[ UH BASEBALL ]
RONEN ZILBERMAN / RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
PItcher Ricky Bauer and first baseman Andrew Sansaver are this year's UH baseball captains.
Rainbows’ 2004 goal
is to improve on 2003Trapasso expects his team to keep
getting better in his third year
The optimism level rose a few notches over last year for the Hawaii Rainbow baseball team as it enters the third season under head coach Mike Trapasso.
There are returning players at every position save center and the recruits are providing the expected competition for starting berths at the outfield spot.
The pitching should be stronger with the development of the returnees and the new additions, but this needs validation against the incoming opponents. The mound corps is more balanced, with four left-handers on the roster vs. one a year ago.
The offense also is more balanced. Trapasso said, "We have an abundance of left-handed hitters."
The Rainbows open with the alumni game tomorrow, then begin the regular season next weekend against Texas, which is ranked in the top 5 in preseason polls.
"Our plan is to be better than last year and finish in the top half of the Western Athletic Conference," said Trapasso. "I think that would be a significant improvement. We won 30 games last year and we want to win more this year."
Here is a look at the 2004 Rainbows by position and the outlook based on fall practice and early spring workouts:
CATCHER
"This is a position that definitely has to have depth. It is physically hard for a starter to catch every game and we have a lot of competition at this position," said Trapasso.Sophomore Matt Inouye, who led UH with a .339 batting average a year ago and was freshman All-American on the Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball team, will start.
"Matt has put himself in a position where he is ahead of the other two guys, Steve Bell-Irving and Creighton Kahoali'i," said Trapasso.
Bell-Irving is a redshirt freshman and Kahoali'i is a senior transfer from California.
"A lot will depend on the defense of all three. That is one position where offense takes a back seat to defense. All three need to keep working on their receiving skills," said Trapasso.
FIRST BASE
Andrew Sansaver is the returning senior starter. He finished at .281 last year after a slow start."Andrew has improved offensively. He has passed through the transition phase of changing his swing, which he did last year," said Trapasso. "His execution is very good. He can bunt, hit behind the runner or give you the sacrifice fly when you need it. Andrew is the best defensive first baseman I've seen in my 16 years in college ball."
Senior transfer Paki Lum (Southern California) and junior returnee Schafer Magana, who can play all infield positions well, are available to back up Sansaver.
SECOND BASE
Sophomore Isaac Omura, who hit .301 as a freshman, is back at second. He also was honored on the Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America team."Isaac is making the biggest jump between his freshman and sophomore years. He had a good year last year, is stronger this year and with that jump should perform even better this year. He also is hitting deeper in the count," said Trapasso.
Magana and junior college transfer Andrew Castillo, who has done well this spring, back up Omura.
THIRD BASE
This is a position with much competition for the starting berth. Sophomore Rocky Russo, a streaky hitter a year ago who finished with a .253 average, is battling Magana and freshman Mike Griffin."Rocky has worked hard on his defense and has improved," said Trapasso. "With Schafer, you know you'll get solid defense, no matter what position he plays. He needs consistency at the plate. Griffin, who wasn't here this fall and needs to adjust to college life and playing again every day, is just getting back into the flow of baseball again."
SHORTSTOP
Senior Brian Finegan, recovered from a sore right arm that kept him from playing summer ball, is the starting shortstop."Brian won't be leading off this year, so he should be in a better comfort zone at the plate," Trapasso said.
If Finegan needs a day off, freshman Troy Hanzawa will take his place.
"Troy has exceptional defensive skills and we want to get him playing time," Trapasso said.
LEFT FIELD
Jaziel Mendoza, a senior whose .337 batting average was missed when he sat out almost half the 2003 season with a foot stress fracture, will be in left. He has been slowed a bit with a hamstring pull this spring, but hopefully will be ready soon. Greg Kish, a junior transfer from Oklahoma, also could see time in left, although Trapasso hopes to have both in the lineup at the same time."Jaziel surprises you with the great jumps he gets on the ball and his instincts," said Trapasso. "Greg can play left and right. He has been a very welcome addition and has had a tremendous spring. Greg is similar to Sansaver in that he is a tough out, can execute for you and brings a lot of energy to the game. He makes players around him better, similar to Brent Cook last year."
CENTER FIELD
Robbie Wilder, a sophomore transfer from Sierra College, also is nursing a hamstring pull, but tracks the ball well in center."Robbie can be a catalyst for us. He is the prototype leadoff hitter. He fouls off a lot of balls, goes deep in counts and when he gets on he likes to steal bases," said Trapasso. "Josh Green also can play center field. Derek Dupree, a freshman from Seattle, is another left-handed hitter who can really run. He loves to bunt and hit the ball on the turf. I'm really excited about him, but he may be a year away because he's just getting adjusted to the pitching at this level"
RIGHT FIELD
Green, the returning senior who played here most of last year, and Kish are the candidates."This is something that will have to work itself out. Both have been swinging the bat well and I would try to get both in the lineup," said Trapasso. "Josh is our best outfielder because of his instincts."
DESIGNATED HITTER
Nate Thurber, a junior college transfer who can play left, is the favorite for this role although he has not played since last spring and joined the team at semester break."I expect Nate to heat up as the season progresses. He has shown us that he has pop and is a hard worker," said Trapasso.
Pitching will be interesting early on because sophomore right-handed returnees Guy McDowell and Keahi Rawlins were shut down due to sore arms and freshman right-hander Steven Wright threw so many innings in high school and last summer that his arm needed a rest.
McDowell and Rawlins are throwing again with no ill effects and Wright is being brought along slowly.
STARTING PITCHERS
Junior right-hander Ricky Bauer will be the opening-day pitcher."Ricky was very consistent the last half of last year. He was similar to the big three from Rice in terms of statistics, but didn't get the wins because we didn't get him the support," said Trapasso. "He had a good summer and is much better from the confidence stand point. You can't put a price tag on playing in the Cape (Cod League)."
Sophomore right-hander Rich Olsen also made significant progress in the fall and spring.
"Rich has a little more velocity and worked hard on developing his change to where he can use it with confidence," said Trapasso. "We've been very happy with him. He showed signs of making that jump between freshman and sophomore year.
"Keahi will vie for a spot in the rotation as the season progresses. His key is to be healthy and get his body back in shape."
The left-hander in the rotation is Kauai's Mark Rodrigues, a junior college transfer.
"Mark is the guy on the staff with the best tools and should be the best pro prospect. He throws in the 88 to 93 (mph) range and is consistent with his fastball command. He has a power slider and has shown very good feel for a changeup."
BULLPEN
McDowell and senior right-hander Clary Carlsen are the closers. Carlsen had five and McDowell two of the nine saves a year ago."Carlsen might start every now and then. His stuff seems to be better and he has gained some velocity from last year. His pitches move and have life," said Trapasso.
The UH coach thinks JC transfer Steve Bryant, a right-hander with a fastball, curve and above-average changeup, is suited for the setup role.
"Steve will come in and settle a game. The thing he does most is he comes in and throws strikes. You need to eliminate add-on runs and need that to be successful," Trapasso said.
For the rest of the bullpen occupants, especially the freshmen -- left-handers Kaimi Mead, Mathew Buck and Isaac Kamai, and right-handers Darrell Fisherbaugh and Jonathan Serapion -- it is a case of pitching well when they get the opportunity.
"Kaimi had a tired arm in the fall, but is coming around. Darrell has pitched very well this spring, He made a jump from the fall, when he struggled with the command. His mechanics are very clean now and he has tremendous life on his fastball," said Trapasso.
"Jonathan has the capability of being very good, has good stuff but may be a year away. Isaac is a sinker, slider pitcher."
Buck is working on some mechanical adjustments, while right-hander Chuck Withers, a junior college walk-on, could find spot duty out of the bullpen.
One player, freshman infielder Jonathan Hee, will redshirt this year.
2004 Schedule
a-WAC gamesJanuary
24: Alumni, 1 p.m. 30: Texas, 6:35 p.m. 31: Texas, 6:35 p.m.February
1: Texas, 4:35 p.m. 6: Cal State Northridge, 6:35 p.m. 7: Cal State Northridge, 6:35 p.m. 8: Cal State Northridge, 1:05 p.m. 13: Florida International, 6:35 p.m. 14: Florida International, 6:35 p.m. 15: Florida International, 1:05 p.m. 17: Hawaii Pacific, 6:35 p.m. 20: Hawaii-Hilo, 6:35 p.m. 21: Hawaii-Hilo, 6:35 p.m. 22: Hawaii-Hilo, 1:05 p.m. 27: San Francisco, 6:35 p.m. 28: San Francisco, 6:35 p.m. 29: San Francisco, 1:05 p.m.March
Rainbow Tournament (March 2-6)
2: The Citadel vs. Oregon State, 2 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Chicago State, 6:35 p.m. 3: Chicago State vs. The Citadel, 2 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Oregon State, 6:35 p.m. 4: Chicago State vs. Oregon State, 2 p.m.; Hawaii vs. The Citadel, 6:35 p.m. 5: Semifinal games at 2 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. 6: Third place, 2 p.m.; Championship, 6:35 p.m.13: Hawaii Pacific, 6:35 p.m. 19: at Rice (a). 20: at Rice (a). 21: at Rice (a). 25: at Louisiana Tech (a). 26: at Louisiana Tech (a). 27: at Louisiana Tech (a).
April
2: San Jose State (a), 6:35 p.m. 3: San Jose State (a), 6:35 p.m. 4: San Jose State (a), 1:05 p.m. 6: Sacramento State, 6:35 p.m. 7: Sacramento State, 6:35 p.m. 16: Louisiana Tech (a), 6:35 p.m. 17: Louisiana Tech (a), 6:35 p.m. 18: Louisiana Tech (a), 1:05 p.m. 23: at Fresno State (a). 24: at Fresno State (a). 25: at Fresno State (a). 29: Nevada (a), 6:35 p.m. 30: Nevada (a), 6:35 p.m.May
1: Nevada (a), 1:05 p.m. 7: Rice (a), 6:35 p.m. 8: Rice (a), 6:35 p.m. 9: Rice, 1:05 p.m. 13: Fresno State (a), 6:35 p.m. 14: Fresno State (a), 6:35 p.m. 15: Fresno State (a), 1:05 p.m. 21: at Nevada (a). 22: at Nevada (a). 23: at Nevada (a). 25: at Pacific. 28: at San Jose State (a). 29: at San Jose State (a). 30: at San Jose State (a).
