Ex-Rainbow returns to Manoa as a Sea Warrior on an offensive tear
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The ongoing Rainbow Easter Baseball Tournament is somewhat of a homecoming for Hawai'i Pacific's Wade Taguchi.
Taguchi, who transferred to HPU two years ago after one season at Hawai'i-Manoa, was the last Rainbow to hit a home run out of Rainbow Stadium before this season started.
After his pinch-hit two-run shot over the right-field fence on April 16, 1999 against UH-Hilo, the Rainbows had not hit a fence-clearing homer in 2000. It would be three games into this season before Patrick Scalabrini broke UH's drought with a shot to right-center Jan. 27 against Sacramento State.
When the Sea Warriors played in Monday's opening games of the tournament, it was Taguchi's first time back at Rainbow Stadium since he played for UH.
"It was weird at first," Taguchi said. "You get pumped up because it's Rainbow Stadium. But I don't think it's really going to kick in until we play UH in the prime time game."
The Sea Warriors play the Rainbows at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Taguchi, an O'ahu Interscholastic Association all-star second baseman at Pearl City High in 1997, joined the Rainbows as a walk-on his freshman year. He played sparingly.
The next season, during preseason evaluations, Taguchi said he was told he wouldn't be playing much.
"I wasn't ready for that kind of role," Taguchi said. "That was almost like zero playing time. I would've been more of a filler kind of guy."
At UH, players like Michael Dartt and Matt Wheeler were in front of him, making it hard to crack the lineup. So he transferred to HPU, where he has been a welcome addition.
He had a respectable first season with the Sea Warriors last year, batting .315 with a home run and seven RBIs. But this year — especially two weeks ago against Teikyo-Post — Taguchi has been on a tear.
Entering yesterday's games, Taguchi had a team-leading 41 RBIs, four shy of the school record set by Gabe Gerhardt in 1999. He had an astonishing 25 RBIs alone in an eight-game series against Teikyo-Post.
"Almost every time I came to the plate, the bases were loaded or there were men on second and third," said Taguchi, who was batting .400 entering yesterday's games. "There were good hitting situations for me and that's how I got all those RBIs."
He had seven RBIs in one game and six in another in that series.
Taguchi also leads the team with four home runs.
"It was a blessing that we got him when he transferred from UH," HPU coach Allan Sato said. "His offseason work is the key thing. He never neglects his work in the weight room. As an offensive player, you can really tell by his strength. When everybody's at the beach having fun during the summer, you have a guy like that working hard in the weight room."
Depending on the platoon situation, Taguchi plays second base, third base, left field or designated hitter.
Taguchi said he would prefer playing one position, but accepts his role as long as he gets to bat.
"I just want to play," he said.
Taguchi, a sports administration major, said he wanted to play baseball at UH when he graduated from high school. His brother, Kirk, played for the Rainbows in 1993 and 1994. But he is pleased with his situation now.
"Allan let me transfer to HPU, so I'm appreciative of that," Taguchi said.
UH-HILO
• Spartans in town: The Vulcans will try to snap a three-game losing streak against San Jose State in a three-game Western Athletic Conference series starting tomorrow at Wong Stadium. Game times are 6 p.m. tomorrow and Friday, and 11 a.m. Saturday.
Texas Christian just swept a three-game series against the Vulcans (4-22, 3-15 WAC). The Spartans (15-12-1, 5-9) were swept by the Rainbows last weekend.
