HPU experienced in pitching
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
With virtually a new starting lineup, it's hard to peg the Hawai'i Pacific University baseball team.
The Sea Warriors (18-24 as an NCAA Division II independent last season) open their season tomorrow against Sonoma (Calif.) State at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu.
The eight-game series features doubleheaders tomorrow, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. All games will be seven innings. Each day's opener is at 4 p.m.
Hawai'i Pacific has three returning position players who started more than half the games last season. The rest are freshmen or transfers.
"This year, we're kind of apprehensive because they're not proven at this level," HPU coach Allan Sato said. "I don't know how they're going to fare. But we'll find out. (Sonoma State) will be a good test for us."
Among the three returning starters is senior second baseman Wade Taguchi (.326), who set a single-season school record with 46 RBIs last year. His six home runs tied for the team lead. Also back are designated hitter Ikaika DuPont (.405) and left fielder Andrew Stith (.282).
"Offensively, we have to play the small game," Sato said. "Station-to-station baseball. Sacrificing, hitting-and-running a lot. But to do those things, you have to execute. I can't say from the fall till now we've been 100 percent in executing. Aside from Wade, we have a power shortage this year."
Sato has been impressed with newcomer Shay Hirota, a transfer from California who will play in right field.
"He has great feet, a great arm," Sato said. "He's just a savvy player. During the fall, we found our lead-off guy."
Rounding the outfield is newcomer center fielder T. C. Everett.
The infield lost four-year starting shortstop Bryce Uegawachi, a flashy fielder nicknamed "The Wizard," who completed a short-season rookie year in the Cleveland Indians system after being drafted in the 26th round last June.
The holdover in the infield is Taguchi, who will be joined by Nicholas Longpre at shortstop, John Torres at third and freshman Alika Kuraoka at first.
Another newcomer is catcher Brian Murphy.
Starting pitching, usually a problem for most teams, may be the strength of the Sea Warriors, who had a team ERA of 7.66 last season.
"Compared to the last couple of seasons, this is one of the bright spots," Sato said. "We'll be better there."
The starting rotation will have junior college transfers Steve Stader, a left-hander, and Blake Marschand, a right-hander.
"They bring some experience to the staff," Sato said.
They will be followed by returnees Kai Austin, a left-hander, and right-handers Keola McCallum and Neil Sullivan.
Since the Sonoma series is eight games, the sixth starting spot — the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader — is likely to be a combination of relievers with Wednesday's doubleheader returning to the front of the rotation.
Sato, a former HPU pitcher, has several relievers to counter the left-righty situations.
Left-hander Blane Muraoka and right-hander Jesse Whittemore, as well as freshman right-hander Brandon Kahale, will fill in middle relief.
Everett, a right-hander, and Kuraoka, a left-hander, will come in from their respective positions as closers, Sato said.
The Sea Warriors have a mixture of opponents ranging from Division III to Division I. They will play one game Jan. 29 against nationally ranked Florida State, which will play at Hawai'i-Hilo and UH-Manoa.
Hawai'i Pacific also will play in the Rainbow Easter Baseball Tournament, which includes Division I teams UH-Hilo, San Jose State, NAIA power Lewis-Clark State and Birmingham Southern and Division II Cal-Riverside.
The Sea Warriors wrap up their season on the road against the Cal State system (Los Angeles, Dominguez Hills and San Bernardino) and Cal Poly-Pomona.
2002 schedule
Home games at Hans L'Orange Park, unless noted
* denotes two seven-inning games; x denotes seven-inning game followed by nine-inning game
January
19—Sonoma State, 4 p.m. (2*). 20—Sonoma State, 4 p.m. (2*). 22—Sonoma State, 4 p.m. (2*). 23—Sonoma State, 4 p.m. (2*). 29—Florida State, 11 a.m..; Cal State-Chico, 3 p.m. 30—Cal State-Chico, 4 p.m. (2x). 31—Cal State-Chico, 4 p.m (2x).
February
1—Cal State-Chico, 7 p.m. 4—Arkansas Tech, 4 p.m. (2x). 5—Arkansas Tech, 7 p.m. 6—Arkansas Tech, 4 p.m. (2x). 7—Arkansas Tech, 7 p.m. 22—Cal State-Los Angeles, 4 p.m. (2x). 23—Cal State-Los Angeles, 4 p.m. (2x). 24—Cal State-Los Angeles, 7 p.m.
March
2—Tusculum at Aloha Stadium, 4 p.m. (2x). 3—Tusculum at Aloha Stadium, 4 p.m. (2x). 5—Tusculum at Aloha Stadium, 7 p.m. 11—Cal State-Dominguez Hills at Aloha Stadium, 7 p.m. 13—Cal State-Dominguez Hills at Aloha Stadium, 4 p.m. (2*). 15—Cal State-Dominguez Hills at Aloha Stadium, 4 p.m. (2*). 25-31—Rainbow Easter Baseball Tournament at Rainbow Stadium.
April
6—at Cal State-Los Angeles, 9 a.m. 8—at Cal State-Dominguez Hills, 9 a.m. 9—at Cal State--Dominguez Hills, 11 a.m. (2*). 10—at Cal State-San Bernardino, noon (2*). 12—at Cal Poly-Pomona, 10 a.m. (2*). 13—at Cal Poly-Pomona, 9 a.m. (2*).
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