Friday, April 23, 1999
Nakano lives
dream with UH
The outfielder has fulfilled a goal
he set when he was 6 years old
and has become one of the
Rainbows' top hittersMurakami to Hall of Fame
By Al Chase
Star-BulletinTracy Nakano has never lacked for a measuring stick since that day his father, Tom Nakano, put a little baseball bat in his hands.
"I remember when I was 6 he asked me, 'What's your goal?' I said I want to play for the Rainbows," Tracy said.
Tom Nakano showed his son a pole behind the backstop at the district park in Moanalua and said the Rainbows were at the top.
"He said I was at the bottom. Every year he would show me where I was on the pole. I never thought I would actually be here," Tracy said.
"My dad kept trying to help me do better. He always kept me humble. He coached me from the time I was 6 or 7 until I was 14.
"Every day he would take me to the park and drill me. I'd swing about a thousand times, do quick toss drills and try to increase my bat speed. I learned a lot from him. He was a great supporter, and this year he and my mom (Dale) are on every road trip."
Nakano was an outfielder until half way through his sophomore season at Moanalua High School, when he moved to first base. He initially planned to attend Santa Clara because of its business school and walk-on with the Bronco baseball team.
But the Hawaii coaches called during the summer following graduation and invited Nakano to walk-on at Manoa. He stayed home although 5-foot-8, 160-pound first basemen aren't in great demand at the Division I level.
Nakano found himself in the crowded Rainbow outfield pool and unable to crack the lineup as a position player.
"We just had too many good outfielders defensively," Hawaii head coach Les Murakami said.
Yet, there was a role for Nakano.
He had a knack for getting on base. He hit consistently well against right-handers and drew walks with regularity. He became a designated hitter and led the 'Bows in on-base percentage (.519) a year ago. He learned how to cope with the tedium that sometimes comes with the role.
"You've got to try and keep yourself up when you're the DH," Nakano said. "You cheer on everyone else, walk around the dugout to stay loose, go to the bullpen, take some swings."
It was the same this season until Scooter Martines hurt his left shoulder making a diving catch in left field against Fresno State.
Nakano took over in left field and Martines became the DH when he returned to action.
"I feel pretty comfortable out there. It feels good because you're always in the game," Nakano said. "It's easier to hit because you're not sitting on the bench waiting, getting all cold.
"If you have a bad at-bat, you have to go out and you have to focus on defense. I guess that totally clears my mind, because in my next at bat, I come up not even remembering my last at bat. As the DH, you always remember."
"Tracy worked hard in the summer and fall with the weights. He got stronger and gained confidence. When he got the chance, he's played well," Murakami said.
A senior who will graduate with a degree in accounting this summer, Nakano is putting up the best numbers of his career. He's hitting .316 overall, but leads the Rainbows in Western Athletic Conference play with a .361 average and is second with 21 RBIs.
He is third in on-base percentage (.479) overall, first (.557) in conference games.
BASEBALL PLAYBOOK
Rice Owls
Coaches: Rice, Wayne Graham (8th season, 281-140). UH, Les Murakami (29th season, 1,042-536-4).
WAC
Conference Overall Team W L Pct. GB W L Pct. Rice 18 3 .857 -- 40 8 .833 Texas Christian 17 3 .850 1/2 26 17 .605 UNLV 10 8 .556 6-1/2 21 25 .457 San Diego St. 9 9 .500 7-1/2 22 23 .489 Hawaii 8 10 .444 8-1/2 28 14 .667 San Jose St. 8 10 .444 8-1/2 18 22 .451 New Mexico 9 12 .429 9 22 23 .489 Fresno St. 7 11 .389 9-1/2 25 25 .500 Utah 6 10 .375 9-1/2 18 19 .486 Brigham Young 7 13 .350 10-1/2 19 25 .432 Air Force 3 13 .188 12-1/2 17 25 .405New Mexico & San Jose St. played one tie game.Today's games
Rice at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Air Force at New Mexico
Brigham Young at Oklahoma State
Fresno State at San Diego State
Texas Christian at Nevada-Las Vegas
Utah at San Jose StateTomorrow's games
Rice at Hawaii, 1 p.m.
Air Force at New Mexico
Brigham Young vs. Western Illinois
Brigham Young at Oklahoma State
Utah at San Jose State
Fresno State at San Diego State
Texas Christian at Nevada-Las VegasSunday's games
Rice at Hawaii, 12:30 p.m.
Air Force at New Mexico
Fresno State at San Diego State
Texas Christian at Nevada-Las Vegas
Utah at San Jose State
