Wednesday, April 18, 2001
Hard work Patrick Scalabrini returned to his home in Waterville, Quebec, last summer knowing his junior season with the University of Hawaii was not up to his standards.
pays off for
UH’s Scalabrini
The Rainbows senior third
By Al Chase
baseman made the right
adjustments after a mediocre year
Star-BulletinThere was the matter of where to play the 6-foot-1, 200 pounder. The UH coaches tried him at shortstop, first base and even one game in left field before letting Scalabrini in at third base, the position he was most accustomed to playing.
He also arrived in Manoa with the reputation as a power hitter after his sophomore season at Seminole State, where he hit .406 with 22 doubles, 25 home runs and 93 runs batted in.
With the advent of "Baby Blue" still a year off, the "Big Blue" fence at Rainbow Stadium resulted in a power shortage for Scalabrini. The numbers -- eight doubles, one triple and one home run hit on the road -- provide the evidence.
"I was really disappointed about the way I played, especially my mental approach," Scalabrini said. "I just went home thinking that I would have to work real hard and come back with a different mental approach, plus try to do everything that would make me more ready. After playing a full season I knew what was lacking and what I needed to do to have a good season."
Scalabrini ran sprints and worked on the weights during the summer. He played in a summer league he described as very laid back, a chance to enjoy some hardball without any pressure once or twice a week.
This past fall the weight training continued. By the start of the 2001 season, he had added 20 pounds of muscle and gained speed on the basepaths.
Scalabrini would like to get up to 210, especially since he wants to continue playing at a higher level after his UH career ends next month.
Another change was his approach to the game.
"I quit worrying about what everyone was saying," the senior third baseman said. "I'm just going out there and doing my own thing.
"I've worked hard to do what I have to do to help the team and I want to enjoy this season. I'm playing every day like it's my last day. There are good guys on this team who get along well. I'm happy to come to the ballpark. I enjoy it."
Scalabrini is hitting .333 entering the Rice series. In the Verizon Rainbow Easter Tournament, he hit .462. He is riding an 11-game hitting streak during which he is 17-for-41 (.415) with nine runs batted in and 13 runs scored.
"I'm just letting things happen. I see the ball and just try to hit it hard," Scalabrini said.
Besides having a productive season at the plate, Scalabrini has played solid, sometimes spectacular defense at third base. His throws to first base have been accurate whether across his body on the run after fielding a bunt or from deep behind the bag after spearing a hot shot.
"I know I'll be there every day and I don't feel I have anything to prove," he said. "Besides, everything happens so fast, I just react and do my stuff."
UH acting head coach Carl Furutani thinks Scalabrini needed a year to get acclimated, coming from Canada to Oklahoma to Hawaii.
"It took him time, but I thought he made the adjustment by the last third of last season," Furutani said. "We knew what he was capable of doing and now it's just a matter of reassuring him."
When: 2 p.m. tomorrow, 2 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday RAINBOW BASEBALL
Where: Houston, Texas
TV: None
Radio: Live, KCCN, 1420-AM
Internet: www.uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Sportslive/listen.html
Probable starting pitchers
Hawaii (18-22, 8-16 WAC)
W-L ERA K RHP Jeff Coleman (Jr.) 4-5 3.90 63 RHP Sean Yamashita (Jr.) 2-6 5.03 50 RHP Chad Giannetti (So.) 2-4 5.51 23 Rice (34-10, 20-4 WAC)
W-L ERA K RHP Kenny Baugh (Sr.) 8-2 1.71 97 RHP Jon Skaggs (Sr.) 8-0 2.44 69 LHP Jonathan Gonzalez (So.) 5-1 3.17 45 Notes: The Rainbows and Owls have played 15 times, with Rice holding a 12-3 edge. ... Earlier this year at Rainbow Stadium, Rice beat UH, 10-4 and 13-2, before the Rainbows won the final game of the series, 4-3. ... The Owls played nonconference games at Lamar yesterday and at Houston today. ... The Owls' 2.64 team earned run average leads the WAC.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu