This is the sixth time the Hawaii Rainbows will conclude their regular season on the road since joining the Western Athletic Conference in 1979. ’Bows hit road
to finish seasonBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe last time it happened was in 1996 and the final stop was Fresno, Calif., just like this season. However, the Rainbows visit Reno first to play a three-game, conference series against the Nevada Wolf Pack.
The opener is tomorrow at 10 a.m. with UH's Chris George (6-4, 5.13 earned run average) going against the Wolf Pack's Mateo Miramontes (5-7, 4.81). In the series here the first week of April, George defeated Nevada 10-6 while Miramontes blanked the 'Bows 5-0 on five hits the next night.
UH coach Mike Trapasso moved freshman right-hander Ricky Bauer to the No. 2-starter spot and will not decide until Monday who starts the series finale.
"It could be Sean Yamashita, Aaron Pribble, Bryan Lee, Will Quaglieri or Jason Piepmeier. It probably depends on who we have to use in the first two games," said Trapasso.
The Wolf Pack (22-29 overall, 7-17 WAC) were swept by Fresno State last weekend, but rebounded to outslug No. 7 Stanford 13-12 Tuesday in a nonconference game.
The Rainbows (16-34, 5-19) lost two of three to Louisiana Tech last weekend and are still searching for their first conference series victory. It won't be easy at Peccole Park, where Nevada won all three games last year, or next weekend at Beiden Field, where Fresno State swept a year ago.
Hawaii's lineup is expected to stay the same with Derek Honma, Brent Cook and Tim Montgomery in the outfield from left to right, Gregg Omori, Lane Nogawa, Julian Russell and Danny Mocny in the infield from first to third and Brian Bock behind the plate.
The Rainbows are traveling with 24 players, one short of the WAC maximum for a road trip. With the spring semester over, only the local players will return to the islands after the FSU series.
Notes: UH leads the series with Nevada 7-6. ... The other times UH wrapped up the regular season on the road were 1993 at San Diego State, 1989 at Utah and SDSU, 1987 at Colorado State and Wyoming and 1986 at SDSU. ... Nevada infielder Mike Gilles was the WAC player of the Week after going 9-for-18, driving in seven runs and scoring five. San Jose State's Jahseam George was the WAC Pitcher of the Week following his 5-0 shutout of Rice. ... The Hawaii nominees were Honma and George. ... All six games will be broadcast on KCCN 1420-AM.
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