End of the road The seniors on the Hawaii baseball team will focus on winning games these next three nights, but come the final out Saturday night, they will have played their final game at Murakami Stadium as Rainbows.
this week for UH seniors
This weekend's homestand
Gameday
is the last for 10 RainbowsBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comMost of them profess to not think about that moment, but they know it is coming. They have expressed various emotions about their time in the program and will experience more Saturday night.
Ian Jones, Derek Honma, Sean Yamashita and Aaron Pribble spent their entire collegiate careers at UH.
Lane Nogawa, Ryan Yamamoto, Gregg Omori and Scooter Martines decided to get a taste of the mainland out of high school, but returned to end their careers here.
Matt Le Ducq and Jean-Paul Gauthier had choices after two seasons of junior college ball and chose Hawaii.
"For the most part, when you've got kids who have gone through four and, in some cases five, years with a program there is a bond with your teammates, the university and the community," said Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso.
"This is such a likable crew, a good bunch of guys, fun to be around. I've only been with them for nine months, but it's been pretty much every day. You are happy for them, because it's a new chapter in their lives.
"It's also tough to see players finish their careers because you won't be spending time with them any more."
The seniors say it in different ways, but none of them have any regrets about their time in Manoa.
>> No. 2 Lane Nogawa returned after a year at Creighton, played several positions for three seasons, then won the starting second baseman's job this year.
"My time here has been a good learning experience. It kind of helped me grow. It made me tougher. I learned how to work harder at everything and it made me realize if you don't have fun, there is no sense in playing," said Nogawa. "You have to wake up wanting to play baseball."
He is majoring in accounting, but may switch to sociology. He'll graduate this fall or, if he changes his major, next spring.
"I'll either go back for my master's or try to become a cop or something. When the time comes, I'll decide," he said.
>> No. 5 Sean Yamamoto transferred home from San Francisco, but a partially torn labrum limited the left-hander's time on the mound.
"I ran into a few arm problems when I came back and that set me back. It's been a good experience playing with the team. They are a great bunch of guys and I love hanging out with them on and off the field," said Yamamoto.
A history major, he will graduate this summer and wants to get into the business field.
>> No. 21 Ian Jones also was bothered by arm trouble and finally had ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery done on his right arm. He graduated last December with a degree in communications. Unable to pitch this year, Jones returned home to Henderson, Nev., where he is concentrating on rehabilitating his arm. If that process is successful, he plans to hit the tryout camp trail to see if someone will give him a shot at pitching at the next level.
"For me, playing in Hawaii was the type of story college athletes only dream of," Jones said. "I have local roots. My parents met here and got married here. I got to meet plenty of my Japanese and Filipino relatives, whom I'd never really remembered, yet many of the older ones knew me from before when I was a chubby boy.
"I got to come more in touch with my Asian roots, something I probably never would have done on the mainland. My parents wanted to make sure that I had a chance to experience the type of life so many kids my age do not get to do on the mainland. It's meant everything."
>> No. 22 Derek Honma probably holds the record of most injuries suffered during a career. It's a long list and there has been at least one each season following his year as a redshirt freshman.
"I was actually healthy that whole year. As I got older the injuries got worse," said Honma.
Despite the injuries, which have kept him out of more than half of UH's games, Honma says playing Division I baseball fulfilled a dream he carried through high school.
"Coach Les (Murakami) made it happen. I figured the least I could do was come out here every day and work hard," said the Rainbow outfielder. "Every day you want to go home so tired you just want to sleep knowing you left everything on the field."
He will graduate this fall with a degree in management information systems, has a lot of ideas that he would like to pursue and hopes to intern with a company this fall.
>> No. 24 Sean Yamashita has pitched as a starter, middle reliever and closer. He prefers starting and being the focus of the game until the ball is passed on to the next guy.
"I can say I've actually done it all," said Yamashita. "It seemed like it took awhile, like you've been playing forever, but when you get to this point and look back, it really kind of caught up to you kind of quick. This year has gone by fast.
"For four years I've been able to put on a Rainbow uniform and play, make my parents proud, get a college education and graduate and make so many new friends along the way. That's my highlight."
A sociology major, Yamashita is thinking about working in the law enforcement field.
"I don't want to sit behind a desk and do the same thing over and over again," he said.
>> No. 28 Gregg Omori came back after two seasons at San Francisco. If there is an opportunity to play professional ball, he will take it. That won't stop him from graduating in December with a degree in sociology.
"I have three classes left," the UH first baseman said. "It has been fun, a blast, playing at home in front of my parents and family. It's too bad it has to come to an end," said Omori.
>> No. 34 Jean-Paul Gauthier certainly hasn't pitched as much as he expected after transferring from Saddleback Junior College, but that hasn't soured his feelings.
"I've been blessed to have the opportunity to come here. It's been a lot of fun. It's a great atmosphere with great crowds," Gauthier said.
He will complete his degree requirements at Long Beach State, then go on to dental school at Southern Cal and eventually join his father in the profession.
>> No. 36 Matt Le Ducq, who transferred from Santa Rosa Junior College, went from a forgettable season as a junior to being one of the most consistent Rainbow pitchers this season.
"Hawaii, it's an amazing place to go to school and a place I'll never forget," said the left-handed reliever.
"Without a shadow of doubt, this is the best group of human beings I've ever played with. There isn't one guy on this team that's a jerk, not one guy who is rocking everybody's boat. It's a great group of guys.
"I think the school made a really good decision with this coaching staff."
He will graduate at the end of the summer session with a degree in geography and plans to work in the construction industry at the management level.
>> No. 40 Aaron Pribble has been a starting pitcher, a reliever, a pinch hitter, a designated hitter and even played a little first base. He won't make the top 10 list in the record book, but the left-hander has a .348 batting average in 46 at-bats.
"Looking back, this place is what I expected. I love it out here and what makes it special is the people. What I'll take with me is the bonds I've established," Pribble said.
"I would have liked to make postseason, that's what everyone aspires to, but I'm still thankful for the opportunity."
He graduates this semester with a degree in political science and a minor in Spanish.
"When baseball is over, I'm thinking about going back to school for an advanced degree, but I'm not ready to hang up the spikes just yet. I'd like to keep playing if at all possible."
>> No. 44 Scooter Martines spent a year at Texas Tech before joining the UH program. He has overcome an injured left shoulder that required surgery and cost him a season, but split time this year between left field and designated hitter.
"Regardless of the outcome this year, there is nothing like coming home and playing in front of my family. Growing up as a kid, I always dreamed about playing here," said Martines. "It's been a good ride so far. We've got a few games left and I'm looking forward to it."
He will graduate in another year with a degree in sociology.
BACK TO TOP |
When: Today, Friday and Saturday, 6:35 p.m. Gameday
Where: Murakami Stadium
TV: Live, KFVE-TV (Channel 5)
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Internet: kccn1420am.com
Tickets: $6 Orange, Blue levels. $5 Red level. $4 Seniors, children age 4-18, UH students in the Red level.
Parking: $3
HAWAII (15-32, 4-17 WAC) Probable starting pitchers
W-L ERA K RHP Chris George (Jr.) 5-4 5.57 76 RHP Sean Yamashita (Sr.) 2-7 5.06 46 RHP Ricky Bauer (Fr.) 1-6 5.22 44 LOUISIANA TECH (19-30, 5-19 WAC)
W-L ERA K RHP Lee Gwaltney (Sr.) 3-10 3.65 99 RHP Casey Blalock (Jr.) 7-7 3.78 98 LHP Adam Kirkendall (Jr.) 5-3 4.43 41 Notes: The Rainbows and Bulldogs have played four games, with each team winning two. ... The only WAC team Louisiana Tech had played prior to joining the conference this season was UH. The 'Bows edged the Bulldogs 2-1 in the 1980 Central Regional in Austin, Texas. ... Left-hander Matt Le Ducq has held opposing hitters to a .250 batting average, best on the UH staff. ... Lane Nogawa, the only Rainbow to appear in all 47 games, leads the team with five sacrifice bunts while Gregg Omori has the most sacrifice flies (4). ... Ten Rainbow seniors will be honored after Saturday's game.
Vulcan Athletics
