Trapasso: Costs no excuse to move 2009 WAC tourney

Hawaii baseball coach Mike Trapasso is aware of a "groundswell" from other Western Athletic Conference coaches to get the 2009 WAC baseball tournament moved from Hawaii to a neutral site on the mainland.

But he'll only agree if it's for the right reason -- a longer-term commitment to neutral sites -- and not because of rising travel costs for next season only.

"I've said in our coaches' meeting that going to a neutral site as part of a three-to-five year contract with that site, moves our league forward," Trapasso said. "It's what's best for WAC baseball, and in that case I'd be in favor of moving it from Hawaii (next) year.

"But if the idea is (to move it just because it's in Hawaii) for a one-year deal, then obviously I'm not in favor of that and I'll fight to keep the tournament here," he continued. "But it's not our decision, it's the WAC senior council. There's no question that other coaches are adamant about getting the tournament out of Hawaii."

He pointed out that the NCAA's major conferences use neutral sites.

As of yesterday, there were no neutral sites with bids to the tournament that he was aware of, and he said everything was still planned for Hawaii to host the tournament in May next year.