RAINBOW BASEBALL PLAYBOOK
@ Fresno State bulldogs
First pitch -- Tomorrow at 5 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. and Monday at 5 p.m.; Pete Beiden Field, Fresno, Calif.
Coaches -- Hawaii: Carl Furutani, first season (7-5, .000); Fresno State: Bob Bennett, 33rd season (1,236-712-4, .634).
Season -- Hawaii: 7-5 overall, 2-1 Western Athletic Conference; Fresno State: 7-5 overall, 2-1 WAC.
Series -- Fresno State leads, 37-28 overall and 15-7 in Fresno. Last meeting -- The teams split six games in 2000, with the Rainbows winning two of three in Fresno and the Bulldogs taking two of three at Rainbow Stadium.
Probable starting pitchers -- Hawaii: Right-hander Jeff Coleman (Jr., 1-1, 3.09 earned run average); right-hander Sean Yamashita (Jr., 0-1, 6.23), right-hander Chad Giannetti (So., 1-1, 4.76). Fresno State: Right-hander Zach Minor (Jr., 1-1, 2.78); right-hander Francisco Nieves (Fr., 3-0, 3:70); right-hander Bob Runyon (Jr., 0-0, 4.81).
Top position players -- Hawaii: Left-fielder Chad Boudon (Fr., .394, 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 11 runs batted in); third baseman Patrick Scalabrini (Sr., .360, 5 2b, 1 HR, 8 RBIs); right-fielder Tim Montgomery (Fr., .318); second-baseman Gregg Omori (Jr., .306, 6 2b, 8 RBIs). Fresno State: Shortstop Josh Labandeira (Sr., .412, 5 2b, 2 HR, 12 RBIs); second-baseman Tom Creighton (Jr., .400); right-fielder Simon Tafoya (Sr., .324); infielder Casey McGehee (Fr., .305).
Keys -- Neither team has played since last weekend. The Rainbows may be anxious, having twice been rained out against Cal State Sacramento. UH acting head coach Carl Furutani says the Rainbows need to concentrate for the full nine innings on all three aspects of the game -- pitching, hitting and defense. The stadium at Fresno is maintained extremely well. ... Both teams won two of three in their first WAC series, so this three-game set is a good chance for one to make a statement in terms of being a title contender.
Also of note -- Pete Beiden Field is also home of the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League. The dimensions are 300 feet down the lines, 370 feet to the power alleys and 400 feet to center. ... The Rainbows are hitting .276 as a team, the Bulldogs .291. ... Fresno State has attempted just 10 stolen bases in 12 games, while Hawaii has attempted 43. ... Chad Boudon and Danny Kimura are tied for first in the WAC with 10 walks.
On the air -- Tomorrow and Monday live on KCCN (1420 AM); Sunday's game will be joined in progress following the conclusion of the Wahine basketball game.
RealAudio: 'Net broadcast Click Here
Al Chase, Star-Bulletin
