HPU faces diverse
schedule

Hawaii Pacific starts its 23rd baseball season with a five-game series against Longwood.

The teams play doubleheaders tomorrow and Sunday and a single game Monday at Keehi Lagoon Field.

The Lancers, from Farmville, Va., were 31-16 a year ago and are in the second year of their four-year Division I reclassification period.

Coach Allan Sato is starting his 10th season guiding the Sea Warriors. His 42-game schedule has HPU playing 11 games at Keehi Lagoon Field and 18 at Aloha Stadium, including doubleheaders against Hawaii-Hilo April 16 and 17.

Two teams ranked in Collegiate Baseball Magazine's preseason NCAA Division II poll, No. 10 Sonoma State (Rohnert Park, Calif.) and No. 32 Lander (Greenwood, S.C.), each play a six-game series here.

The Sea Warriors play eight games on the mainland in early April, travel to Hilo for twinbills Feb. 12 and 13 and play the Hawaii Rainbows at Les Murakami Stadium on April 13.

Nationally ranked Florida State plays HPU in a night game at Aloha Stadium on March 9.

As an NCAA Division II independent, the Sea Warriors must have an excellent record to be considered for the postseason.

"We've got to be something like 30-12 to be considered for an at-large berth," said Sato. "It is always a tough thing to make the regional."

The Sea Warriors' experience level is mixed. Three years ago Sato recruited a big freshman class and they are now juniors. He did the same this year with another big freshman class.

"We will be a balance between the veterans and the youngsters," said Sato. "The big question right now is whether two freshmen, Danny Lee from St. Louis or Spencer Omalza from Leilehua, will start at third base."

Both players were named to the Star-Bulletin All-State team last year. Omalza also will see duty on the mound, possibly as the fifth starter.

Sato will start two left-handers, junior Cruz Hatanaka and junior college transfer Joshua Guerra, in tomorrow's doubleheader.

He will come back Sunday with two freshmen -- Anthony Ganigan, a Star-Bulletin All-State pick from Pearl City and Pierce Manglallan from Mililani.

Sato's staff includes assistants Mark Rasmussen and Gary Nakano and graduate assistant Ikaika Dupont.

HPU Schedule

February
Tomorrow: Longwood U., Va. (2), noon, at Keehi Lagoon Field. Sunday: Longwood (2), noon, at Keehi Lagoon Field. Monday: Longwood, noon, at Keehi Lagoon Field. 12: at Hawaii-Hilo (2), Noon. 13: at Hawaii-Hilo (2), 11 a.m. 17: Sonoma State (2), noon, at Keehi Lagoon Field. 18: Sonoma State (2), noon, at Keehi Lagoon Field. 19: Sonoma State (2), noon, at Keehi Lagoon Field.

March
9: Florida State, 7 p.m. 11: Lander, S.C. (2), 4 p.m. 12: Lander (2), 4 p.m. 13: Lander (2), 4 p.m. 19: Alderson Broaddus, W. Va. (2), 4 p.m. 20: Alderson Broaddus (2), 4 p.m. 22: Alderson Broaddus (2), 4 p.m. 23: Alderson Broaddus, noon.

April
1: at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2). 2: at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2). 3: at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2). 5: at Cal State Los Angeles (2). 6: at Biola. 13: at Hawaii, 6:35 p.m. 16: Hawaii-Hilo (2), 4 p.m. 17: Hawaii-Hilo (2), noon.

Note: Home games at Aloha Stadium, unless noted.