[ RAINBOW BASEBALL ]
’Bows face tough test
against RiceThe WAC-favorite Owls bring
a 34-7 overall record into their
three-game series against UH
The Hawaii Rainbows know they will be forced to scratch and claw for every run they score this weekend against Western Athletic Conference leader Rice, the prohibitive favorite to win the league title.
The Rainbows (27-16, 10-8 WAC) got a lot of practice Tuesday night in overcoming Hawaii Pacific leads twice to pull out a win in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Rice at Hawaii
When: Tomorrow and Saturday, 6:35 p.m.; Sunday, 1:05 p.m.Where: Murakami Stadium
TV: Live, KFVE, Ch. 5
Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM
Tickets: $6 Orange, Blue levels. $5 Red level. $4 Seniors, children age 4-18, UH students in the Red level.
Parking: $3
However, they will have to execute much better with their short game and not mess up the first three sacrifice bunts attempts like they did against HPU. Advancing runners into scoring position and then having someone deliver an RBI hit is crucial for the 'Bows.
Although junior right-hander Jeff Niemann is not expected to pitch this weekend because of a groin injury, Rice coach Wayne Graham still has three proven starters in Philip Humber (17 strikeouts vs. UH on March 20), Wade Townsend and Josh Baker. They have combined for 24 wins in 2004.
"If you are going to be able to compete with a club like that, you have to get a couple of runs across against their pitching, which is the biggest challenge," said Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso.
"Obviously, you have to be able to hold them down with your own pitching because you won't get many runs. The key for us is to pitch very, very well. If you give Rice a four spot in the first inning, you are done. You are in trouble."
The Hawaii starting rotation remains the same. Ricky Bauer goes Friday, Stephen Bryant on Saturday and Clary Carlsen on Sunday.
The Rainbows' top hitter, outfielder Greg Kish (sprained ankle) is doubtful this weekend, and outfielder Robbie Wilder (pulled hamstring) is questionable.
On the positive side, freshman closer Darrell Fisherbaugh continues to throw without any discomfort and is expected to be ready.
The Owls have a team .302 batting average. Their pitching staff has held opponents to a collective .200 batting average. That 100-point difference shows how dominant Rice has been in 2004.
The Owls (34-7, 16-1) have rolled through their WAC schedule with just one hitch, a 5-3 loss to Hawaii in the series finale in Houston. They win close games and pound opponents in others. In 17 conference games, Rice has outscored the opposition 130-36.
That is just a shade over two runs per game allowed by the Owls' pitching staff in league games. It is a statistic that validates Trapasso's keys for his team in the three-game series.
The Rainbows' season-long goal of producing a record good enough to catch the attention of the NCAA Baseball Committee when at-large berths are handed out is still a possibility. That would be enhanced with a win or two over the Owls. Hawaii cannot afford to be swept by Rice.
BACK TO TOP |
Trapasso to serve as
U.S. pitching coach
Hawaii head baseball coach Mike Trapasso has been named the pitching coach for the 2004 USA Baseball National Team.
The announcement was made yesterday by Dave Fanucci, director of communications for USA Baseball.
The third-year UH coach joins field manager Frank Cruz (Loyola Marymount) and assistants Jack Smitheran (UC Riverside) and Elliott Avent (North Carolina State) for the summer program that begins when 36 college freshman and sophomores arrive for tryouts in Durham, N.C., on June 20.
"These coaches each have a unique background and all have been a part of college baseball at its highest level," baseball general manager of national teams Eric Campbell said in a news release.
This is the first career USA Baseball coaching experience for Avent and Trapasso.
"It is a tremendous honor. I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for Team USA because of what it stands for and represents ever since I played for the 1983 team," said Trapasso. "I look forward to working with Coach Cruz for whom I have a tremendous amount of respect. I was fired up to see that Elliott Avent is on the staff. He is a good buddy."
Team USA opens with a four-game series against Canada in Durham at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, then play the Canadians in Aberdeen, Md., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., before traveling to Japan for the annual series against the Japanese college all-stars.
The next stop is in the Northeast, where three games are set with teams in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Following a four-game series against Taiwan in Durham, Team USA travels to Taiwan for the FISU World University Championships.
"This also should help us with recruiting," said Trapasso who will be in Tokyo on July 1, the first day the NCAA allows coaches to make telephone contact with potential recruits for the class of 2006.