UH reliever Quaglieri is WAC Pitcher of Week
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Chalk one up for the least glamorous of pitchers: the middle reliever.
Hawai'i sophomore right-hander William Quaglieri was named Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week by the league yesterday after tossing 6á scoreless innings of relief in Hawai'i's 6-5 extra-inning victory over UC Irvine Sunday at Les Murakami Stadium.
Quaglieri (2-2, 2.67 earned run average) replaced starter Chris George with one out in the sixth inning, keeping the Anteaters scoreless long enough for the Rainbows to tie the score at 5 in the ninth on Grady Symonds' grand slam to center and win it on Tim Montgomery's RBI single in the 12th. Quaglieri allowed two hits and three walks, while striking out seven.
"I'm very honored, but I'm shocked to tell you the truth," Quaglieri said. "But I probably wouldn't have gotten the award if Grady hadn't hit that home run. We wouldn't even be in extra innings, so (the award) has to go to some of the other guys, too."
It wasn't Quaglieri's longest outing out of the bullpen this season. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, in a loss to Sacramento State Feb. 9. In fact, in five appearances, he has accumulated 27 innings, third highest on the team behind starters Bryan Lee (32¡) and Aaron Pribble (30).
Middle relief is not an easy role. The pitcher does not know when he will be needed or how long he will be needed.
"It's not an easy role, but it's one that he's fit into real well," UH coach Mike Trapasso said.
Quaglieri made one start as a redshirt freshman last year. But it does not reflect in his statistics because it was in an exhibition against Kita-Kyushu in the Easter Tournament. He pitched seven shutout innings, scattering eight hits. He said his goal is to be a starter, but is happy he can help the team in his role.
"At first I wasn't too happy with it," Quaglieri said. "But now I'm comfortable with whatever can help us out. I just hate to sit there and watch. I always want to be in the game and want to pitch."
Trapasso said Quaglieri is being considered as a starter, but isn't sure yet.
"He's real valuable there (from the bullpen)," Trapasso said. "He and (Sean) Yamashita have been real good because they've settled games."
