Posted on: Thursday, March 15, 2001

Reliever Childers to make starting debut

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Taking his biggest step since returning from elbow surgery, pitcher Wakon Childers will make his starting debut during this weekend's Western Athletic Conference series against Texas Christian.

The senior right-hander will start Monday's game against the Horned Frogs.

"It's something we've looked at before," said UH acting coach Carl Furutani, who announced the decision yesterday.

The Rainbows (8-13, 3-9 WAC) begin the three-game series Saturday at Rainbow Stadium.

Jeff Coleman (1-3, 3.59 ERA) will return to the No. 1 spot in the rotation, pitching Saturday's 12:05 p.m. game. He pitched the third game of last weekend's Rice series because he had made two appearances over three days a week earlier at San Jose State.

Sean Yamashita (0-3, 5.97) will start the 2:05 p.m. Sunday game.

Childers was 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA in 20 relief appearances in 1999. He struck out 25 and walked eight in 23· innings.

But Childers had elbow surgery and missed the 2000 season. He was brought along slowly this season, making eight relief appearances. In 10° innings. He is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA.

Childers pitched a simulated game Monday, throwing between 115 to 120 pitches, Furutani said. He will be on a 90- to 100-pitch count, but Furutani said that won't necessarily be Childers' gauge.

"The sign might be when he tires," Furutani said.

Childers becomes the third different third starter for the Rainbows this season. Chad Giannetti (1-3, 5.68) made four starts and Matt Le Ducq (1-1, 7.52) made one.

The Horned Frogs (13-9, 5-2) are in second place behind conference leader Rice (18-5, 8-1).

The Rainbows just snapped a nine-game losing streak against nationally ranked Rice (No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball Weekly/ESPN, and No. 2 by Baseball America). The Owls (18-5) have lost two in a row after falling to Texas, 7-4, on Tuesday.

The Horned Frogs also have lost two in a row. They have a make-up game today with Iowa State before leaving for Hawai'i.

The Horned Frogs average 7.5 runs per game, compared to the Rainbows' 4.6.

Like Rice, TCU has two strong starting pitchers in Chris Bradshaw (4-1, 2.95) and Chad Durham (2-1, 3.54).

Offensively, eight of TCU's starters are batting higher than .300. Walter Olmstead (.390) is second in the WAC with 27 RBIs.