Rainbow coach Mike Trapasso said.
Inouye is the lone four-year senior, opting for the Rainbows instead of turning pro after being drafted in the 41st round by the Boston Red Sox out of Mid-Pacific Institute in 2002. He was behind the plate his first two seasons before moving to right field the last two years.
"It went by quick and I never thought I would play for the Rainbows for four years," said Inouye, who expected to be drafted last year.
The 2005 season was his least productive. After hitting well over .300 his first two seasons, Inouye struggled through a .255 season last year.
"It (not being drafted) was a big learning experience and I think I took a lot from it," Inouye said.
He has rebounded this season, overcoming a strained muscle injury in his back to hit .345 and knock in 23 runs. An intense player, his goal is never to get cheated on any at-bat.
"Good players like Matt don't have two bad years in a row. He really put too much pressure on himself in his draft year," Trapasso said.
Asked about a career highlight, Inouye said, "It's a little thing of mine, but I've hit a home run in every stadium in the old WAC."
A sociology major, he needs two semesters to obtain his degree, then plans to become a firefighter if the chance to play pro ball does not materialize.
WILDER WALKS ever so deliberately to the plate, savoring each opportunity to stand in the box and take his cuts.
The fleet-footed outfielder spent more time in the trainer's room with an assortment of injuries than on the field his first two seasons after transferring from Sierra College after his freshman year.
"You can't get it out of your head, but you have to put it behind you and just go play," said Wilder, the 'Bows leadoff hitter with a .331 batting average and .503 on-base percentage.
"Once Robbie was injury free, he has been able to show us what we all knew he was capable of doing all along," Trapasso said.
He credits last summer with the Amsterdam Mohawks in the New York Collegiate League with helping him be ready this year.
"Coming off shoulder surgery, I needed at-bats and I got a ton of them," Wilder said. "I led off every day during the summer and regained some of the confidence I had lost."
He will remember Hawaii as a special place where the people are very supportive.
"I've learned so much about baseball and life's lessons. Hawaii has been very good to me," Wilder said.
He is majoring in finance and international business with a minor in Spanish. He will graduate next spring.
"I would like to go somewhere where I can speak Spanish and find a job as a certified financial planner," Wilder said.
ROBERTS WAS recruited as a third baseman, but ended playing mostly at first base last year. This year he has been the right-handed batting designated hitter and isn't ready to think about the upcoming end to his collegiate career.
"I figure it will really hit me when I can count all the games I have left on my fingers. It has been fun. Baseball out here, being a student-athlete here is an experience like no other place," said Roberts, who joined the program from Edmonds Community College last year.
"To play in front of such a close-knit community, being able to entertain people, is unique. I wanted to finish on a high note, but I've accepted my role and try to do whatever I can to help the team win. I have no complaints."
Roberts needs two more semesters to earn his degree in psychology.
"My first objective is to graduate. I definitely want to stay around the baseball field, maybe get into coaching and do it at the highest level I can," Roberts said.
Lopez, who transferred from Yavapai College last year, settled in as the starting catcher midway through the 2005 season and has been the main man this year.
"It has been a good time coming out here to go to school and compete for a good baseball team," said Lopez, who was a late-round draft pick in 2002 and 2004 by the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively.
"I had high exceptions my first year, but this year it started to come around."
Lopez started slow last year, but finished with a .250 batting average. It was much the same this year, but he is up to .264 and is second on the team with 11 doubles.
"I don't just look at Esteban's numbers. He is as good as there is behind the plate," Trapasso said.
Lopez would like the opportunity to play pro ball, but says if it happens, it happens. For him, the most important thing is he will earn his degree in sociology in December.
Avila has really turned it around this year with his .324 batting average after hitting .227 a year ago. The first baseman leads the 'Bows with 12 doubles, five home runs and 41 runs batted in.
"Last year I was trying to buy into the system and understand the way we play. This year I prepared better in the weight room and the cages," Avila said.
"It has been great here. The people are really warm and make you feel at home. Everybody, teachers and coaches, help you with what you need.
He is majoring in travel industry management and will receive his degree next spring.
"I want to get a job in my major field and I think Hawaii is a pretty good market," said Avila, who transferred from Eastern Oklahoma State College and is from Caracas, Venezuela.
Costi has been a regular in the pitching rotation since joining the team from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M a year ago. The right-hander was 2-5 with a solid 3.81 ERA as a junior, but that is not the whole story.
"Last year Justin had some pretty good starts but he always seemed to be the guy who never got any run support," Trapasso said.
"His first couple starts this year were awful, but Justin kept an even keel, kept working and broke out against Washington.
Costi went on to win four consecutive games, had two no decisions and the only bad outing at Fresno State. He picked up his fifth victory against one loss with 7 2/3 innings of five-hit ball against New Mexico State last weekend.
Dean Turner, a right-hander from Bellevue Community College, has appeared in 10 games during his two seasons as a Rainbow.
"It has been a good couple years. Obviously I haven't pitched as well as I would have liked, but it is good to see the team is winning and doing better than last year," Turner said.
He actively tries to help the younger players, to help them develop a new pitch or just encourage them.
"Dean has been an inspirational leader of our team for two years. He isn't done yet. He is still capable of helping us," Trapasso said.
Turner graduates next month with a degree in political science. He plans to go to law school, either here or at UNLV.