The Hawaii baseball team plays the alumni tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Murakami Stadium, the first action for a revamped team that has 20 new players and 13 returnees. ’Bows bigger, stronger
Position by position
than last year
ScheduleBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.com
The 'Bows are bigger -- 19 of the players are 6-feet or taller -- and stronger and have a Division I player at every position, according to head coach Mike Trapasso.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaii baseball coach Mike Trapasso has 20 new players in his second season leading the team.
"From pure baseball tools and talent, we've improved at every position. Even the returning players are improved. I'm really pleased with what Keith Komeiji has done with our catchers, what Brian Green has done with our position players and having the returning pitchers with Chad Konishi for a second fall, you will see the improvement," said Trapasso.
Hawaii has not played anyone yet. With so many new players the big question mark is who will step up when the 56-game season begins against UCLA next week.
The coach said the team is dramatically improved physically, has better speed and runs better, but is not a speed team.
"Our focus is to be an execution base team. The players have bought into the fact you have to be a team player and execute. We will be more patient at the plate, work counts better and be more selective in pitches we go after.
"The main thing people will see is we think we have taken a huge step in the right direction. It's just one recruiting class, but we're excited."
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A position-by-position look at the 2003 Rainbows with comments by Mike Trapasso: Who's where
Catcher
Senior Brian Bock will start and be backed up by three freshmen -- Steve Bell-Irving, Drew Jackson and Matthew Inouye."Brian brings experience and is an above average receiver, very solid defensively. He has work to do at the plate. Steve has made the most improvement, is a tireless worker and is hitting well. Drew has the most potential, can develop into a true power hitter, but has mechanical issues with his swing right now. Matt has tremendous tools as an athlete, the best arm of all four, but needs to settle down a bit."
One thing Trapasso promised was Bock would get more breaks this season so he doesn't fatigue.
First base
Junior college transfers Nick Ponomarenko and Andrew Sansaver, right-handed and left-handed hitters, respectively, will share the spot. Ponomarenko also will see duty as a relief pitcher."We have a very good situation there. Nick has established himself as a person who can hit in the middle of the lineup or even the two hole. Andrew is the hardest worker and toughest kid on our team. This will get him into a lot of games and he is very good defensively."
Second base
Shafer Magana, a returning junior, and freshman left-handed hitter Isaac Omura present options for the coaching staff."Isaac is a rising star in college baseball. He plays tremendous defense and does a good job offensively. A lot will depend on how he hits left-handed pitching. Shafer has been the hottest player this spring. He is stronger than last year and hits to all fields."
Third base
Brent Cook, a senior, co-captain and the Rainbows top returning hitter, will start. He will be spelled by two freshmen -- Rocky Russo and Tyler Wightman."Brent will be in the lineup every day hitting in the three hole. He is probably our best hitter, our toughest out and may play some left field and second base, if needed. Rocky can hit to all fields and has power, will probably be our right-handed DH if not in the field. Tyler has some work to do but has a tremendous work ethic."
Shortstop
Brian Finegan, a JC transfer, will start, with Magana and returnee Julian Russell available."Brian is very good defensively, pound for pound he may be the strongest on the team. He has wiry strength, runs and throws well. Shafer has turned himself into the X factor because he can play all three infield positions."
Left field
Cook may be there early in the season, as Jaziel Mendoza is recovering from a deep cut to his left calf muscle suffered when he lost his balance and stepped through a glass coffee table during the holiday break."Mendoza, a left-handed hitter, will be out there when he is healthy. The plan was to platoon him with Nate Jackson. Nate brings maturity to the team and will figure in once he gets his physical conditioning back. He was down to 145 pounds, put some back on, but still needs to put on another 15 pounds."
Center field
Tim Montgomery, a junior who worked hard on his offense during the summer in the Alaska League, moves from right to center and will be backed up by senior Art Guillen."Fall conditioning really helped Tim. He has tremendous instincts and is the best in our conference at tracking balls. He is still a work in progress offensively but is much better at not chasing breaking balls."
Right field
JC All-American Josh Green, a co-captain, will start, with senior Kevin Gilbride in the wings."Josh will be our cleanup hitter, giving us a strong presence from the left side. He has power, some pop but is more of a line-drive hitter who should hit for average. Kevin also will be our left-handed pinch hitter."
Starting pitchers
The candidates are senior Chris George and Justin Cayetano, JC transfers Justin Azze and Colby Summer, and sophomore Ricky Bauer. Azze is not eligible yet due to being a quarter credit short on his high school transcript due to his transferring schools as a senior. UH is in the third stage of appealing to the NCAA."Chris has good command of his offspeed pitches, but has focused on his fastball command (location) and staying within himself. The appeal process with Azze is going to take awhile. It would be a big blow if we lose him, but it is out of our control.
"I'm excited about Colby. He's a big, tall (6-foot-8) drink of water, but the neat thing is he is a plus athlete. He is a tremendous competitor, throws in the high 80s and gives you that downhill pitch. Colby was a shortstop/closer in junior college, but we're converting him to a starter. He was drafted as a pitcher and knows that's where his future is.
"Justin can fill a lot of roles. He is the X factor of the pitching staff. He probably will start until we know about Azze, but I would prefer to use him out of the bullpen to come in and settle a game. Ricky is a much better pitcher than his record showed last year. He is an integral part of the staff, will get some starts, but will be available out of the pen."
Bullpen
The occupants include senior Bryan Lee, juniors Clary Carlsen, David Daniel, sophomore Jason Piepmeier, and freshmen Keahi Rawlins, Rich Olsen, Guy McDowell, Michael Peck and Reid Horton.Nothing has been decided as far as naming a closer. Trapasso is not a big fan of taking a good pitcher and only using him in save situations because it can be a waste of a good arm.
"Clary is a good setup guy. He's what you call a funky right-hander. He gets good movement on his fastball but needs to do a better job of pitching when he's ahead in the count and needs another breaking pitch.
"The thing that excites me more than anything else is our freshmen pitchers, Rawlins, McDowell, Peck and Olsen. Those are four, big strong boys. They really have the opportunity to develop into the core of what could be a dominant staff a couple of years from now. Tool wise, they are very good. Keahi and Guy are power pitchers. Rich and Michael throw in the mid to high 80s, but can throw three pitches for strikes.
"Right now we need innings for these guys. That's one reason it's nice to have mid-week games, but they will be in the pen for now."
Ponomarenko also is ticketed for the setup role despite the fact he has only been pitching for a year. He has a solid curve and an above average slider, a pitch that is the equalizer for a right-hander when facing left-hand batters.
"Reid has a very good change, but needs to clean up his mechanics and get away from a tendency to over throw. David has been interesting. His body has changed quite a bit with our conditioning program. He's probably lost 20 pounds. He came here throwing straight over the top, so we have worked with his arm angle. He has good stuff and hides the ball well, but has to have command.
"Bryan has improved his breaking ball. He lost faith in his changeup last year and became a one-pitch pitcher. Piepmeier is having difficulty with his command and is struggling with mechanical adjustments after spending the summer rehabbing a tender (right) elbow."
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2003 UH Schedule
February
1: Alumni (exhibition), 1 p.m.; 7: UCLA, 6:35 p.m.; 8: UCLA, 6:35 p.m.; 9: UCLA, 1:05 p.m.; 11: Hawaii-Hilo, 6:35 p.m.; 14: Sacramento State, 5:05 p.m.; 15: Sacramento State, 5:05 p.m.; 16: Sacramento State, 1:05 p.m.; 21: Wichita State, 6:35 p.m.; 22: Wichita State, 6:35 p.m.; 23: Wichita State, 1:05 p.m.; 26: Hawaii Pacific, 6:05 p.m.
March
1: Hawaii-Hilo, 1:05 p.m.; 2: Hawaii-Hilo, 1:05 p.m.; 5: at San Francisco, 2 p.m.; 7: at Fresno State (a), 6:35 p.m.; 8: at Fresno State (a), 1 p.m.; 9: at Fresno State (a), 1 p.m.; 11: Hawaii Pacific, 6:35 p.m.; 12: Matsusaka, Japan (exhibition), 6:35 p.m.; 14: Rice (a), 6:3 5 p.m.; 15: Rice (a), 6:35 p.m.; 16: Rice (a), 1:05 p.m.; 18: Coastal Carolina, 6:35 p.m.; 19: Coastal Carolina, 6:35 p.m.; 21: Nevada (a), 5:35 p.m.; 22: Nevada (a), 6:35 p.m.; 23: Nevada (a), 1:05 p.m.
Easter Tournament
Mar. 25: Air Force vs. Lewis-Clark State, 2:30 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Western Illinois, 6:35 p.m.; 26: Air Force vs. Western Illinois, 2:30 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Lewis-Clark State, 6:35 p.m.; 27: Western Illinois vs. Lewis-Clark State, 2:30 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Air Force, 6:35 p.m.; 28: Semifinal games at 2:30 and 6:35 p.m.; 29: Third place, 2:30 p.m.; Championship, 6:35 p.m.
April
4: at Rice (a), 7 p.m.; 5: at Rice (a), 2 p.m.; 6: at Rice (a), 1 p.m.; 8: at Centenary, 7 p.m.; 10: at Louisiana Tech (a), 6 p.m.; 11: at Louisiana Tech (a), 6 p.m.; 12: at Louisiana Tech (a), 1 p.m.; 15: Hawaii-Hilo, 6:35 p.m.; 18: Fresno State (a), 6:35 p.m.; 19: Fresno State (a), 6:35 p.m.; 20: Fresno State (a), 1:05 p.m.; 25: San Jose State (a), 6:35 p.m.; 26: San Jose State (a), 6:35 p.m.; 27: San Jose State (a), 1:05 p.m.; 30: at Sacramento State, 2:30 p.m.
May
2: at Nevada (a), 2 p.m.; 3: at Nevada (a), 1 p.m.; 4: at Nevada (a), 1 p.m.; 9: Louisiana Tech (a), 6:35 p.m.; 10: Louisiana Tech (a), 6:35 p.m.; 11: Louisiana Tech (a), 1:05 p.m.; 21: at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.; 23: at San Jose State (a), 7 p.m.; 24: at San Jose State (a), 1 p.m.; 25: at San Jose State (a), 1 p.m.(a): Western Athletic Conference game.
Home games at Les Murakami Stadium.
Notes: Ticket prices for the alumni game are: $6 Orange, Blue levels. $5 Red level. $4 Seniors, children age 4-18, UH students in the Red level. ... In line with UH's new policy, smoking is no longer allowed in Murakami Stadium. Fans who wish to go outside to smoke, can be stamped on the hand for reentry.
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