Tuesday, February 2, 1999

Rainbows’
Dartt out with
leg injury

UH second baseman
has stress fractures
on both legs

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Michael Dartt will be lost to the Hawaii Rainbow baseball team for an indefinite period after bone scans showed stress fractures in both shins.

"The right leg is the worst. In fact, the left leg has never bothered me," Dartt said yesterday. "The right leg started to bother me three or four days before the UCLA series, but I thought maybe it was shinsplints."

He played that series and the first game of the California series. But, in that game, UH assistant coach Carl Furutani noticed Dartt wasn't running the way he normally does and asked the second baseman if he was all right.

As a precaution, Dartt sat out the final two games against Cal while waiting the bone scan results.

He will have an MRI done and has been told by UH team physician Dr. Andrew Nichols a more complete assessment can be made when those results are known.

"Dr. Nichols told me normally you would take 12 weeks totally off, but this is my last year and it's baseball season," Dartt said.

"Right now, I'm just trying to keep a proper perspective ... I have stress fractures and can't change that. Our team is so good right now, so I just want to be positive around the guys."

The 5-foot-7, 146-pound senior from Lilburn, Ga., moved to second base this year when the Rainbows obtained Corey Miller to play shortstop. Both had contributed to a defensively solid infield.

"It's hurts us because it stymies our offense," UH head coach Les Murakami said. "He knows the game, has started for two years and has experience. I thought this would be his year ... still can be."

Dartt was hitting .200 but had an on-base percentage of .500 in four games and was perfect in five stolen-base attempts.

Redshirt freshman Wade Taguchi played second in the last two California games and is expected to start in the opener of the Cal State Sacramento series Thursday. Kenn Wakakuwa also can play second and Murakami expects to give Taguchi a rest, probably in one game this weekend.

Two other players who can play second base, Rory Pico and Shane Chan, are out with injuries. Pico, who had knee surgery last fall, has been cleared for light practice and may be available in another week or two. Chan has tendinitis in his right arm and it isn't known when he will be ready.