Star-Bulletin Sports


Tuesday, February 9, 1999


R A I N B O W _ B A S E B A L L



UH


Pollsters notice
baseball ’Bows

The baseball team's quick start
lands it a spot in national
rankings at No. 23

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Tapa

The Hawaii Rainbows' early showing has brought national recognition to the program.

The 'Bows (8-1) are ranked No. 23 in the first regular-season Collegiate Baseball poll, released yesterday.

Hawaii was not ranked in Baseball America's first poll of the season.

"It's kind of too early to be getting really excited about the rankings," Rainbow head coach Les Murakami said. 'The only think you've got to be happy about when you're ranked is that it's because you're winning. For the kids it's very good. It gives them a sense of pride, some bragging rights and they know they've done well so far. I'm happy for them."

Wichita State (0-0) is No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and Rice (6-1), picked to win the Western Athletic Conference, is No. 3.

The Shockers start a 10-game trip in the islands with consecutive doubleheaders against the Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Kailua-Kona.

On Feb. 19, Wichita State starts a three-game series against the Rainbows at 6:35 p.m. That afternoon, Hawaii Pacific plays WSU at Rainbow Stadium at 3 p.m.

Hawaii hosts the 0-4 Gaels of St.Mary's (Calif.) this weekend.

The ranking won't have any direct meaning for the NCAA selection committee should the 'Bows need an at-large regional berth to enter the NCAA regionals.

"Your power rating is most important, and they look at what you've got, whether you've got injuries and how you're doing at the end," Murakami said. "Last year we started 16-3 and were ranked 13th or 14th and then we started getting people hurt. But this year we're getting people back, so I think we're going to get better."



Collegiate Baseball Poll

			Record	Pts	Pvs
 1. Wichita State	0-0-0	482	1
 2. Florida State	6-0-0	479	9
 3. Rice		6-1-0	478	4
 4. Long Beach State	2-1-0	474	5
 5. Auburn		6-0-0	470	12
 6. Florida		2-0-0	468	14
 7. Louisiana State	0-0-0	466	7
 8. Miami		3-2-0	465	6
 9. Southern California	1-3-0	461	3
10. Alabama		0-0-0	460	10
11. Georgia Tech	2-4-0	457	2
12. Stanford		3-3-0	455	8
13. Texas Tech		4-0-0	453	13
14. Cal St.-Fullerton	1-2-0	451	11
15. Texas A&M		3-0-0	448	17
16. South Carolina	2-0-0	445	15
17. Texas		5-0-0	442	--
18. UCLA		4-5-0	440	16
19. Arkansas		1-0-0	435	18
20. Oklahoma State	1-0-0	434	19
21. Arizona		9-0-0	430	--
22. Clemson		0-0-0	428	20
23. Hawaii		8-1-0	425	--
24. Washington		0-0-0	419	24
25. Baylor		1-2-0	417	22


Baseball America Poll

			Record	Pvs
 1. Florida State	6-0	4
 2. Rice		6-1	6
 3. Long Beach State	2-1	2
 4. Southern California	1-3	1
 5. Wichita State	0-0	5
 6. Florida		2-0	10
 7. Miami		3-2	3
 8. Louisiana State	0-0	8
 9. Texas A&M		3-0	11
10. Stanford		3-3	7
11. Auburn		6-0	18
12. Arizona State	11-3	12
13. Alabama		0-0	13
14. Clemson		0-0	14
15. North Carolina	0-0	16
16. Georgia Tech	2-4	9
17. Cal State Fullerton	1-2	15
18. Wake Forest		0-0	17
19. Texas Tech		4-0	19
20. Texas		5-0	--
21. Washington		0-0	20
22. Oklahoma State	1-0	21
23. Arkansas		1-0	22
24. Houston		1-0	24
25. South Carolina	2-0	25


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