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SMALL COLLEGE NOTEBOOK

Rugged homestand
for HPU

After having a month with only a few exhibition games on the schedule, the Hawaii Pacific University baseball team followed it with a grueling homestand, playing nine games in seven days.

The independent Sea Warriors (12-10) went 5-4, summing up what the season has been so far: winning some and losing some.

While the offense has for the most part lived up to expectations, the Sea Warriors' pitching has been suspect. HPU has had little problem putting runs on the scoreboard but the problem has been in giving up runs, particularly in close games.

"Yes, my biggest concern is pitching with this team," said HPU coach Alan Sato. "The problem is that our entire pitching staff is not buckling down and focusing with two outs, allowing our opponents to manufacture runs."

After a 32-12 campaign last year, the Sea Warriors were looking forward to a strong team and season this year, despite losing several key players to graduation. Unfortunately for the Sea Warriors, things haven't gone as planned.

The pitching did improve over the past three games of this latest homestand, as the Sea Warriors staff surrendered a combined five runs in three games. After losing, 1-0, to Willamette, HPU's bats awoke for 18 and 11 runs in respective wins over Occidental and Claremont-Mudd this week.

"To be a contender, a playoff team, you need to play consistently good baseball in all phases of the game," Sato said.

While it will be very tough for the Sea Warriors to make the playoffs this season, Sato is still proud of this year's team and is optimistic about next year, losing just three players to graduation.

"This team never throws in the towel when the chips are down," Sato said. "These guys have bonded, and they are a bunch of scrappers with good character. It's tough to be a playoff team with a bunch of first-year guys like we have this year. Next year, we should be a much-improved team as most of these players will be returning for their second year."

The Sea Warriors are off the next two weeks before returning to the Hans L'Orange Park diamond March 26 against Lewis-Clark State.

Estrella close to 400

Hawaii-Hilo baseball coach Joey Estrella needs only six more victories to reach the 400-win mark for his career.

Estrella has served for 24 years as the only coach the Vulcans have ever known. His career record is 494-516-3. The Vulcans' next opportunity to bring Estrella closer to the milestone comes against Texas Christian.

The Vulcans open a three-game WAC series with the Horned Frogs tonight at 6 at Francis Wong Stadium in Hilo. UHH (11-17, 2-7) faces TCU (7-17, 2-4) again tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Wong Stadium, before concluding the series on Saturday with a noon game at Simmons Field in Kailua-Kona.

Seasiders still No. 1

Could it be that arguably the best sports team in the state will continue to go practically unnoticed locally as it goes about its business at the BYUH campus in Laie?

Nationally, the Seasiders have no recognition problem. The Seasiders women's tennis team continues to put up staggering numbers in its quest for a fourth straight national championship. BYUH is ranked No.1 in NCAA Division II, and the No. 17-ranked team overall. The Seasiders dominated several Division I opponents, including 9-0 drubbings of both Bethune Cookman and New Mexico State earlier this year.

The Seasiders (11-0) have an unbeaten streak of 47 matches in dual matches. Since the 1994-95 season, BYUH has compiled a record of 156-6 in dual matches.

The Seasiders look to extend their streak against Bryant College today at 6 p.m. at the BYUH courts.

Sea Warriors back on track

After losing three straight conference games in a row last week, the seventh-ranked HPU softball team resumed its winning ways. The Sea Warriors swept a conference doubleheader against UH Hilo on Sunday.

The Sea Warriors (16-7, 8-3) then shut out Texas Women's University in both games of their doubleheader on Tuesday, 4-0 and 2-0. The visiting Pioneers came into the series ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II South Central Region.

Hawaii Pacific
BYU-Hawaii
Chaminade
U.H. Hilo

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By Brandon Lee, Special to the Star-Bulletin