RAINBOW BASEBALL PLAYBOOK
vs. Florida Gators
Coaches: Florida, Andy Lopez, 18th season (608-368-5, .620). Hawaii, Les Murakami, 30th season (1,051-542-4, .659).
Season: Season-opener for both teams
Series record: It is the first baseball series between Florida and Hawaii.
Probable stating pitchers: Florida, left-hander Jimmy Ramshaw (10-0, 2.97 ERA, junior college, 1999), left-hander Craig Mosher (6-2, 3.82, JC a year ago), right-hander Alex Hart (3-4, 8.16) ... Hawaii, left-hander Randon Ho (6-3, 2.57), right-hander Rich Snider (6-6, 4.24), third-game starter TBA
Top position players: Florida, shortstop Tim Olson (.460, 17 HR, 73 RBIs), second baseman Kevin Estrada (.404, 49 RBIs), designated hitter Kurt Keene (.300, 7 HR, 37 RBIs) ... Hawaii, first baseman Jamie Aloy (.358, 39 RBIs), left fielder Scooter Martines (.355, 46 RBIs), catcher Kenn Wakakuwa (.294, 36 RBIs).
Interesting facts: Florida is picked to win the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference. Coach Andy Lopez is one win away from his 200th win at Florida. He is 199-108 in five seasons with the Gators. Florida assistant coach Mark Wasikowski played his freshman season for the Rainbows at third base before transferring to Pepperdine where he was a member of the 1992 National Championship team ... Hawaii is 19-6 in season openers at Rainbow Stadium.
Series keys: Both teams are opening the season and its an opportunity for the coaches to evaluate all players, especially the newcomers.
First pitch: All three games, 6:35 p.m., Rainbow Stadium.
On the air: Tomorrow, live on KCCN (1420 AM) and KFVE (Channel 5), Friday, live on KCCN (1420 AM), Saturday, live on KFVE (Channel 5) and KCCN (1420 AM).
RealAudio: Click here
Tickets: $6 orange and blue sections, $5 red section. $4 senior citizens (65 and over), students 4-18 and UH students with valid ID. Available at the Stan Sheriff Center, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and by telephone, 944-2697 ($1 fee assessed per ticket). Telephone order available until noon on game days. Only Mastercard and Visa accepted. The Rainbow Stadium box office opens one hour prior to all games. $3 parking charge.
By Al Chase, Star-Bulletin
On deck this season
Tomorrow: Florida, 6:35 p.m. Friday: Florida, 6:35 p.m. Saturday: Florida, 6:35 p.m.
Jan. 27: San Diego, 6:35 p.m. 28: San Diego, 6:35 p.m. 29: San Diego, 3:05 p.m.
Feb. 3: UCLA, 6:35 p.m. 4: UCLA, 6:35 p.m. 5: UCLA, 3:05 p.m.
Feb. 11: San Francisco, 6:35 p.m. 12: San Francisco, 6:35 p.m. 13: San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.
Feb. 18: Santa Clara, 6:35 p.m. 19: Santa Clara, 3:05 p.m. 20: Santa Clara, 3:05 p.m.
Feb. 25: Cal State Sacramento, 6:35 p.m. 26: Cal State Sacramento, 6:35 p.m. 27: Cal State Sacramento, 3:05 p.m.
March 4: Rice, 12:05 p.m. 5: Rice, 3:05 p.m. 6: Rice, 6:35 p.m.
March 10: Texas Christian, 6:35 p.m. 11: Texas Christian, 6:35 p.m. 12: Texas Christian, 3:05 p.m.
March 15: at Cal State Sacramento at Stockton, Calif., noon.
March 17: at Fresno State, 5 p.m. 18: at Fresno State, 5 p.m. 19: at Fresno State, 11 a.m.
March 24: San Jose State, 6:35 p.m. 25: San Jose State, 3:05 p.m. 26: San Jose State, 3:05 p.m.
Rainbow Easter Tournament
March 27: Winthrop vs. Pepperdine, 2:30 p.m.; Lewis-Clark State vs. Hawaii, 6:37 p.m.
March 28: Pepperdine vs. Lewis-Clark State, 2:30 p.m.; Winthrop vs. Hawaii, 6:37 p.m.
March 29: Lewis-Clark State vs. Winthrop, 2:30 p.m.; Pepperdine vs. Hawaii, 6:37 p.m.
March 30: Winthrop vs. Pepperdine, 2:30 p.m.; Lewis-Clark State vs. Hawaii, 6:37 p.m.
March 31: Pepperdine vs. Lewis-Clark State, 2:30 p.m.; Winthrop vs. Hawaii, 6:37 p.m.
April 1: Lewis-Clark State vs. Winthrop, 2:30 p.m.; Pepperdine vs. Hawaii, 6:37 p.m.
April 2: Third place, 4th seed vs. 3rd seed, 11 a.m.; Championship, 2nd seed vs. 1st seed, 3:07 p.m.
Note: 'Bows play at 3:07 p.m. no matter where they are seeded.
April 7: at San Jose State, 4 p.m. 8: at San Jose State, 10 a.m. 9: at San Jose State, 10 a.m.
April 15: Fresno State, 12:05 p.m. 16: Fresno State, 3:05 p.m. 17: Fresno State, 6:35 p.m.
April 22: at Rice, 9 a.m. 23: at Rice, 9 a.m. 24: at Rice, 3 p.m.
April 27: at Texas Christian, 10:35 a.m. 28: at Texas Christian, 10:35 a.m. 29: at Texas Christian, 9:05 a.m.
May 5: at Hawaii-Hilo, 6 p.m. (Wong Stadium). 6: at Hawaii-Hilo, 6 p.m. (Wong Stadium). 7: at Hawaii-Hilo, 1 p.m. (Simmons Field, Kona).
May 12: Hawaii-Hilo, 6:35 p.m. 13: Hawaii-Hilo, 6:35 p.m. 14: Hawaii-Hilo, 6:35 p.m.
May 28-30: NCAA Regionals.
June 4-5: NCAA Super Regionals.
June 11-19: College World Series.
Home games at Rainbow Stadium. All times HST.
