This series special for Sanchez

Kris Sanchez doesn't harbor a lot of hard feelings, but he's still anxious to hit some hard shots when Hawaii plays Arizona this weekend.

To borrow one of UH coach Mike Trapasso's favorite expressions, the Rainbows first baseman has every reason to be "geeked up" against UA.

As described by those involved, it was done in a nice way. But Sanchez was basically told he wasn't good enough to play for the hometown team after his Wildcats redshirt season.

The two-time all-stater from Tucson's Canyon Del Oro High School was lodged behind future fourth-round draft pick Jordan Brown at first, and the Arizona corner outfielders were young studs, too.

"It was just a matter of the wrong place at the wrong time," said Arizona coach Andy Lopez, who suggested he go to a junior college and hone his skills.

"They had some established guys. I kind of understood that I wouldn't get many at-bats," Sanchez said. "He recommended I go and that they'd like me to come back. But I didn't really hear much from them after that."

Sanchez to show Arizona his stuff Hawaii first baseman and Tucson, Ariz., resident Kris Sanchez started his college baseball career at hometown Arizona in 2003. But after Sanchez spent a redshirt season behind a future fourth-round draft pick, Arizona coach Andy Lopez suggested he go to a junior college for more seasoning. Sanchez did so, but after two years at Central Arizona College, he came to UH. Today, he leads the Rainbows (14-6) in most significant offensive categories going into this weekend's series against the Wildcats (13-5) at Les Murakami Stadium. Games are Friday and Saturday nights (6:35 p.m. starts) and Sunday afternoon (1:05 p.m.).

So after two years at Central Arizona College, Sanchez came to Hawaii. He earned the starting job at first base as a junior, but pulled a hamstring early on and ended up backing up Luis Avila the rest of the year.

Sanchez exploded out of the gate this season, with 14 hits in his first 22 at-bats, two Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week awards, and a stretch of homers in four consecutive games. He is batting .437 and leads UH and the WAC in several batting categories.

Lopez said he has tracked Sanchez's progress and is happy for him.

"Yeah, he was on fire at the start of the year. Here, it was just a situation where we felt like he wouldn't get the opportunity the first couple of years. He's a great young man and a good baseball player," Lopez said. "Selfishly, we could've played that game of trying to get him to stay. But you don't get better sitting around for a year or two. I think the world of Kris. I'm glad he got to go to a great program like Hawaii. Other than not being 15 minutes from home, it probably worked out better for him."

It was 15 years ago, and more a coincidence than anything, but two other players Lopez let go ended up starring for UH. Punahou graduates Bill Blanchette and Scott Craven transferred from Pepperdine when Lopez took over there, and they helped the Rainbows to the 1992 NCAA Regionals -- where Hawaii was ousted by Lopez's Waves, the eventual College World Series champs.

Like most other successful baseball players, Sanchez doesn't get overly emotional. But he admits to being somewhat more pumped this week than usual.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say there was a little more motivation," he said. "It was nice out of high school to be close to home and at a premier program. Things didn't work out. But I got to come here, and I'm having a great senior season so I guess it's the way it was supposed to be."

Trapasso held Sanchez out of last Sunday's finale of a five-game series against Chicago State after he saw Sanchez's bent thumbnail. He hurt it making a diving catch Saturday.

"It's fine, it was made to be a little bigger deal than it was," said Sanchez, who proclaimed himself ready to play after batting practice yesterday. "We had our regular Monday day off and today was open cages. I just got done hitting as we speak and everything seems fine. I should be able to swing OK this week."