Costi making
a pitch for the pros

The Rainbows' right-hander
wants to play at the next level

Justin Costi's gift to his parents was his first victory in a University of Hawaii uniform.

Justin Costi Winthrop at UH When: Today and tomorrow, 6:35 p.m. Where: Les Murakami Stadium. TV: Both games live, KFVE, Ch. 5. Radio: Both games live, KKEA, 1420-AM. Tickets: $6 orange and blue sections; $5 red section; $4 seniors, and $3 students age 4-18, UH students in the red section. Parking: $3 Head-to-head: Series is tied at one win apiece.

The same day he led the Rainbows to a win over nationally ranked Louisiana-Lafayette, Costi's parents, Mark and Christine, celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary in Costi's current backyard.

Not that the Elk Grove, Calif., residents were hesitant to send their son so far from home. They just wanted to make sure distant Honolulu was right for him.

"The only concern they had was just to make sure this is where I wanted to play," Costi said. "My dad is really proud that I'm a starter here."

Out of junior college, Costi felt he should have been starting a professional baseball career somewhere. When he wasn't drafted last June, the backup plan kicked in. About a month before, Costi made an official visit to the UH campus and liked it so much, the 6-foot-2 right-hander decided not to pursue possible careers at either New Mexico State or Oklahoma State.

"I thought the fitting was right for me here," Costi said. "Coach (Mike) Trapasso and coach (Chad) Konishi are both pitching coaches. I thought if they could help me out a lot, it would be the next step in my goal of going to the pros."

Costi didn't give up more than six hits in any of his first four starts for Hawaii, yet had to wait until the fourth outing to earn his first victory for the Rainbows.

In his first three starts, the 'Bows scored just four runs, all Sunday games. The breakthrough came against Louisiana-Lafayette on a Saturday when his teammates backed his eight-inning, four-hit effort with 16 hits and 12 runs.

This past Saturday was even more frustrating than the early nonsupport after his teammates rallied to take a 7-4 lead in the fourth inning vs. then-No. 3-ranked Florida State. Costi only managed to get two outs in the fifth, losing his chance for a second victory.

It was not a case of fatigue, but overthrowing and getting his pitches up, according to Trapasso.

Costi says he is comfortable at this point throwing 90 to 100 pitches a game.

"I'm OK with 120 pitches because I throw so much offspeed stuff. It's all about hitting your spots late in the game," he said.

Costi prepares for a start by watching one of three movies -- "Braveheart," "Rocky IV" or "Bloodsport" -- the night before.

"This helps me get into a frame of mind to throw. I also pitch with my old wallet, with six lucky pennies inside and my lucky rock in my back pocket," said Costi.

Last summer while pitching for the El Dorado Broncos in the Jayhawk League, Costi threw a no-hitter. He wasn't superstitious talking about a possible no-no in the dugout during the game.

"One of my teammates, Matt Green, was playing with this rock from the third inning on and gave it to me after the game," Costi said.

He joined the Rainbows last fall after a year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and spent the fall mainly working on his mechanics. He wanted them to be solid for the whole season, after going 8-3 in college and 8-1 in summer ball last year.

"Justin has three-pitch command -- fastball, curve and changeup, with the change being his best pitch," Trapasso said.

"After his worst start against Washington State, he came back with a vengeance. He had that look in his eye all week. You want someone to come back like that after a bad outing."

Notes: Winthrop dropped out of the Collegiate Baseball poll after losing twice this past weekend. ... Both UH and Winthrop received votes this week in the Top 25 College Coaches poll.