Wednesday, January 20, 1999
Imported arms
By Jerry Campany
should help
HPU improve
Special to the Star-BulletinHawaii Pacific head baseball coach Allan Sato went out and got a new pitching staff this season --and he is going to need it.
Sato put together a grueling 45-game schedule this season after finishing 15-17 over 32 games last year. The Sea Warriors, whose season opens today with a doubleheader against Sonoma State, will play 13 games against Division I teams -- including competing in the UH Rainbow Easter Tournament for the first time since 1988.
The Sea Warriors scheduled 16 games in 10 days leading up to the Easter tournament -- including seven-inning doubleheaders on five successive days.
"That is the way we like it," Sato said. "We love to play baseball, and we are going to play as much baseball as we can."
Last year, Sato watched his offense pound out six runs per game but come up short more often than not.
Sato needed to make a change to his pitching staff and did, letting all but three pitchers go.
"For every pitcher that left, we brought in one 10 times better," Sato said.
The new arms have pushed former No. 1 starter Jamie Surdock (3-5 4.96) to fourth in the rotation. The new starters are junior college transfers Eric Bentley, Rick Ardisana and Ryan Evans. Keola McCallum, a redshirt last year, fills out the rotation.
The offense, which was good last season, expects to be even better this year.
Matt Roman returns to lead off and patrol centerfield, followed by third baseman and team leader Lee Anzai, first baseman Kaina McCallum, designated hitter Mark Sylvester, returning catcher Deric Yanagisawa, rightfielder Daric Stith, second baseman Travis Clutter, shortstop Bryce Uegawachi and left fielder Gabe Gerhardt -- who comes in from Cypress College and has already earned the admiration of Sato.
"Gerhardt has the quickest hands at the plate I have ever seen," Sato said. "It will be hard for any pitcher to beat him."
Home games at Hans L'Orange Park. HPU Sea Warriors
1999 schedule
January
20: Sonoma State (2), 4 p.m.; 21: Sonoma State (2), 4 p.m.; 22: Sonoma State, 11 a.m.
February
1: Montevallo, Ala. (2), 4 p.m.; 2: Montevallo, Ala., 7 p.m.; 4: Montevallo, Ala. (2), 4 p.m.; 5: Montevallo, Ala., 3 p.m.; 8: at Cal State Chico.; 10: at San Francisco State.; 11: at San Francisco State.; 12: at Cal State Stanislaus.; 13: at San Francisco.; 14: at Sonoma State.; 19: vs. Wichita State, 3 p.m., at Rainbow Stadium.; 20: at Hawaii-Hilo, 1 p.m.; 21: at Hawaii-Hilo, 1 p.m.
March
1: Matsusaka, Japan (exhibition), 7 p.m.; 2: Matsusaka, Japan (exhibition), 7 p.m.; 7: Christian Brothers, Tenn. (2), 4 p.m.; 8: Christian Brothers, Tenn. (2), 4 p.m.; 9: Christian Brothers, Tenn. (2), 4 p.m.; 13: West Liberty State, W. Va. (2), noon.; 14: West Liberty State, W. Va. (2), noon.; 15: West Liberty State, W. Va. (2), 4 p.m.; 16: West Liberty State, W. Va. (2), 4 p.m.; 17: West Liberty State, W. Va. (2), 4 p.m. 22-28: Rainbow Easter Baseball Tournament (Games at Rainbow Stadium.): 22: vs. Northwestern, 11 a.m.; 23: vs. Hawaii-Hilo, 11 a.m.; 24: vs. Fresno State, 11 a.m.; 25: vs. Nittaidai, Japan, 2:30 p.m.; 26: vs. Hawaii, 6:37 p.m.; 27: Playoffs TBA.; 28: Finals TBA; 30: Nevada-Las Vegas, 7 p.m.
