Rainbow Playbook

Easter Tournament

Here is a brief look at the four teams joining WAC rivals Hawaii and Fresno State in the week-long tournament at Rainbow Stadium.

Hawaii-Hilo (5-21): The Vulcans have been idle for three weeks after a brutal early season schedule that included three PAC-10 teams, San Diego State and Wichita State. Infielders Scott Wallis (.275) and Paul Yap (.270), outfielder Shaye Miura (.259) and catcher Dana McCracken (.256) are the top hitters. UHH is hitting .208 as a team and has been outscored, 187-73 ... "I told the guys that not only are we playing a Division I schedule, but the schedule we played is a little tough," said UHH head coach Joey Estrella. "Some of our JC transfers were wondering why they weren't hitting better. I think we'll be OK." ... This is the Vulcans 10th Rainbow Easter Tournament. They are 22-42 overall with their best finish being second in 1984.

Hawaii Pacific (25-6): The Sea Warriors take a school-record, 15-game winning streak into a nontourney game with Northwestern tonight at 7 at Hans L'Orange Park. Lee Anzai (.424), Gabe Gerhardt (.418), Daric Stith (.379), Matt Roman (.350) and Travis Clutter (.349) lead the HPU offense. The Sea Warriors are hitting .350 and have outscored opponents, 314-144 ... Keola McCallum (6-1, 2.04) and Eric Bentley (6-1, 2.32) and Jamie Surdock (4-1, 1.80) are the top starting pitchers ... "It will be important for us to be up mentally after the past two weeks," HPU head coach Allan Sato said.

Northwestern (4-7): The Wildcats have been off for two weeks and play HPU tonight at 7 at Hans L'Orange Park. Shortstop Jeremy Kurella is off to a fast start hitting .447 and leads NW with 21 hits. Catcher Joe Hietpas and outfielder Robert Dainton have 10 RBIs each and are batting .383 and .349, respectively ... Left-hander Dan Padgett (2-1, 3.21) and right-hander J.J. Standring (2-0, 5.16) have accounted for the Wildcats' wins with Padgett's coming in relief. Other starts are right-handers Phil Rosengren (0-2, 4.79), Gabe Ribas (0-2, 10.95) and Zach Schara (0-1, 11.25).

Nittaidai (0-0): Nittaidai won the fall Shuto Universities Conference championship with a 10-3-1 record after going 8-7-2 in nonconference games. Shortstop Yoshiaki Takemura led Nittaidai with a .386 batting average and was named league MVP. First baseman Issei Higashikawa, who is moving to third, and Takemura have played here the past two summers in the Island Movers tournament ... The pitching staff compiled a 1.61 ERA in the fall led by Tokumichi Munemasa (4-1) and Mitsuru Sato (3-0).

First pitch: Games at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:37 p.m. daily, Monday through next Saturday. Finals March 28: Fifth place, 9 a.m.; Third place, noon; Championship, 3 p.m.

On the air: All UH games live on KCCN radio (1420 AM); UH games Monday through Thursday and Sunday, live on KHNL TV (Channel 5).