Rainbows add pitchers as official workouts begin

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i baseball team will officially start team workouts Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium.

First-year coach Mike Trapasso will get an early test when Hawai'i faces nationally ranked Florida State starting Jan. 30. Advertiser library photo • June 6, 2001

Since fall workouts, first-year coach Mike Trapasso has bolstered the pitching staff by adding Daniel Vitro from the College of the Siskiyous (Weed, Calif.), a St. Louis School graduate, and football red-shirt quarterback Jeffrey Rhode, a freshman.

Vitro, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound left-hander, played one season at the JC, so he has three seasons of eligibility with the Rainbows, Trapasso said. Rhode, a 6-6, 230-pound right-hander, was a two-time second-team all-league selection at Churchill High in Eugene, Ore.

Trapasso said both players have good arm strength, but are raw in their mechanics.

"They're real similar," Trapasso said. "Both have promise."

He added it's possible that Rhode could redshirt.

Also expected to join the team is right-hander Chris George, a transfer from Cypress (Calif.) JC. Trapasso said George is still not cleared to play. Trapasso indicated earlier that George was someone who had a chance at landing a spot in the rotation.

Also making the cut are freshman catcher Travis Mitsuda, an Iolani School graduate, and junior right-handed pitcher Davin Morita, a Baldwin High graduate, who is a transfer from Gonzaga (Spokane, Wash.).

But lost were left-handed pitcher Ikaika Faraon, who has transferred to Seminole (Okla.) JC, and outfielder Trey Richards, who has transferred to New Mexico State.

Joining the program in 2003 is former Mililani High all-state pitcher Justin Cayetano. The left-handed junior transferred from Washington State, but must sit out this season, Trapasso said.

Meanwhile, Trapasso is already working on future opponents for the Rainbows. For 2003, he has secured Cal State-Northridge, UCLA, Arkansas, Tennessee and Wichita State. He added he is trying to set up a four-team Easter Tournament.

For 2004, he has tentatively scheduled Texas, Florida and Florida International. He said he is considering moving the Easter Tournament to early March, or before most teams get into conference play, so the tourney can attract marquee schools.

As for his former employer, Georgia Tech, he has spoken with coach Danny Hall. A logistical hitch prevented the Yellow Jackets from visiting next year, Trapasso said. But that might be a blessing for the Rainbows. After all, he did recruit this year's freshman class for Georgia Tech.

"I think I want to wait a couple more years," Trapasso said with a smile. "That freshman class is going to be real good."

2002 UH baseball schedule
* — Indicates WAC series
All times Hawai'i

January

26—Alumni Game, 1 p.m. 30—Florida State, 6:35 p.m. 31—Florida State, 6:35 p.m.

February

1—Florida State, 6:35 p.m. 2—Florida State, 12:05 p.m. 8—Sacramento State, 6:35 p.m. 9—Sacramento State, 6:35 p.m. 10—Sacramento State, 1:05 p.m. 15—UCLA, 6:35 p.m. 16-—UCLA, 12:05 p.m. 17—UCLA, 1:05 p.m. 21—Brigham Young, 6:35 p.m. 22—Brigham Young, 6:35 p.m. 23-—Brigham Young, 12:05 p.m.

March

1—U.C.-Irvine, 6:35 p.m. 2-—U.C.-Irvine, 6:35 p.m. 3—U.C.-Irvine, 1:05 p.m. 8—*Rice, 6:35 p.m. 9—*Rice, 6:35 p.m. 10—*Rice, 1:05 p.m. 12—Matsusaka (Japan, exhibition), 6:35 p.m. 15—at Hawai'i-Hilo, 6 p.m. 16—at Hawai'i-Hilo (2), 1 p.m. 22-—*San Jose State, 6:35 p.m. 23-—*San Jose State, 6:35 p.m. 24—*San Jose State, 1:05 p.m.

Rainbow Easter Tournament

25-—Lewis-Clark State vs. Birmingham Southern, 10 a.m. San Jose State vs. U.C.-Riverside, 2 p.m. Hawai'i Pacific vs. Hawai'i-Hilo, 6:35 p.m. 26—San Jose State vs. Hawai'i Pacific, 10 a.m. Hawai'i-Hilo vs. Lewis-Clark State, 2 p.m. Birmingham Southern vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. 27—Hawai'i-Hilo vs. San Jose State, 10 a.m. Lewis-Clark State vs. Hawai'i Pacific, 2 p.m. U.C.-Riverside vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. 28—Hawai'i Pacific vs. Birmingham Southern, 10 a.m. U.C.-Riverside vs. Hawai'i-Hilo, 2 p.m. San Jose State vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. 29—U.C.-Riverside vs. Lewis-Clark State, 10 a.m. Birmingham Southern vs. San Jose State, 2 p.m. Hawai'i Pacific vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. 30-—Lewis-Clark State vs. San Jose State, 10 a.m. Birmingham Southern vs. U.C.-Riverside, 2 p.m. Hawai'i-Hilo vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m. 31--U.C.-Riverside vs. Hawai'i Pacific, 10 a.m. Hawai'i-Hilo vs. Birmingham Southern, 2 p.m. Lewis-Clark State vs. Hawai'i, 6:35 p.m.

April

4—*Nevada, 6:35 p.m. 5—*Nevada, 6:35 p.m. 6—*Nevada, 1:05 p.m. 13—at *Louisiana Tech, 7 a.m. 14—at *Louisiana Tech, 7 a.m. 15—at *Louisiana Tech, 11 a.m. 18—at *Rice, 2 p.m. 19—at *Rice, 2 p.m. 20—at *Rice, 9 a.m. 26—*Fresno State, 6:35 p.m. 27—*Fresno State, 6:35 p.m. 28—*Fresno State, 1:05 p.m.

May

3—at *San Jose State, 4 p.m. 4—at *San Jose State, 10 a.m. 5—at *San Jose State, 10 a.m. 9—*Louisiana Tech, 6:35 p.m. 10—*Louisiana Tech, 6:35 p.m. 11—*Louisiana Tech, 6:35 p.m. 18—at *Nevada, 10 a.m. 19-—at *Nevada, 10 a.m. 20—at *Nevada, 11 a.m. 23—at *Fresno State, 4:05 p.m. 24—at *Fresno State, 4:05 p.m. 25—at *Fresno State, 10:05 p.m.

Postseason

May 31-June 2--Regionals

June 7-9--Super Regionals

June 14-22--College World Series