[ UH BASEBALL ]
UH spells relief
with a capital BStephen Bryant likes his role
coming out of the bullpen as
a reliever for the Rainbows
this year
Stephen Bryant is calm and quietly answers questions with ease during an interview. The Hawaii Rainbow right-hander is under control, just like when he takes the mound to halt an opponent's offensive outburst.
Do not let his business-like demeanor fool you. He is a very competitive person no matter what the activity.
"I keep my emotions pretty settled. I don't just come out and play baseball to have fun. I come out to win and do it any way possible," said Bryant, who transferred to UH last fall after two seasons at Feather River Junior College.
UH vs. Florida International
What: College baseballWhen: Today and tomorrow, 6:35 p.m.; Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Where: Les Murakami Stadium
TV: Today and Sunday live, KFVE, Channel 5
Radio: Today and Sunday live, KKEA, 1420-AM
Tickets: $6 Orange, Blue levels. $5 Red level. $4 seniors, children 4-18, UH students in the Red level.
Parking: $3
Notes: This is the teams' first meeting. .... FIU was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference in the coaches' preseason poll. ... UH shortstop Brian Finegan has hit safely in the first six games. ... The 'Bows are hitting .213, the Golden Panthers .241.
"I'm a sore loser. I've always been very competitive and I'm that way even when I'm not in the game pitching."
Bryant has been a pitcher ever since he started playing baseball at age 6. He also was always a starter until he joined the Rainbow program last fall.
When UH recruited Bryant, the coaches did not know what his role would be on the 2004 staff.
One of UH coach Mike Trapasso's favorite thoughts about the first man out of the bullpen is his ability to settle a game. Bryant has that ability and has demonstrated it in all three appearances this season.
"This is my first year in relief and it is a good role right now. I like it," Bryant said. "If I can help the team coming out of the pen two days a week, that's what I'll do.
"I have a little different attitude in relief. I know I'll be coming into a tight situation and my role is as a game saver. You come in and throw strikes, get ground balls and get outs. You can't afford to walk guys and give up runs."
The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder has done that with increasing success in his three appearances.
In the first Texas game, 28 of his 42 pitches were strikes and eight of his 13 first pitches to a batter were strikes.
In the third Texas game, 41 of his 56 pitches were strikes and 11 of 14 first pitches were strikes.
Against Cal State Northridge in the series opener, 24 of 30 pitches were strikes and nine of 10 first offerings were strikes.
Seventy-three percent of his pitches as a Rainbow have been strikes.
Bryant has pitched 8 1/3 innings, allowed 10 hits, walked one and fanned nine. His earned-run average is 3.24.
"Stephen is effective because he can throw all three of his pitches for strikes any time in the count, whether he is ahead or behind," Trapasso said.
"He has a competitive maturity and he isn't scared. He goes right after people."
Bryant prefers to establish his fastball first off either side of the plate, then work the batter with his curveball or changeup.
"My change is my best pitch, but I have a lot of confidence in all my pitches," Bryant said. "I think I've done my job. I'm doing just fine and I like where I am right now."
He said his baseball highlights happened at Feather River.
"We won our conference both years," said Bryant, who chose UH over San Francisco. "Last year we won the regional, super regional and went to the final four. I don't think I'll ever forget that.
"I wanted to go somewhere else. I just thought Hawaii was the better place to go.
"Facility-wise and baseball-wise this was much better and you can't beat the weather. I think this is a great program."
Bryant, who is engaged to Lara Macgibbon and has an August wedding planned, is majoring in sociology. At the moment, he is considering a career in law enforcement or the construction industry.
Probable starting pitchers
Hawaii (1-5)
Carlsen will start Saturday or Sunday, with the third starter TBA.
W-L ERA K Ricky Bauer (RH) 1-1 3.48 11 Clary Carlsen (RH) 0-2 3.97 3 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (1-4)
W-L ERA K Mark Worrell (RH) 0-2 4.91 12 Denny Hernandez (RH) 0-0 4.70 11 Andrew Edwards (RH) 1-0 5.40 8
